Lovetts
3:00pm - SaturdaySat 7th OctoberOct 2023
The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Att: 3564

Woking
Woking
0 - 2

Southend
Southend United

Match Preview and Guide | Southend United (H)

William Bewsey
9:45am, Thu 5th Oct 2023
Woking vs Southend United
Vanarama National League
Saturday 7th October 2023
15:00 Kick-Off


Woking will hope to get back to winning ways when they host Southend United at the Laithwaite on Saturday.

Defeat to FC Halifax Town on Tuesday night was a cruel blow for the Cards, as another flurry of chances went begging before their opponents stole the game at the death. However, the returns of Rohan Ince and Reece Grego-Cox from injury were a positive sight for Woking fans, and they will both hope to be in and around the squad against a side in form on and off the pitch.

Darren Sarll will also hope that Gillingham loanee Lewis Walker, who scored at Fylde last Saturday, will be back in the squad, as well as club captain Josh Casey, who missed Tuesday night with illness.

Around the Ground
Ticket pricing and other details are available here.

Luton Town vs. Tottenham will be live in Cardinals Bar from 12:30, with Happy Hour running until 13:30 on Carling, Madri and Cold River Cider.

Supporters should ensure that they have read the Ground Rules and Regulations before coming to the match, as extra security measures will be taking place.

Opposition Watch
It would be hard to discuss Southend United on the pitch without talking about Kevin Maher. Appointed in October 2021, with the Shrimpers sitting perilously inside the National League drop zone, the former midfielder guided his side safely out of the relegation zone and gave Southend fans hope for the future.

His side have been competitive in the National League ever since, despite well known off-the-field issues. An 8th placed finish last season saw them narrowly miss out on the playoffs, despite being under a transfer embargo since September 2022. That embargo is still in place for now, but Southend this week agreed a takeover by a consortium led by Australian Justin Rees, who has wiped out their previously perilous HMRC debt and will officially take over from the start of next month. This news has been widely received and praised across football, and we wish the Shrimpers all the best in the future.

On the pitch, it's been yet another incredible season so far for Maher's side considering their issues, but due to a 10 point deduction enforced for their deferral of HMRC debts, the Shrimpers currently occupy the final relegation spot in 21st place, having won six, drawn three and lost five of their 14 games so far, scoring 23 and conceding 17. Harry Cardwell has scored 10 of those goals, putting him towards the top of the goalscoring charts, and he is one to watch, along with Afghanistan international Noor Husin, who has impressed in the middle of the park.

Do not be fooled in the slightest by Southend's misleading league position; the Shrimpers would occupy the last playoff place were it not for their deduction, and celebrated the news of their takeover in style with a comfortable 2-0 win over Oxford City at Roots Hall on Tuesday night.

Last Time Out
A Jack Bridge goal cancelled out former Southend loanee Marcus Dackers' opener as it finished 1-1 at the Laithwaite in April. This was the second 1-1 draw of the season in this fixture, with September 2022's fixture in Essex seeing Reece Grego-Cox's goal cancelled out by Dackers during his loan spell with the Shrimpers. Woking did get one over Southend in October 2022 in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round, with goals from Padraig Amond and Ricky Korboa enough after former Cardinal favourite Jake Hyde had levelled the tie.

In the previous season, following their relegation from League Two, Southend were beaten 2-0 by Woking at Roots Hall in October 2021; goals from Tahvon Campbell and Max Kretzschmar were enough to defeat Maher's side containing former Card Kacper Lopata. The reverse fixture in February 2022 went the Shrimpers' way, with a five goal thriller seeing Southend edge it 3-2 at the Laithwaite in front of the BT Sport cameras, with Harry Cardwell getting the winner.

Match Report | Cards all at sea against impressive Shrimpers

William Bewsey
4:56pm, Sat 7th Oct 2023
Woking 0-2 Southend United
Vanarama National League
7th October 2023
Woking hosted a rejuvenated Southend United side fresh from news of an impending takeover in midweek, with the Cards desperate for a first home win since late August. Darren Sarll made two changes to the side beaten at the death by Halifax on Tuesday night; a return to the lineup for Scott Cuthbert in place of the benched Timi Odusina, whilst Rohan Ince made his first start since early August in place of the injured Jim Kellermann.

