Glen Harrington
7:00pm, Mon 3rd Oct 2022
Southend United vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Tuesday 4th October 2022
Woking will be aiming for a third successive win and a fourth in the last five National League games on Tuesday evening when they travel to Southend United.
The Cards shook off their away day hoodoo to claim only a second win on the road this season on Saturday. FC Halifax Town were thrashed 4-0, thanks to a brace from Reece Grego-Cox, a fifth goal of the season for top scorer James Daly, plus an own goal, which came courtesy of more good work from Daly, giving Woking their biggest win of the season so far. The result kept the Cards in the play-off places, with an impressive 19 points from their first 11 games, whilst also recording a fifth clean sheet.
Manager Darren Sarll’s only concern will be injuries, with Jim Kellermann and Scott Cuthbert both forcibly withdrawn, although Jermaine Anderson and Joe McNerney proved more than capable understudies at the Shay. Their potential absence, combined with an ongoing bout of illness in the squad which sidelined Jack Roles and up to two others on Saturday, will be a worry with such a short turnaround time before the next game.
Opposition Watch
Southend are in their second season in the National League following successive relegations in 2020 and 2021. The Shrimpers recovered from a hugely difficult start to finish 13th last season, with manager Kevin Maher steering the club well clear of relegation, having replaced Phil Brown in October last year.
The club had a productive summer, bringing in 12 new players, predominately exciting young talents from lower down the pyramid, with former Woking striker Jake Hyde, who arrived on loan from Wrexham, the only new signing over the age of 27. Notable new additions included Barnet defender Harry Taylor, Altrincham winger Dan Mooney, and Barnet midfielder Wesley Fonguck. An incredible 18 players left the club, including striker Sam Dalby who joined Wrexham, as well as veterans such as Josh Coulson, John White, Will Atkinson, James Dunne, and Simeon Akinola.
Despite being tipped by many for a play-off place this season, it’s been a mixed start to the campaign for Maher’s side, who sit 11th after as many games, with 15 points thus far. They are, however, unbeaten in their last three games without conceding, having claimed a credible goalless draw with Wrexham, before 1-0 wins over Wealdstone and Yeovil Town. But that only came after back-to-back defeats at home to struggling Torquay and away to Chesterfield. Of their 11 games thus far, 10 have seen the two teams separated by one goal or less.
As well as Hyde and Taylor, there are two other former Woking players in the Southend squad: defender Nathan Ralph is the club captain, whilst former loanee Harry Cardwell is amongst their striking options. Their top scorer is midfielder Callum Powell with three.
Recent Meetings
• Woking
2-3 Southend United – 12th February 2022, National League (Effiong 2)
• Southend United
0-2 Woking – 13th November 2021, National League (Campbell, Kretzschmar)
Tickets
Ticket prices are £20 for Adults, Concessions £15 (60+, 17-22, student with ID, emergency services), Juniors (9-16) £10, and Under 5s £5. For more information and to book your ticket please
click here.
