MKJ Group
3:00pm - SaturdaySat 6th JanuaryJan 2024
Damson Park | Att: 1243

Solihull
Solihull Moors
3 - 0

Woking
Woking

Match Preview and Guide | Solihull Moors (A)

William Bewsey
12:00pm, Thu 4th Jan 2024
Solihull Moors v Woking
Vanarama National League
Saturday 6th January 2024
15:00 Kick-Off


Woking look to bounce back from defeat on New Years' Day when they travel to high flying Solihull Moors.

After defeat to Aldershot, Michael Doyle will hope that his side can pick themselves up quickly for the trip up the M40 to the ARMCO Arena. After Manny Oyeleke went off injured in the 3-2 defeat, he is unlikely to feature, but Jermaine Anderson's return from injury means that he could be in contention to start.

With the January transfer window well underway, Doyle will be looking to get some deals done to help strengthen what is a depleted squad at the moment, and he could turn to the likes of Timi Odusina and Zak Bradshaw, who both didn't feature on NYD.

Opposition Watch
Since we last played the Moors, Andy Whing's previously unbeaten side have been defeated seven times. However, they still sit in a commanding fourth position with twelve wins and seven draws in their 26 games thus far. Although recent form has been patchy with two wins and four defeats across their last six league games, one of those wins was a superb 2-0 home victory over Chesterfield on Boxing Day, ending a run of three consecutive home defeats.

Key to their high standing in the league is former Maidenhead striker Josh Kelly, who Woking fans might remember scored against the Cards back in September. After scoring 11 times last season, Kelly has already matched that total with 11 in 23 games so far. Other key players include midfielder Callum Maycock, into his fourth season with the Moors. The former Coventry man has three goals so far this season, and his likely midfield partner, Jon Benton, impressed at Aveley in the first half of the season before being poached by Moors.

Last Time Out
In September 2023, Padraig Amond made amends for his penalty miss by cancelling out Josh Kelly's opener as the sides shared the points in a 1-1 draw. Meanwhile, Woking took six points from Moors last season, with a 2-0 home win in October 2022 complimented by a 1-0 away win on the last day of the 22/23 season thanks to Ricky Korboa in April 2023.

In 12 meetings between the sides, Woking have come out on top six times, Solihull four times, with two draws.

Around the Ground

Ticket details are available here.

The Cards Trust are running a coach to the game, details are available here.

Solihull town centre and Birmingham International railway station are both around a 20 minute bus ride from the ground, however if travelling by train, please note that Woking is served by replacement buses on Saturday due to engineering works.

Match Report | Cards well beaten by Moors

William Bewsey
4:56pm, Sat 6th Jan 2024


Solihull Moors 3-0 Woking
Vanarama National League
6th January 2024

Woking made their first away trip of 2024 to a Solihull side sitting fourth in the table. Michael Doyle made four changes to the side beaten by Aldershot on New Year’s Day, as Sam Habergham returned to the side in place of Josh Casey, who took a place on the bench alongside Dennon Lewis, replaced by Tunji Akinola. The two other changes were Zak Bradshaw for the injured Manny Oyeleke and a return from injury for Jim Kellermann in place of Rohan Ince.

Woking kicked off the match towards the Jerroms Stand, and just a minute in, a Habergham corner was met on the volley by Padraig Amond, his side footed effort just clipping the post before going behind. This was shortly followed by only an excellent block from Kyle Morrison denying Rhys Browne a chance to test the ‘keeper after good build up play, a strong start from the Cards.

With Moors growing into the game, a through ball on the half hour mark found Josh Kelly, but before he could finish, Scott Cuthbert put in a superb recovery challenge to force the ball behind. A minute later, intricate play down the left-hand side saw James Clarke’s shot well blocked by Luke Wilkinson as Solihull looked to force an opening.

On 42 minutes, they had that opening. A corner from Jamey Osborne was met by the head of Clarke, who glanced into the far corner of the net. This meant that despite there being not much between the sides, Woking trailed at the break.

Half-time: Solihull Moors 1-0 Woking /b>

It took just two minutes for the Moors to double their lead after half time. A long throw was only half cleared and Callum Maycock finished into the bottom corner from just inside the box through a sea of bodies.

A minute later, they almost made it three. A ball in behind was met by Kelly, who drove towards goal but Alexis Andre made a good save with his feet to stop the ball nestling into the bottom corner. Michael Doyle responded by taking off Wilkinson, Kellermann and Osew for Dennon Lewis, Reece Grego-Cox and Timi Odusina, and Grego-Cox looked lively from the off, firing just over the bar after good play inside the box.

Another Grego-Cox shot from a Habergham corner on 58 minutes forced Nick Hayes into his first save of the game to deny the striker, before a big chance on 64 minutes saw Dan Moss’s low ball diverted towards goal by Amond, but a good goalline clearance from Clarke kept the Moors’ two goal cushion intact.

A big appeal for a Woking penalty was turned down by referee Abigail Byrne when Moss looked to be upended as he drove into the box, but Moors would make sure of the points on 75 minutes. An effort inside the box from Osborne was brilliantly saved by Andre Jr, but the Cards failed to clear, and Mark Beck fired low into the bottom corner via the post.

A good Woking break on 79 minutes saw Browne force a good low save from Hayes at his near post, but that was to be it as far as Woking's chances went. A first half with few chances was edged by the Moors, and the second half went completely in their favour. Michael Doyle will have a lot to think about before the Cards take on Gateshead at the Laithwaite in ten days time.

Woking: Alexis Andre Jr, Dan Moss, Sam Habergham, Scott Cuthbert, Luke Wilkinson (Odusina 51’), Zak Bradshaw, Paul Osew (Grego-Cox 52’), Jim Kellermann (Lewis 52’), Tunji Akinola, Padraig Amond, Rhys Browne



Unused subs: Casey, Anderson

Bookings: Kellermann 17’

Solihull Moors: Nick Hayes, James Clarke, Jamey Osborne, Kyle Morrison, Callum Maycock (Benn 74’) Mark Beck, Josh Kelly (Stevens 82’), Matty Warburton (Sbarra 67’), Jon Benton, Kade Craig, Alex Whitmore


Unused subs: Mafuta, Howell


Goals: Clarke 42’, Maycock 48’, Beck 75’


Bookings: Clarke 32’


Attendance: 1243





Solihull Moors LINEUP
32Nick Hayes
2James Clarke
4Jamey Osborne
6Kyle Morrison
8Callum Maycock ('73)
9Mark Beck
10Josh Kelly ('81)
11Matty Warburton ('67)
18Jon Benton
27Kade Craig
35Alex Whitmore
BENCH
20Jay Benn ('73)
14Jack Stevens ('81)
23Finn Howell
12Gus Mafuta
7Joe Sbarra ('67)
WOKING LINEUP
1Alexis Andre Jr.
2Dan Moss
28Sam Habergham
6Luke Wilkinson ('51)
4Scott Cuthbert
16Tunji Akinola
17Jim Kellermann ('53)
20Zak Bradshaw
37Paul Osew ('53)
14Rhys Browne
10Padraig Amond
BENCH
3Josh Casey
21Timi Odusina ('51)
23Jermaine Anderson
11Dennon Lewis ('53)
9Reece Grego-Cox ('53)

Solihull Moors 3-0 Woking | Michael Doyle Interview