Boz's Fruit & Veg
3:00pm - SaturdaySat 13th AugustAug 2022
The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Att: 2508

Woking
Woking
2 - 0

Dag & Red
Dagenham & Redbridge

Match Preview | Cards looking to respond to York setback in first home league game

Glen Harrington
4:39pm, Fri 12th Aug 2022
Woking vs Dagenham & Redbridge
Vanarama National League
Saturday 13th August 2022


Woking will be looking to get their first points of the new season on the board on Saturday when they host Dagenham & Redbridge at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.

The Cards were poor in their opening game and were comfortably beaten by newly promoted York City at the LNER Community Stadium. Maziar Kouhyar and Michael Duckworth scored either side of half-time for last season’s National League North play-off winners, whilst Darren Sarll’s side struggled to muster a shot in anger, despite starting with Tyreke Johnson and James Daly in support of Padraig Amond in attack. Sarll and his team must now try to avoid Woking’s worst start to a league season since 2010, when the Cards last lost their opening two matches.

Woking will be boosted by a fine recent record against the Daggers, against whom they’ve taken 10 points out of a possible 15 since returning to the National League in 2019, including a win and a draw last season – which came courtesy of a Max Kretzschmar penalty, in a 1-0 home win, and a fine team goal finished by Inih Effiong in a 1-1 draw at the Chigwell Construction Stadium. In fact, Dagenham have lost on their last three visits to the Laithwaite Community Stadium, with their last win coming in August 2016.

Opposition Watch

Dagenham had a strong season last year as they finished in eighth place, their best position for five years, since coming fourth in 2016/17 the year after relegation from the Football League. They also reached the second round of the FA Cup for the first time in six years and the fourth round of the FA Trophy for the first time since 2006 – prior to their nine-year stay in the EFL. They missed out on the final play-off place by just one point to Chesterfield and will be determined to go one better this year.

It is no surprise that manager Daryl McMahon, in his second full season with the club following his appointment in January 2020, has kept faith with the bulk of his squad from last season. This summer he has added defenders Nikola Tavares (Wealdstone) and David Longe-King (Grimsby Town, on loan at Woking last year) and midfielder Omar Mussa (Weymouth), whilst retaining the likes of Paul McCallum and Junior Morias, who both scored in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Gateshead.

The Daggers certainly didn’t have it all their own way against last season’s National League North winners, finding themselves two goals down within 12 minutes, before McCallum pulled one back and Morias snatched a point in second-half stoppage time.

In terms of outgoings this summer, their biggest losses have been defender Will Wright and midfielder Brandon Comley, who have both moved into the Football League with Gillingham and Walsall respectively. Elsewhere, ex-Woking player Joey Jones joined Solihull Moors, Callum Reynolds moved to Bromley, and strikers Darren McQueen and Scott Wilson dropped a level to join Ebbsfleet and Bath City.

In pre-season, Dagenham won two and drew three, including draws with Leyton Orient and West Ham United’s Under-23 side.

Recent Meetings

• Dagenham & Redbridge 1-1 Woking – 22nd February 2022, National League (Effiong)
• Woking 1-0 Dagenham & Redbridge – 5th October 2021, National League (Kretzschmar)
• Dagenham & Redbridge 3-1 Woking – 3rd May 2021, National League (Ashford)
• Woking 2-0 Dagenham & Redbridge – 13th October 2020, National League (Cook, Napa)
• Dagenham & Redbridge 0-2 Woking – 3rd August 2019, National League (Ferdinand, Diarra)

Tickets

When pre-purchased, ticket prices are £20 for Adults, £15 for Concessions, £12 for Next-Gen and £5 for Under 16s. Tickets bought on the gate on the day are charged at an additional £2.

For more information and to book your ticket please click here.

