Glen Harrington
7:17am, Fri 6th May 2022
Woking vs Eastleigh
Vanarama National League
Saturday 7th May 2022
Woking will look to end a six-game winless streak against Eastleigh and finish their set of National League home fixtures on a high as they take on the Spitfires this coming Saturday.
The Cards, who had been in good form ahead of Monday’s game with King’s Lynn Town, were left stunned by their already-relegated opponents, who scored late in both halves to come away with a 3-0 win. The result keeps Woking 15th in the National League table with two games remaining but a win this weekend would ensure that’s the lowest the club can finish this season.
Manager Darren Sarll made several changes on Monday, as he continues to experiment with his new team, handing starts to goalkeeper Mark Smith, defender Tom Champion, midfielders Jermaine Anderson and Solomon Nwabuokei, as well as forwards Nicke Kabamba and George Oakley, lining up in a 4-4-2 formation. After a poor first-half, both Rohan Ince and Inih Effiong were introduced at half-time, with Jack Roles coming on just after the hour mark, but the trio couldn’t fully turn the tide and the Linnets made sure of victory late on. Sarll will no doubt be looking for a response this weekend, with the players on their penultimate chance to impress ahead of the summer break.
Opposition Watch
Eastleigh have endured a challenging season and are likely to record their lowest-placed finish in the National League since their promotion to the division in 2014 – they currently sit in 19th place, five points behind Barnet in the position above them, and level on points with Aldershot Town who trail them on goal difference alone. They’re without a win in their last six and have only won one of their last 10 – with only Dover Athletic and Weymouth picking up less points over that period.
On Monday, they were beaten 2-1 at home by promotion-chasers FC Halifax Town, whilst April saw them bested by Barnet, Bromley, and Wrexham, with draws against Torquay and King’s Lynn. Their last win came at the start of last month when they won 2-0 at Aldershot Town. That was one of only three away wins for the Spitfires this season – with the other two coming at Dagenham in November and Wealdstone in October – with defeats to the likes of Dover and Weymouth since then.
Eastleigh’s top scorer this season is Danny Whitehall, formerly of Kilmarnock and Maidenhead United, who has nine goals this year. Other players to look out for are winger Harry Pritchard, who has played in the Football League for Blackpool and Bradford City, and veteran midfielder Danny Hollands, who has experience with AFC Bournemouth, Charlton Athletic, and Portsmouth.
Recent Meetings
• Eastleigh
3-2 Woking – 25th September 2021, National League (Campbell 2)
• Eastleigh
0-0 Woking – 10th April 2021, National League
• Woking
0-0 Eastleigh – 28th December 2020, National League
• Eastleigh
2-0 Woking – 1st February 2020, National League
• Woking
1-1 Eastleigh – 26th October 2019, National League (Loza)
On the Day
Ticket prices are £18 for Adults, Concessions £13, Students and Next Generation £10 and £5 for 16-year-olds and under –
click here for more information and to book your tickets online.
This match will be segregated, with Eastleigh fans being allocated the Chris Lane Terrace and some seats in the Seymours Community LGS.
