AHEAD OF THE GAME: Brackley Town (A)

Brackley Town vs Woking

Enterprise National League

Saturday 14th March

15:00 Kick-Off

Back on the road this weekend, the Cards travel to St. James Park to take on Brackley Town for the fourth time this term.

Indeed, having locked horns with the Saints in both league and cup action, this season has already seen a win, a draw, and a loss for the Surrey side. This began with a 1-1 draw at the Laithwaite Community Stadium on October 11th, a result which forced the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round tie to be replayed in Northamptonshire.

That fixture, the last time Woking travelled to take on the Saints, saw the Cards exit the FA Cup following a 6-2 defeat on October 14th.

A far more positive league result followed, with a 2-0 victory at the Laithwaite on November 29th. A goal in each half secured Woking three points, with Sanderson striking early and Kelly netting on the hour mark to see the Cards register what was the ninth in a ten-game unbeaten league run.

A similar result will be welcomed this weekend, as Woking look to go four unbeaten under the interim management of Craig Ross, Jake Hyde, and Dale Gorman, building on a promising performance which saw the Cards share points with play-off placed Boreham Wood last time out.

Opposition Watch

One of the division’s promoted sides, Brackley Town clinched the National League North title on the final day of the 2024/25 campaign. A positive start to National League life saw the Saints lose just two of their opening ten league fixtures, but they have more recently struggled in the division.

This is alongside a mid-season change in the dugout, with the manager behind Brackley’s maiden promotion to the National League, Gavin Cowan, departing the club at the end of January to take charge of League Two’s Shrewsbury Town.

His replacement, Andy Whing, has had a struggling start to Brackley life, with six losses from six fixtures since his appointment on February 17th. Indeed, last time out, the Saints lost out to Eastleigh, with the Spitfires netting in injury time to steal the victory.

Having won just one in their last ten league clashes, Brackley will certainly be searching for a change in fortune, as the currently 20th-placed side strive to put some more points between themselves and the drop zone.

A flurry of new signings for Brackley serves to aid just that, with Peterborough United’s Joe Andrews, Oxford United’s Aidan Elliot-Wheeler, and Yeovil Town’s Tahvon Campbell all arriving on loan, adding to the side’s attacking options.

Indicative of his attacking influence, Campbell scored on debut last time out, netting in the 37th minute to cancel out Eastleigh’s opener, and he will be looking to add to his tally on Saturday afternoon.

One to Watch

Having already scored three times against the Cards this season, Matt Lowe will certainly be on Woking’s radar.

So far this campaign, he has picked up a total of eight goals across all competitions, including a 27th-minute leveller against League Two’s Notts County in the FA Cup First Round, a tie they went on to win via a shoutout.

He also boasts one of the three netted against Boreham Wood in their FA Trophy exit, another tie that ended in a draw and saw the Saints progress with a penalty shootout victory.

Having made sure to net in every month from September to January, the number eleven couldn’t etch his name onto a scoresheet in February, so he will certainly be looking to get back to goalscoring ways this weekend.

Preview by: Holly Porter