Wealdstone vs Woking | Match Preview
- Aryan Jolly
- 7 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Following a solid victory against Dagenham and Redbridge last time out, the Stones are looking to keep building their momentum as they welcome Woking to the Vale.
The Basics
Date: Saturday, January 17
Venue: Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip, HA4 6JQ
Competition: The Enterprise National League
Kick Off Time: 3:00 pm
Broadcast Information: The game will be available to watch live via DAZN (non-UK residents only)
News From The Vale
Wealdstone’s first team squad has seen a significant shakeup over the last few days.
There have been two outgoings, as Daniel Nkrumah and Steven Turner have both left the club after making 17 and 10 appearances respectively. Nkrumah has joined Worthing, whilst Turner has returned to Ipswich Town following the expiration of his loan deal. The club thanks both players for their service and wishes them the best for the future.
Ahead of the last game, Sam Cox secured the signatures of three new players! Daniel Cox Elijah Dixon-Bonner have both arrived in HA4 on short-term loan deals. Cox spent the first half of the season on loan in the EFL with Walsall, whilst Dixon-Bonner was most recently on loan at Morecambe. Click here to find out more about Dan, and here to find out more about Elijah’s career to date.
There has been one more incoming at the Vale this week, as Shay Spencer has joined the club on loan from Reading. The 20-year-old has progressed through the Royals’ youth ranks, making nine appearances in the centre of the park for the League One club.
Welcome to the club, Daniel, Elijah, and Shay!
The Wealdstone women’s side have recently had a lengthy run of away fixtures, but they are also at home this weekend as they face Goldsworth Park Rangers at Brunel University Sports Park. Saj Vigneswaran’s side is performing well in both the league and cup competitions, so be sure to show your support by attending the match or following them on Instagram via this link!
The Opposition
Recent form: WLDLW
League Position: 11th
Woking have been a stalwart of the National League over the last decade. The Cards spent one season in the sixth tier in 2018/19, and have only made the playoffs on one occasion, the 2022/23 campaign, under the tutelage of Darren Sarll.
The Surrey-based side had a slow start to the season, but have recovered well and climbed up the table. The Cards currently sit in 11th place in the National League, two places above the Stones, but a win for Sam Cox’s side on Saturday will see the two teams go level on points.
The manager - Neal Ardley: Saturday’s opposition have one of the most experienced and successful managers in the league at the helm in the form of Neal Ardley.
Ardley started his managerial career with the phoenix of the club that he played the best part of 250 games for, AFC Wimbledon. He spent over six years in charge of the Dons as they first established themselves in the EFL before going on to win promotion from League Two via the playoffs.
The 53-year-old led AFC Wimbledon for 326 games, winning the League Two Manager of the Month award twice.
He then had spells at the top-end of the National League with Notts County and Solihull Moors, his spell with the Moors being particularly noteworthy as he guided them to within a handful of points of the league title.
Recently, Ardley has spent time at York City before being employed to turn the tide at Woking midway through last season. He has picked up 1.6 points per game at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.
The danger man - Oliver Sanderson: Woking’s goalscorer in the reverse fixture between the two sides, Oliver Sanderson, is the Cards’ danger man heading into Saturday’s contest.
The 22-year-old is a player who has been impressive in non-league, but not quite able to show his quality in the EFL throughout his career thus far.
Sanderson scored four goals in six games in the National League South during his first spell in men’s football on loan at Oxford City, helping fire the side to promotion. He remained at the club at the start of the following season, netting nine times in 23 games in the fifth tier before being recalled by Fulham and sent to the EFL.
The frontman’s time in the fourth tier did not go to plan, as he scored six goals in 41 appearances in League Two, so he was loaned back to a National League side in Woking at the start of this season.
His work rate and running in behind have caused problems for defenders in the fifth tier, as Sanderson has netted six times in 20 league games. Two of these goals have come in his last three games, as the striker has really hit his stride over the winter period.
Buy Your Tickets Now!
The Stones are looking to complete the double over the Cards for the first time since they got promoted to the National League, so be sure to purchase your tickets and act as the 12th man for the team!
Please note that tickets purchased online in advance are always cheaper than on the gate and that seated tickets have to be purchased in advance.
