Match Preview: Woking vs Maidstone United – Vanarama National League


Woking hope to end their horrible winless run this weekend when they host Maidstone United at the Laithwaite Community Stadium. Woking have not won since the 21st of November when they beat Ebbsfleet United 1-0.
On New Years Day, they lost in the final few minutes against bitter rivals Aldershot when former Woking striker Scott Rendell scored on either side of Kane Ferdinand’s strike to hand the Shots the points.
Maidstone are not on a great run of form themselves; having not won a game game since the 11th of November.
A win for Woking would take them to 37 points, level with today’s opponents Maidstone. Woking currently sit 14th in the Vanarama National League.
The Stones have a experienced side with players like Joe Anderson and Stuart Lewis with the former having previously played at Woking.
He was loaned from his first ever club Fulham in 2009 to The Cards where he made 14 appearances. He has now played with many different clubs such as Lincoln, Cambridge and AFC Hornchurch.
He finally settled into Bromley when Anderson made over 150 appearances for from 2013-2017 before moving to Maidstone in may 2017.
Stuart Lewis is also another very experienced player for Maidstone. The Englishman has made over 50 appearances for Gillingham, over 100 for Wycombe and over 50 for Ebbsfleet United in 2015-17 before joining Maidstone on loan making 15 appearances but signed permanently in April.
He went on to win the supports player of the year for 2016-17 award.
They have a clinical striker in local boy Joe Piggot who is joint fourth top goalscorer in the league this season with 10 goals. Joe was sent on loan to Maidstone from Cambridge after struggling to get first team football.
He scored six goals in 17 appearances and signed a one year deal for The Stones after being released by Cambridge.
Woking have no injury concerns this weekend but still have Chez Isaac suspended. He serves the second of a three match ban after his red card against Eastleigh.
Jamie Philpot’s loan is due to expire this month but manager Anthony Limbrick has said he is trying to extend his loan and is in talks with his parent club Millwall.
Limbrick has also said he plans to try bring in a couple of players to strengthen his squad for the last four months of the season.
Woking suffered a 3-1 defeat earlier in the season when Zavon Hines opened the scoring for the home side before former Card, Delano Sam-Yorke doubled the lead.
Woking did pull one back through Joe Ward but the two goal lead was restored five minutes later by Joe Piggot. Zavon Hines has since left the club for Chesterfield while Woking are looking to re- kick start their season.
Words: Ben McNicol