Match Report | Encouraging first home game as win secured over the Daggers

John Pearce
1:36pm, Mon 15th Aug 2022
Woking 2 Dagenham & Redbridge 0
Vanarama National League
13th August 2022

On a blisteringly hot afternoon at the Laithwaite Community Stadium, a three-minute spell in the first half encapsulated the difference between two teams battling it out and displaying more energy than one would expect in the extreme conditions. In that spell, the Cards scored two close range goals from corners, giving them a thoroughly satisfying win in their opening home fixture over a team that many would view as a reasonably bet to finish in the top half of the table. And a healthy-sized (for mid-August) crowd of more than 2,500 was there to witness it.

Woking made two changes to the starting line-up compared to that for the disappointing opener at York, with Kyran Lofthouse and Reece Grego-Cox coming in for Tyreke Johnson and Jermaine Anderson; Dagenham and Redbridge made three following a draw in their opening game, with former Cards loanee David Longe-King, Mo Sagaf and Junior Morais – the three subs used in that previous game – brought in. The seven new Cards players this season against three for the Daggers reflected squads at different stages of their life-cycles.

On a dry but immaculate-looking pitch, the visitors kicked off towards the KRE. Early exchanges were fairly even, with no convincing chances. On nine minutes, a Dagenham free kick on their left, about 30 yards from goal, was headed out for a corner; Miles Weston’s attempt to curl one in was cleared, and a quick Woking corner ensued with the ball finishing in Elliot Justham’s arms.

Six minutes later, Paul McCallum – not as dangerous on the day as he usually is – tumbled theatrically in Woking’s box as he closed in on goal; he was not fouled.

In a strong attacking spell for the Cards, the ball reached Padraig Amond’s feet as he ran into the Daggers’ area but there was no one there to meet his cross. Josh Casey was brought down in front of the CLT on 21 minutes, and stayed down, which triggered the first much-needed drinks break of the afternoon.

In a moment that one should not view as amusing, Morais took the ball to the Cards’ byline to the left of the goal, and clipped it across (to no effect), before disappearing over the hoardings; no harm done to player or panelling.

On 28 mins., Amond found the ball at his feet in the Daggers’ six yard box but his shot was blocked well and went behind by Moaners’ Corner. From the resulting corner, Grego-Cox blasted home from close range. 1-0

A mere three minutes later – following a move where Moss, in the box, pushed the ball to Grogo-Cox who cross the ball for the keeper to push behind – Ince fired a towering header into the back of the net from another corner kick. 2-0.
Rohan Ince rises above the assembled throng to head home; pic: David Holmes
Rohan Ince rises above the assembled throng to head home; pic: David Holmes


The visitors were showing signs of frustration at this point. Dean Rance’s name went into the ref’ slittle book after he floored Lofthouse. Weston vented his feelings to teammates who went missing when he moved into the Cards’ box and crossed to no one.

Another drinks break in the 38th minute again coincided with Casey being on the floor.

Five minutes later, determined attacking work by the Cards resulted in a corner by Moaners’, which Casey took and retook, the ball being caught by Justham. A Sagaf cross from the right was similarly caught by Craig Ross. In the four minutes of time added on, Jim Kellerman’s free kick from 10 yards outside of the Dagenham area drifted over the bar and out.

Woking 2 Dagenham & Redbridge 0

Clearly stung by the advantage gained by the Cards in the first half, the Daggers made two substitutions at half-time – Nikola Tavares for Rance and Mauro Vilhete for Johnson. Only 4 minutes into his appearance, Tavares received a yellow card for his foul which left Kellerman horizontal in the centre circle.

From the second of two successive corners for the Cards, on the right and left of the Daggers goal, Wilkinson headed dramatically against the top right corner of the framework, with Amond blasting the rebound over from close quarters. So close!

The lively Weston fired across the goal from the right and out for a throw-in. In the 65th minute, the Daggers made another substitution, with Joshua Walker on for Sagaf; time for another well-earned drinks break.

Somewhat late in the day, the visitors upped their game and started to be a serious threat. A close range shot was blocked superbly by Kellerman on the goal line. Another Weston corner, from the right, was headed out.

Jermaine Anderson was bought on for Kellerman in the 72nd minute and – six minutes later and shortly after receiving a yellow card – Lofthouse was replaced with former Sutton United winger Ricky Korboa, making his Woking debut.

