Glen Harrington
11:07am, Sun 26th Sep 2021
Woking vs Chesterfield
Vanarama National League
Tuesday 28th September 2021
Woking will be hoping to bounce back from consecutive away defeats when they return to the Laithwaite Community Stadium to take on Chesterfield in the National League.
The Cards will have been left deeply disappointed not to come away with at least a point on Saturday, giving up a two-goal lead to eventually lose 3-2 at Eastleigh, with both of the home side’s second-half goals coming via the penalty spot. It’s the third time this season Alan Dowson’s side have lost by a single goal and the second time in just five outings that they have gone down by a 3-2 scoreline. Defensive frailties will again be of the utmost concern for the Woking management team, who’s side have now conceded eight times this season, and claimed just 6 points despite their success at the opposite end of the pitch, with 10 goals scored so far.
To add to Woking’s woes at the back, they were without both Moussa Diarra and Tommy Block for the trip to the south coast, with Diarra failing a fitness test and Block missing out due to food poisoning. It meant a shift of personnel and formation for the Cards, with Tyreke Johnson coming in on the wing and Jordan Maguire-Drew moving inside to a more central position in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Inih Effiong also replaced George Oakley up front. And Johnson rewarded Dowse for his first start of the season with an assist for Tahvon Campbell’s second goal – his fourth of the season. The Cards also welcomed back Max Kretzschmar from injury with Woking’s number 10 amongst the subs.
Opposition Watch
Chesterfield are amongst the favourites for promotion this season and have started the year in that vein with an eight-game unbeaten run featuring five wins and three draws. They currently sit in second-place in the early standings with 18 points, one fewer than leaders Dagenham & Redbridge. The Spireites start a difficult run of games for the Cards who face fellow promotion hopefuls Notts County, Dagenham, and Grimsby Town at the start of October.
Managed by former Aldershot Town assistant manager James Rowe, who guided his side to a sixth-place finish last season and a play-off eliminator defeat to Notts County, Chesterfield boast a particularly potent strikeforce of Danny Rowe, best known for his time with AFC Fylde, and new signing Kabongo Tshimanga, who has enjoyed success against the Cards for Oxford City and Boreham Wood. He has nine goals in his first eight matches for the club. Other players to watch include defender Jamie Grimes, part of the Hereford side who knocked Woking out of the FA Trophy last season, experienced goalkeeper Scott Loach who arrived in the summer from Barnet, and former Woking loanee, midfielder Manny Oyeleke.
On Saturday, they also gave up a two-goal lead, drawing 2-2 with Torquay United. However, they’ve won three of their four away fixtures so far, with the only comparative failure coming in a 0-0 draw at Dover.
Recent Meetings
• Woking
1-4 Chesterfield – 8th May 2021, National League (Cooper)
• Chesterfield
4-0 Woking – 10th October 2020, National League
• Chesterfield
1-2 Woking – 13th August 2019, National League (Meite, Tarpey)
On the Day
Ticket prices are £20 for Adults, Concessions £15, Students and Next Generation £12 and £7 for 16-year-olds and under –
click here for more information and to book your tickets online.
This match will be segregated, with Chesterfield fans being allocated the Chris Lane Terrace and some seats in the Seymours Community LGS.
