Glen Harrington
10:15am, Fri 2nd Dec 2022
Woking vs Maidstone United
Vanarama National League
Saturday 3rd December 2022
Woking will be aiming to make it eight National League matches without defeat when they host Maidstone United at the Laithwaite Community Stadium this Saturday.
The Cards are returning to action after a two-week break, with their Surrey Senior Cup meeting with Banstead Athletic called off due to the weather and last weekend’s originally scheduled fixture at Chesterfield postponed due to the Spireites continued involvement in the FA Cup. They will be looking to pick back up where they left off, having won five and drawn two of their last seven league outings, with their last defeat coming at home to Notts County in early October.
Manager Darren Sarll will be hoping that defender Luke Wilkinson and winger Ricky Korboa are close to returning after being out for the last six and three games respectively.
He will however be without full-back Dan Moss, who has started every league and cup game this season but will be suspended after picking up a fifth National League yellow card in the last game at home to Altrincham. The short-term loan deals for defender Bryant Bilongo and striker Jahmari Clarke have both expired.
Remember this game is an early kick-off at 12:30pm due to the ongoing World Cup fixtures.
Opposition Watch
Maidstone are in their first season back at National League level after winning National League South last season, ending a three-year stay in the sixth tier, having previously been relegated in 2019. The Stones spent three years in the National League during their last stay in the fifth tier, which was the first time they had played at that level since the club’s reformation in 1992. Last season they accumulated 87 points to hold off a title challenge from Dorking Wanderers, who were eventually promoted alongside Maidstone via the play-offs.
This season, they currently sit in 20th place, having taken 21 points from 21 games, leaving them four points above the relegation places at this stage. They have taken seven points from ten away games. Their defensive record is also amongst the worst in the division with 44 goals conceded – only Halifax (45) have conceded more, whilst bottom pair Scunthorpe and Torquay (both 43) are just behind.
The prospects of manager Hakan Hayrettin have been boosted by a three-match unbeaten run with seven points taken from the last three games – a 2-0 win at Scunthorpe, a 0-0 home draw with Oldham, and a 3-2 home win over Maidenhead last time out. Their joint top scorers are Jack Barham and Regan Booty, both on four, and they are captained by one-time Arsenal defender Gavin Hoyte.
Recent Meetings
• Maidstone United
3-2 Woking (AET) – 18th December 2018, FA Trophy (Eyoma, Hodges)
• Woking
1-1 Maidstone United – 15th December 2018, FA Trophy (Edser)
• Woking
4-4 Maidstone United – 6th January 2018, National League (Ferdinand, Effiong, Carter, Banton)
• Maidstone United
3-1 Woking – 9th September 2017, National League (Ward)
• Woking
2-4 Maidstone United – 25th March 2017, National League (Sam-Yorke, Lucas)
Tickets
When pre-purchased, ticket prices are £20 for Adults, £15 for Concessions, £12 for Next-Gen and £5 for Under 16s. Tickets bought on the gate on the day are charged at an additional £2.
For more information and to book your ticket please
click here.
