William Bewsey
9:38am, Thu 26th Oct 2023
Woking vs Bromley
Vanarama National League
Saturday 28th October 2023
15:00 Kick-Off
Woking will look to right the wrongs of last season's playoff eliminator and make up further ground on the top seven when they host high flying Bromley at the Laithwaite on Saturday.
Following a much needed win over Eastleigh at the Silverlake on Tuesday night, Darren Sarll will be hoping his side can finally end a run of home league games without a win stretching back to late August, with several players available for the first time in a while.
Woking will hope that Reece Grego-Cox can recover from the illness that saw him sidelined on Tuesday night to add to a strike force containing a recently returned Rhys Browne, who completed 82 minutes and got the assist for the winner, as well as the likes of Charlie Wakefield and Alfie Pavey, who were both included on the bench. They will be without Jim Kellermann, who is expected to return in time for the trip to Ramsgate, as well as Luke Wilkinson, whilst Ricky Korboa and Manny Oyeleke are expected to return close to the New Year.
Around the Ground
Ticket pricing and other details are available
here.
Due to the weather forecast, supporters holding tickets in the terraces will be able to migrate to open seats in the Seymours Community Stand.
Access to the MKJ Kingfield Road End will remain access controlled for blue tickets / blue season ticket cards only, to comply with safety regulations.
Please be sure not to occupy any seat labelled “reserved” for our season ticket holders.
Opposition Watch
After victory over the Cards in the eliminator led to a devastating 3-2 extra time defeat to Chesterfield in last season's semi final, Bromley saw somewhat of an exodus in the summer, with star defender Kellen Fisher moving to Norwich, whilst Omar Sowumni and Harry Forster made moves to the EFL with Sutton and Crawley, as well as losing keeper Reice Charles Cook. Andy Woodman has strengthened his Ravens side, however, with Grant Smith from Yeovil becoming number one between the sticks, whilst star signings have included Millwall loan defender Chin Okoli, right back Josh Passley from Havant & Waterlooville and midfielder Lewis Leigh on loan from Preston.
Top scorer, unsurprisingly, is serial National League goal scorer Michael Cheek, who has seven goals so far this season, whilst Bromley have shared 27 goals between 11 players so far this season. After a last minute Corey Whitely winner saw Dorking defeated at Hayes Lane, Woodman's side are now third in the league, with nine wins, five draws and three defeats thus far this season.
A shaky start to the season saw Bromley winless in their first five, but they've lost just once in twelve games since, an away defeat to top of the table Chesterfield. With a televised FA Cup First Round tie against Blackpool on the horizon, the Ravens will be looking to carry some momentum into a tricky fixture against a League One giant.
Last Time Out
Bromley were victorious against the Cards in early May's eliminator, with a first half Rohan Ince goal cancelled out by a Michael Cheek penalty, followed up by a Deji Elerewe header.
Woking completed the league double over the Ravens last season, with goals from Reece Grego-Cox and Rhys Browne enough for a 2-0 away win at Hayes Lane in November, before February's 2-1 win over Andy Woodman's side, courtesy of goals from Scott Cuthbert and Jim Kellermann to cancel out Mitchel Bergkamp's opener.
This was a rare feat for the Cards, who previously hadn't beaten Bromley at the Laithwaite since the 2019-20 season, and not at Hayes Lane since September 2011. Woking have won 9 of the 22 meetings between the sides, with 3 draws and 10 Bromley wins.
