William Bewsey
2:06pm, Sun 17th Sep 2023
Woking vs. Ebbsfleet United
Vanarama National League
Tuesday 19th September 2023
19:45 Kick-Off
Woking will look to continue their five game unbeaten run when they welcome last season's National League South champions Ebbsfleet United to the Laithwaite on Tuesday night.
After a hugely impressive performance on Saturday at Hartlepool United, Darren Sarll may wish to rotate in certain areas with four games in the next 12 days. Jermaine Anderson made his first start of the season at Victoria Park, and midfield options such as Matt Robinson and Robbie Willmott could be considered, whilst in defence, the likes of Greg Taylor and new signing Timi Odusina will hope to find themselves in the starting XI.
Around the Ground
Ticket pricing and other details are available
here.
Live UEFA Champions League football will be screened in Cardinals Bar pre-match, with happy hour pricing running on Madri, Carling and Cold River Cider.
Opposition Watch
Since an unfortunate relegation on points per game following the curtailed 2019/20 season, Ebbsfleet found themselves unfortunate to not go up at effectively the first time of asking in 2021/22; of course the 2020/21 National League South season was null and voided just after the turn of the year. Despite being 2-1 up with just seconds left in the 2022 National League South playoff final at Meadowbank, a stoppage time equaliser and then an extra time winner saw Dorking go up at the expense of the Fleet, but a record breaking season last year saw them pick up 103 points as they stormed to the title.
As a result, German manager Dennis Kutrieb has put his trust in many of the players that took the Fleet up to carry that momentum on in the fifth tier, with fairly limited transfer business. However, the signings of former EFL players Ouss Cisse and David Amoo show the ambition in this part of Kent, as well as regular Walsall starter Hayden White. One to watch is definitely Dom Poleon; the former Leeds man has an amazing 62 goals in 93 league appearances since joining in 2020. That includes 7 in 7 appearances so far this season, to carry on from his 36 goals last season. Amongst the Fleet ranks is also former Woking loanee Toby Edser.
However, despite an impressive start to life back in the National League, Ebbsfleet have suffered back to back defeats at the hands of Wealdstone and Chesterfield, having won four and lost five of their opening nine games. They've scored 15 and conceded 13 so far this season.
Last Time Out
Woking's rotten record at the Kuflink Stadium saw them beaten 2-1 despite a Jake Hyde penalty in January 2020, whilst the relegation bound Fleet had the better of the Cards in the FA Cup, knocking Woking out 1-0 at the Laithwaite in October 2019 after a 1-1 draw in Kent.
Since 2012, Ebbsfleet have been somewhat of a bogey team for the Cards, winning just two of their last ten meetings, with the Fleet victorious on five occasions. Woking's last win came in November 2017, when an Inih Effiong goal was enough for a 1-0 win at the Laithwaite.
