Glen Harrington
6:45pm, Thu 7th Oct 2021
Woking vs Grimsby Town
Vanarama National League
Saturday 9th October 2021
Woking will be aiming to make in four consecutive National League wins when they host league leaders Grimsby Town at the Laithwaite Community Stadium on Saturday.
The Cards ground out another memorable result on Tuesday evening when they defeated early season pace-setters Dagenham & Redbridge 1-0 with Max Kretzschmar scoring the game’s only goal via the penalty spot. The result lifted Alan Dowson’s side up to eighth in the league table, just one point adrift of a play-off place, and with two games in hand on six of the seven teams above them. Having also defeated proposed title contenders Chesterfield and Notts County in the last 10 days, the Cards will come into this game full of confidence, and hopeful of springing another surprise.
Dowse will however be concerned about a growing injury list. Striker George Oakley will be out until next year having sustained a broken leg in the win over Chesterfield, forward Jordan Maguire-Drew has missed the last two games with a knee issue, and Tuesday’s match-winner Kretzschmar is also a doubt after limping off shortly after half-time against the Daggers. Barring any late arrivals, that could mean either a first start of the season for Birmingham City loanee Kane Thompson-Sommers, or a change of shape, with top scorer Tahvon Campbell moving out wide and complimented on the opposite flank by either Tyreke Johnson or Jamar Loza.
Opposition Watch
Grimsby are back in the National League after a five season stay in the Football League ended earlier this year. They finished bottom of League Two after scoring just 43 points from their 46 games. Last time around in took the Mariners six years (and four play-off campaigns) to win promotion back to the fourth tier, but they have started this campaign with the look of a side ready to return at the first attempt, winning seven and losing just one of their first 10 games to lead the league by two points.
They have won their last two games, thrashing bottom of the table Dover Athletic 6-0, before winning a tense game 3-2 away to in form Altrincham on Tuesday evening. Their sole defeat came at the end of September when they were beaten 3-1 at Bromley. Defender Michee Efete, who was sent off in that game, will serve the final match of his three-game ban on Saturday, whilst midfielder Will Bapaga, on loan from Coventry City, will also be sidelined after seeing red in mid-week.
Grimsby are managed by Paul Hurst, who is in his second spell in charge of the club, having also led the Mariners between 2011 and 2016. He was initially in the position alongside Rob Scott but took sole charge in 2013. He left the club shortly after their promotion to the Football League and went on to have spells as Shrewsbury Town, Ipswich Town and Scunthorpe United. He returned to the club last December, signing an 18-month contract, and despite being unable to prevent relegation back to non-league has lost just 13 of his 35 games in charge.
Recent Meetings
• Woking
1-3 Grimsby Town – 19th April 2016, National League (Andrade)
• Grimsby Town
2-0 Woking – 27th February 2016, FA Trophy Quarter-Final
• Grimsby Town
3-1 Woking – 23rd February 2016, National League (Sole)
• Woking
1-2 Grimsby Town – 7th March 2015, National League (Goddard)
• Grimsby Town
3-1 Woking – 25th November 2014, National League (Morgan)
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.
For away fans this is an all-ticket game. Tickets must be purchased online in advance with a deadline of 11pm on Friday 8th October.
For all the latest pre-match information please
click here.
This match will be segregated, with Grimsby fans being allocated the Chris Lane Terrace and some seats in the Seymours Community LGS.
