Ahead of the Game: Maidenhead United (A)

Maidenhead United vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Friday 18th April 2025
15:00 Kick-Off
Woking travel to York Road in what could be a defining game for their hosts on Good Friday.

Perennial overachievers Maidenhead United face their toughest relegation battle yet, with a five point gap to overturn and just four games to do it in. Neal Ardley’s Cards know they’re nearly there in terms of securing a seventh straight season of tier five football, with victory in Berkshire almost certainly meaning they won’t be caught by the bottom four.

Saturday’s win over Fylde was pivotal in backing up a huge victory at Oldham in midweek, meaning Woking could make it three league wins in a row for the first time since August. The gap over the relegation zone for the Cards has increased from three to eight points in that timeframe, with the Magpies looking the most likely to try and mount an escape.

As for Ardley’s team selection, with Aldershot visiting the Laithwaite on Easter Monday it is possible that the likes of Sam Ashford, Josh Osude and Dan Moss, all benched on Saturday will come back in along with the likely return of Harry Beautyman.

With a win all but securing safety, make the short journey to York Road and get behind this Woking team!

Opposition Watch
Most National League observers knew Maidenhead United wouldn’t go down without a fight. Defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge at the end of March left the Magpies five points adrift with only relegated Ebbsfleet United below them in the table.

Two wins over two playoff chasing sides in Tamworth at York Road and then an impressive 2-0 away win over FC Halifax have given Alan Devonshire’s side a fighting chance. Unfortunately for them, everyone above the dotted line has picked up at least one win in their last two games, with the Cards and Boston having picked up two, meaning there has been no ground made by Devonshire’s men on those above them… yet.

With their last four games constituting Woking, Wealdstone, Ebbsfleet and Boston, there is a chance that they could ‘do a Maidenhead’ and escape at the last hurdle. At least three wins from those four would be feasible considering the Cards and Pilgrims come to York Road whilst Ebbsfleet are down and Wealdstone could well be a six pointer should the Stones not pick up a result at Boston on Friday.

Defeat for the Magpies would leave them on the brink, yet a win would add more belief to a patched up side, who have former Card Sam Howes in goal after he was desperately drafted in to replace the injured Craig Ross, whilst a frustrating season for Kane Ferdinand with injury issues has ended with the midfielder back in the side. Also amongst their ranks is Ricky Korboa, who hasn’t been seen since the beginning of March, whilst top scorer Shawn McCoulsky has two in two as he hopes to add to his 12 league goals for the season.

Around the Ground
Ticket information is available here.

Woking will be allocated part of the Bell Street End, which has some cover, as well as a limited number of seats in the main stand.

For those who haven’t been to this fixture before, York Road is located in Maidenhead Town Centre, which has plenty of pubs and restaurants, including O'Neills, right on the corner of Queen Street, about a five minute walk from the away turnstiles.

There are just a few seats on the supporters coach, which can be booked here.

Last Time Out
Woking took all three points on New Years’ Day after two goals from Inih Effiong and Harry Beautyman secured a 3-1 win after the game was turned on its head when Miles Welch-Hayes fouled Beautyman to give away a penalty and receive his marching orders.

Last season, both games ended goalless, with Maidenhead victorious at York Road in the 2022/23 season by a goal to nil before a 2-0 Woking win in the reverse fixture.

Woking are winless at York Road since November 2019, when goals from Moussa Diarra, Jamar Loza and Jake Hyde secured a 3-2 win, with Maidenhead winning this fixture at York Road on four occasions since promotion in 2017.