An 81st minute D&R corner was headed clear by Cuthbert. A player received attention for an injury, so the players took the opportunity to quench their thirst.

In a lovely move, Amond received the ball to the right of the Daggers goal. Advancing, he attempted to loft it over the keeper but it went just wide. A frustrating afternoon for him, but his first goal in a Cards shirt can’t be far off.

A Tavares cross was blasted across the goal by former Cards loanee Matt Robinson. The final Woking substitution was made in the 88th minute – Joe McNerney on for Amond.

8 minutes of time was added on after the statutory 90; even allowing for some drinks and injury breaks, this seemed excessively high. So while Woking were unable to relax, little of note happened in that time; a Robinson shot three minutes in was cleared.

It would be wrong to say that Woking dominated this game throughout. It was that very short spell of intense pressure in the first half which tipped the balance. Up until then, it was fairly ‘even stevens’ - scrappy at times with few chances to either side – and, in the latter stages of the game, Dagenham belatedly showed menace.

However, overall this was a spirited and convincing performance by the Cards which hopefully went a long way to dispelling doubts after the opener at York. No player underperformed on the day, and there were some exceptional performances. Ince was excellent in midfield; Moss, at left back, Daly on the wing, Lofthouse and Cuthbert for some imperious heading (a change from many Woking central defenders of recent years) are worth of mention.

The Cards don’t have long to wait to demonstrate any extra confidence gained from that result, with their first ever league encounter with Scunthorpe United at the Laithwaite on Tuesday night.

Woking: 13 Craig Ross, 2 Kyran Lofthouse (7 Ricky Korboa 78’, 3 Josh Casey, 4 Scott Cuthbert, 6 Luke Wilkinson, 8 James Daly, 9 Reece Grego-Cox 55, 10 Padraig Amond (5 Jo McNerney 86’), 12 Dan Moss, 17 Jim Kellerman (23 Jermaine Anderson 72’), 24 Rohan Ince

Unused subs: 1 Ethan Wady, 11 Tyreke Johnson

Goals: Grego-Cox 28’, Ince 31'

Bookings: Lofthouse 77’

Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Elliot Justham, 2 Josh Hare, 3 Elliott Johnson (20 Mauro Vilhete 46’) , 4 Dean Rance (15 Nikola Tavares 46’), 5 Manny Onariase, 8 Mo Sagaf (7 Josh Walker 65’), 9 Paul McCallum, 11 Miles Weston, 12 Matt Robinson, 21 David Longe-King, 24 Junior Morias

Unused subs: 13 Joshua Strizovic, 19 Sam Ling

Goals: None

Bookings: Rance 33’, Tavares 49’

Referee: Aaron Jackson

Attendance: 2,502 (197 away fans)

Sponsor’s Man of the Match: Rohan Ince

Thank you to our Match Sponsor, Home Instead

You can check out Home Instead here
WOKING LINEUP
13Craig Ross
12Dan Moss
3Josh Casey
6Luke Wilkinson
4Scott Cuthbert
24Rohan Ince
17Jim Kellermann ('72)
2Kyran Lofthouse ('78)
8James Daly
9Reece Grego-Cox
10Padraig Amond ('87)
BENCH
1Ethan Wady
5Joe McNerney ('87)
23Jermaine Anderson ('72)
11Tyreke Johnson
7Ricky Korboa ('78)
Dagenham & Redbridge LINEUP
1Elliot Justham
2Josh Hare
3Elliott Johnson ('46)
5Manny Onariase
21David Longe-King
4Dean Rance ('46)
8Mohammed Sagaf ('64)
12Matt Robinson
11Myles Weston
9Paul McCallum
24Junior Morias
BENCH
13Josh Strizovic
15Nikola Tavares ('46)
19Sam Ling
20Mauro Vilhete ('46)
7Josh Walker ('64)

Woking 2 - 0 Dagenham & Redbridge | Short Highlights

Woking 2-0 Dagenham & Redbridge | Darren Sarll Interview

Woking 2 - 0 Dagenham & Redbridge | Reece Grego Cox Interview