New signings Morgan Williams and Charlie O’Connell, on loan from AFC Wimbledon and Peterborough United respectively, took their places on the bench, whilst former Card Nick Hayes started in goal for the visitors, with fellow ex Woking man Harry Taylor in the Shrimpers’ midfield.

On a surprisingly warm and sunny October afternoon, Woking kicked off towards the Leslie Gosden Stand, but it was the hosts who enjoyed the majority of the ball in the opening ten minutes. They got a deserved goal on 16 minutes, an exceptional cross from Gus Scott-Morriss headed home into the bottom corner by Harry Cardwell for his 11th goal of the season.

A long throw from Sam Habergham on 21 minutes caused chaos inside the Southend box, but Rohan Ince couldn’t quite stab the ball home, before a minute later, good work from Dennon Lewis saw his low cross miskicked by Zak Bradshaw about 12 yards out, as Woking were upping the intensity of their play.

Southend were playing with confidence and Will Jaaskelainen had to react well to a superb looping header from Scott-Morriss after the build-up had contained a quite outstanding through ball from Noor Husin.

The Shrimpers went into the break fully deserving of their 1-0 lead, having played some superb football.

Half-time: Woking 0-1 Southend United
Woking made two changes at half time, with Bradshaw and Alfie Pavey both coming off and being replaced by Morgan Williams and Reece Grego-Cox. A golden chance inside the opening minute of the second half saw Nick Hayes and Jason Demetriou nearly collide, but Dennon Lewis fired over with the goal gaping and several options.

However, the away side upped the pressure on Woking and had a second goal on 54 minutes. A corner was headed towards goal by Cardwell, and Scott-Morris was there to head home from close range.

With the Cards looking to get back into the game, there was a strong appeal for handball from the KRE and Woking players on 69 minutes, but it was waved away by the referee. Southend had a chance to make it three when Cardwell was found inside the box, but Jaaskelainen saved with his face, before the follow up was blocked away by Dan Moss.

Williams fired wide following a knock down from Grego-Cox on 89 minutes as the game looked to be coming to a tame end, before Moss struck one from 30 yards and forced Nick Hayes into his first real save.

Southend saw out the rest of the game comfortably, a worrying performance from the Cards, who were second best all afternoon and didn't lay a glove on a side who were excellent throughout, and can look forward to a future without Ron Martin.

Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Dan Moss, Scott Cuthbert, Greg Taylor, Sam Habergham, Rohan Ince, Tunji Akinola (O’Connell 69’), Zak Bradshaw (Williams 45’), Padraig Amond, Alfie Pavey (Grego-Cox 45’), Dennon Lewis

Unused subs: Andre, Odusina

Bookings: Habergham 44’

Southend United: Nick Hayes, Gus Scott-Morriss, Ollie Kensdale, Jack Bridge (Vilhete 81’), Noor Husin, Harry Cardwell, Jack Wood (Kanu 57’), Harry Taylor, Cav Miley, Jason Demetriou, Oli Coker (Kobongolo 91’)

Unused subs: Fonguck

Goals: Cardwell 16’, Scott-Morriss 54’

Referee: Callum Walchester

Attendance: 3564

Man of the Match: Scott Cuthbert


WOKING LINEUP
22Will Jaaskelainen
2Dan Moss
28Sam Habergham
4Scott Cuthbert
5Greg Taylor
16Tunji Akinola ('70)
24Rohan Ince
20Zak Bradshaw ('46)
11Dennon Lewis
29Alfie Pavey ('46)
10Padraig Amond
BENCH
1Alexis Andre Jr.
21Timi Odusina
27Charlie O'Connell ('70)
25Morgan Williams ('46)
9Reece Grego-Cox ('46)
Southend United LINEUP
13Nick Hayes
2Gus Scott-Morriss
24Jason Demetriou
6Ollie Kensdale
16Harry Taylor
8Noor Husin
17Cav Miley
28Oli Coker ('90)
7Jack Bridge ('81)
14Jack Wood ('57)
9Harry Cardwell
BENCH
22Brooklyn Kabongolo ('90)
18Wesley Fonguck
20Mauro Vilhete ('81)
19Daniel Kanu ('57)

Woking 0-2 Southend United | Darren Sarll Interview

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