Woking welcome Solihull Moors to the Laithwaite Community Stadium on Tuesday night, with the Cardinals looking to build on an emphatic weekend victory while the visitors search for a response to a difficult start to the National League season. Woking begin the evening on 12 points from ten matches, while Solihull have collected just four points from their opening ten fixtures.
Woking arrive with renewed confidence after an impressive 5-2 victory away at Carlisle United on Saturday. The sides were level at 1-1 at half-time before Neal Ardley’s team produced a devastating second-half display, scoring four times to take all three points from Brunton Park.
Matt Ward restored Woking’s lead shortly after the restart before John Marquis took control of the contest. The striker scored three times during the second half, including two penalties, to complete his hat-trick and put the Cardinals 5-1 ahead. Carlisle added a late consolation, but there was no way back for the hosts.
The victory followed a goalless home draw against Kidderminster Harriers and means Woking have taken four points from their last two matches. Their recent results have been mixed, however, with a 2-1 defeat at Boston United preceding the Kidderminster draw, while the standout result of their recent home fixtures was a remarkable 5-1 victory over Altrincham.
Those two five-goal performances underline the attacking threat Woking have demonstrated when at their best. The Cardinals have now scored 15 goals in ten National League matches, with 10 of those coming in the victories over Altrincham and Carlisle alone.
Solihull travel to Surrey looking to halt a run of successive defeats. Their only league victory of the season came earlier this month when Scott High’s goal earned a 1-0 home win against Barrow, but Chris Millington’s side have been unable to build on that breakthrough.
A 4-1 defeat away at Yeovil Town followed before league leaders Boreham Wood visited Damson Park on Saturday. Solihull remained competitive for much of the first half, but Ben Whitfield scored shortly before the interval and added another immediately after the restart before Jay Bird completed a 3-0 victory for the visitors.
Solihull’s last five National League matches have produced one win, one draw and three defeats. Their defensive record remains their most significant concern, with Moors having conceded 26 goals across their opening ten league fixtures. They have also conceded seven times across their last two matches while scoring only once.
Recent meetings between Woking and Solihull have generally favoured the Cardinals. Across eight encounters over the previous three seasons, Woking have recorded four victories, Solihull have won twice and two matches have ended level, with Woking scoring nine goals to Solihull’s six.
Woking enjoyed the better of last season’s meetings. The Cardinals recorded a 3-0 victory at Damson Park through goals from Oliver Sanderson, Aaron Drewe and Josh Kelly, before the return fixture at the Laithwaite Community Stadium finished 0-0.
Woking begin Tuesday with 12 points from ten National League matches after three wins, three draws and four defeats. Solihull remain on four points after one win, one draw and eight defeats, with their 26 goals conceded contributing to a goal difference of -17.
Tuesday offers Woking an opportunity to build on the momentum generated by their five-goal victory at Carlisle, while Solihull arrive in Surrey searching for only their second league win of the season and a response after conceding seven goals across successive defeats.
