Glen Harrington
7:56am, Sat 1st Oct 2022
FC Halifax Town vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Saturday 1st October 2022
The contrast between Woking’s home and away form grew even further last Saturday, as the Cards defeated last season’s play-off finalists Solihull Moors at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.
Goals from James Daly and Kyran Lofthouse proved the difference for Darren Sarll’s side who moved into the play-off places for the first time this season with the 2-0 win. Woking have now taken 12 points from a possible 15 at home this season, compared to just four out of 15 away from home, and will be aiming to go some way to setting that right this weekend when they travel to FC Halifax Town. After a win at Torquay and a draw at Wealdstone, their last away outing ended in a third away defeat, as they were beaten 1-0 at Maidenhead United.
Sarll has admitted that his squad could be depleted this weekend – Jack Roles is definitely out through illness, whilst up to three other players could also fail to make the trip. Between that, and the prospect of a trip to Southend only three days later, the Woking boss has confirmed that he will have to utilise his squad’s strength in depth, meaning the likes of Ricky Korboa, Jake Vokins, and Joe McNerney could make a rare start.
Opposition Watch
Halifax are in their sixth consecutive season in the fifth tier after promotion from National League North in 2017 – bouncing back after just one season following relegation the previous campaign. Otherwise, their brief history has been one of almost universal success, having won three promotions in four seasons between 2010 and 2013 following the club’s reformation in 2008.
Their time in the National League – either side of their relegation – has also been successful, with three play-off appearances in eight years, including in both 2020 and 2022. Last term they finished fourth but lost their play-off eliminator to Chesterfield. As a result, this summer has been one of huge change at the Shay, with manager Pete Wild moving into the EFL with Barrow and taking last season’s top scorer Billy Waters with him.
Several other notable departures followed from last season’s successful squad, including Niall Maher (Grimsby Town), Tom Bradbury (Cheltenham Town), Jay Benn (Lincoln City), and Kieran Green (also Grimsby). New manager Chris Millington, formerly assistant to Wild, has led the rebuild, bringing in 13 new players including, most notably, four members of the Stockport County team that won the National League last season – Sam Minihan, Millenic Alli, Jordan Keane, and Jamie Stott. Also amongst their new additions were Emmanuel Dieseruvwe from Tranmere, who played a key role in Grimsby’s run through the play-offs last season, and Hull City defender Festus Arthur.
After ten games they are in 22nd place with just eight points – above last place Torquay on goal difference alone. After picking up just one point and one goal from their first five games, their form looked to have turned a corner after a 2-0 win at Scunthorpe, a 1-1 draw at Maidenhead, and a 2-0 home win over Gateshead, but they were thrashed 5-1 at Aldershot Town two weeks ago, before losing 1-0 at Eastleigh last time out to leave them mired in the bottom four.
Recent Meetings
• FC Halifax Town
2-1 Woking – 9th April 2022, National League (Kretzschmar)
• Woking
2-3 FC Halifax Town – 28th August 2021, National League (Maguire-Drew, Oakley)
• FC Halifax Town
1-0 Woking – 27th April 2021, National League
• Woking
0-0 FC Halifax Town – 17th October 2020, National League
• FC Halifax Town
0-2 Woking – 7th March 2020 (Kretzschmar, Hyde)
Tickets
Ticket prices are £21 for Adults, Concessions £18, 12-17 Year-Olds £9, and £4 for Under 12s.. For more information and to book your ticket please
click here.
