MKJ Group

Recharged Woking looking to bounce back

Glen Harrington
2:17pm, Fri 3rd Jan 2020
Woking vs Chorley
Vanarama National League
Saturday 4th January 2020


Woking will look to break a four-match losing streak on Saturday when they host bottom-of-the-table Chorley at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.

It’s been a difficult few weeks for the Cards after losing just one of their previous seven games in all competitions, first going out of the FA Trophy at the hands of Kingstonian, before comprehensive defeats at the hands of Sutton United and Torquay United – a normally reliable defence conceding 15 goals in just four matches. Various problems with injuries and suspensions have not helped matters and no doubt manager Alan Dowson will be relieved to have top performers Jake Hyde, Dave Tarpey and Godfrey Poku available again this weekend, although there are still questions marks around captain Josh Casey, who has missed the last two games. The Cards remain just two points adrift of the top seven, despite their poor run, and will know that all three points here could be a major boost ahead of the start of the end-of-season run-in.

Chorley, who like Woking won promotion to this league last season through a successful play-off campaign, have found things more challenging than their southern rivals, accumulating 24 points, 17 fewer than their hosts this weekend. That doesn’t tell quite the whole story as the Magpies have made themselves difficult to beat this season, losing less games than Torquay, Maidenhead and Chesterfield, but it’s been an inability to turn draws into wins that has cost them – with 12 stalemates, including one against the Cards back in September, and just four victories this campaign. Recent form isn’t good. Their last league win was against Dagenham & Redbridge back in November, since when they’ve taken just one point from five, including three straight defeats – plus a surprise FA Trophy exist at the hands of Matlock Town, who like Kingstonian play in the seventh tier of English football.

Once again, the team really needs your support this weekend to help them out of this slump, so please come along if you can and get behind the boys! Remember, this is our last home league game for three weeks, so why not make the most of the opportunity.

Woking Team News

Dowse will be pleased to at least have options available to him again after only being able to name four substitutes against Sutton. At the back, Craig Ross must be considered likely to return, after Sam Howes conceded 10 goals in his two games, whilst it will likely be two of Ben Gerring, Manny Parry or Moussa Diarra in a back four.

Further forward, Ibrahim Meite did his chances no harm with the two consolation goals at Gander Green Lane, whilst Jamar Loza was also relatively blameless after coming on as a substitute with the score at 4-0. Midfield will be a concern for Dowse and Poku could be a key addition back into the spine of the team.

Chorley Team News

In their last game, a 2-0 home defeat by Wrexham, manager Jamie Vermiglio selected Matt Urwin in goal; a former Fleetwood Town player who signed permanently mid-way through last season after 18 months on loan. In defence was Matt Challoner, Adam Blakeman, who spent time with Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers in his youth, captain Andrew Teague, who has made over 300 league appearances for the club in a nine-year spell, plus Mark Ross and Salford City loanee Martin Smith.

In midfield was Courtney Meppen-Walter, a former England youth international who has Football League experience with Carlisle United, alongside Jake Cottrell, whilst the forward line included twin brothers Elliot and Alex Newby, as well as Marcus Carver, who has four goals so far this season. Amongst those on the bench was Nortei Nortey, who the Cards have previously come across at Dover, Solihull and Wrexham, as well as dangerous midfielder Josh O’Keefe and top scorer Chris Holroyd.

Last Time Out

Chorley 1-1 Woking – National League (21st September 2019)


The Cards came into this game unbeaten in nine, but fresh off the back of the disappointment of a late Ebbsfleet equaliser seven days earlier, which had cost them two points. They found a surprisingly tough challenge in the form of Chorley, who they’d never met in a competitive fixture before, and were forced to come from behind after Chris Holroyd opened the scoring inside 10 minutes. Dave Tarpey levelled things up mid-way through the first-half but the Cards couldn’t force a winner. Ben Gerring was also sent-off in stoppage time to complete a relatively disappointing afternoon.

Admission Prices

• Adults £18
• Over 65s £13
• Disabled (Including carer) £13
• Students (Under 19) £5
• U16s £5

Tickets are available on the turnstiles or in advance online. Remember, our matchday programme will also be on sale for £3. Don’t forget to grab your copy on the way in! You’ll then be able to visit the club shop for more great offers.

Next Up

With the Cards’ FA Trophy campaign having ended prematurely there will be no game next week. Our next league outing is in two weeks at Wrexham, which is followed by a Tuesday night home game against Kingstonian in the Surrey Senior Cup.

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Woking Football Club Limited
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Registered office The Laithwaite Community Stadium, Kingfield, Woking, Surrey, GU22 9AA

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