Match Preview and Guide | Weston-super-Mare (A)

Weston-super-Mare v Woking
FA Trophy Third Round Proper
Saturday 9th December 2023
15:00 Kick-Off

Woking will look to progress into the fourth round of the FA Trophy after being given a tricky tie away in Somerset.

Following last week's postponement against Gateshead, it will have been two weeks since Ian Dyer's side were defeated by Boreham Wood, and he will be hoping there is good news on the injury front. The likes of Dennon Lewis and Jermaine Anderson are not expected to be fit enough to make the squad, but Dyer will have to choose whether to stick with Will Jaaskelainen or to bring Alexis Andre Jr back after injury saw him miss Boreham Wood.

Opposition Watch
Promoted as Southern League Premier South champions, Weston-super-Mare have an array of former EFL quality in their ranks, including Woking loanee Robbie Willmott, who will not be eligible to play against the Cards. Key players include experienced striker Reuben Reid, who joined from Yeovil in summer 2022, along with creative midfielder Dayle Grubb, who rejoined the club in 2020 after a successful spell in League Two with Forest Green Rovers.

In a very congested National League South table, the Seagulls are currently 11th, having risen up the table following an impressive 4-0 win at home to Worthing on Tuesday night, in which Grubb and Reid were on the scoresheet, with Willmott highly influental. Scott Bartlett's side have won nine, drawn three and lost eight of their 20 games so far, scoring 30 and conceding 31. Although form and the table tend to go out of the window in cup competitions, WsM's home form is mixed, with four wins, three draws and three losses from their 10 games.

Last Time Out
Goals from Dave Tarpey and Reise Allassani fired Woking to a 2-1 home win in February 2019, as the sides would go separate ways, the Cards of course being promoted via the playoffs, whilst the Seagulls finished rock bottom and were relegated. The reverse fixture in December 2018 had seen Woking victorious by a 4-2 margin at the Woodspring Stadium in a game featuring a Jamar Loza hat trick.

Of the eight games between the sides, Woking have won seven of them, whilst there has been one draw.

Around the Ground
The Woodspring Stadium is situated about a 25 min walk from the railway station, which is regularly served by trains from London Paddington and Reading.

The ground is about two miles from the beach, where there are a number of amenities such as pubs and restaurants. However, this fixture is unsegregated so Woking fans will be able to go in the home clubhouse.

The Cards Trust are running a supporters coach, details are available here.

Ticket information is available here.