AHEAD OF THE GAME: Walton & Hersham (A)

Walton & Hersham vs Woking

Isuzu FA Trophy – Fifth Round

Saturday 31st January

15:00 Kick-Off

Isuzu FA Trophy action resumes this weekend, with the Cards in action against neighbouring side Walton and Hersham.

A harsh combination of wind and rain made for tough conditions in the previous round of the competition, with Woking seeing off National League North outfit Macclesfield FC at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.

It was a first-half double from Sanderson that saw the Cards ahead, while a late goal from Macclesfield made for a nervy final ten minutes, with a crucial penalty save from Ross seeing Woking progress.

For the first time in this season’s campaign, Woking will compete in the trophy away from home, taking to Elmbridge Xcel Sports Hub in an attempt to keep hopes alive of lifting the trophy for the fourth time, having previously won the competition in 1994, 1995, and 1997.

Opposition Watch

The Swans made club history with their progression to the fifth round of the competition, making it to the last 16 for the first time in 47 attempts by defeating Brackley Town. Leaving it late in the fixture, the deadlock was broken in the 80th minute by Mason Obeng, confirming a 1-0 victory.

The triumph over the Saints marked the second National League outfit that Walton and Hersham have knocked out of this year’s competition, with a 4-1 victory in the third round seeing Sutton suffer at the Hub. Obeng’s hat-trick in this fixture, alongside his fourth-round winner, shows he loves a goal against National League opposition.

The Swans have also seen off Hendon in the first round proper, with a 5-1 victory on home turf, as well as knocking out Farnborough in the second round, with a 2-1 win. Dawid Rogalski is another who loves a goal in this competition, scoring in the first three victories, before a short injury spell forced him to the sidelines as his side hosted Brackley.

Currently eleven points clear at the top of the Southern League Premier South, the Surrey side have had a strong league campaign thus far, claiming 63 out of a possible 78 points, having suffered league defeat on just three occasions.

Two of these defeats have come in recent times, firstly as a trip to Weymouth ended an impressive 21-game unbeaten league run, with a 3-1 loss on Saturday, January 17. The following week, their unbeaten home record in the league, which stretched back to November 5, 2024, was ended by a 2-1 defeat to Poole.

Having since bounced back to claim all three points against Gloucester City, the Swans will certainly be looking to continue in winning form this weekend.

One to Watch

Ever-present in the Swans’ net, Jos Barker has kept a total of 18 clean sheets across all competitions this season. This includes the historic 1-0 victory over Brackley Town, which, at the time, marked Barker’s fourth consecutive clean sheet.

Last time out, a 2-0 victory against Gloucester City on Tuesday, January 27, saw Barker’s latest addition to his impressive tally.

Having already proved himself tough to beat against National League’s Sutton and Brackley Town, he will be hoping to have the same effect between the sticks on Saturday afternoon, as he looks to obtain a second successive shut-out.