Glen Harrington
8:15am, Sat 20th Feb 2021
Barnet vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Saturday 20th February 2021
Woking will be aiming for a first win in eight National League games in a run stretching back to the win over Hartlepool United in mid-December.
The Cards struggled once again on Tuesday evening, as they were comfortably beaten 2-0 by play-off chasing Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground, the fifth time in the last seven league outings that they’ve failed to score a goal. With just five points now separating the Cards from the relegation zone they’ll be hoping that the prospect of a match with one of their fellow strugglers will provide them with a timely boost to move away from trouble.
Barnet have endured a horrid season having picked up just 12 points from their 19 matches and conceding 45 goals. Since losing 4-1 at the Laithwaite Community Stadium in November, they have lost nine out of 11 matches in all competitions, including a 3-1 defeat at Dorking Wanderers in the FA Trophy, a 6-0 thrashing at Chesterfield, and a surprise 3-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Dover Athletic. However, they were able to chalk up an overdue win on Tuesday evening, when they won 2-1 at home to FC Halifax Town. They remain six points adrift of both Weymouth and King’s Lynn Town, but two points ahead of Dover.
Woking – Team News
Dowse will be desperate for good news on captain Josh Casey, who has now been absent for a month, whilst John Goddard is also sidelined. The likes of Malachi Napa, Jamar Loza, and Jonté Smith could start after coming off the bench on Tuesday, with the boss no doubt hoping to restore some confidence to his attacking players ahead of another challenging run of games.
Barnet – The Boss
The Bees are managed by former Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, and England goalkeeper Tim Flowers. He joined the club in mid-December, replacing Peter Beadle, who managed just 16 games in charge. Flowers previously managed Solihull Moors between 2018 and 2020, guiding them to second place in the National League in 2019. Last summer he joined Macclesfield Town, but the club was wound-up before playing a game with Flowers as boss.
One to Watch
Canadian international Michael Petrasso has been Barnet’s standout player this season. The former Queens Park Rangers academy graduate, who had loan spells with the likes of Oldham Athletic, Coventry City, Leyton Orient, and Notts County earlier in his career, is currently on loan from Canadian Premier League club York United. He has scored five goals in 12 appearances so far this season, including three in the last four matches, and one against Woking back in November.
Last Time Out
Woking 4-1 Barnet – National League (21st November 2020)
The Cards put in a scintillating performance as Kane Ferdinand’s stunning opener and an own goal by Jerome Binnom-Williams put the home side firmly in control. Charlie Cooper’s first-half red card threatened to derail their momentum but Max Kretzschmar made the game safe just after the hour mark and Dave Tarpey added a fourth, before Petrasso’s late consolation from the penalty spot.
Next Up
The Cards' next match will be the FA Trophy tie at home to Torquay United next Saturday.
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