With nine games to go in the Vanarama National League season, Barnet make the short trip to
Woking to meet their next opponent.
So, what’s the Buzz?
After the postponement of Tuesday night’s game against Eastleigh, The Bees will have had a
full week to prepare for Saturday’s fixture. This recovery period may allow the returns of some
injured players, including striker Nicke Kabamba, with Connor Smith saying he, “may be in the
conversation now to start games.”
Club Profile
Club Name: Woking F.C.
Nickname: The Cardinals
Founded: 1887
Ground: Kingfield Stadium
Manager: Michael Doyle
League Position: 17th
Form: DWWWL
Opposition Report
Woking are a side in good form recently, recording 10 points from their last 15, including a tight
loss to Rochdale in their last game, one that their manager said there was “no way we deserved
to lose”.
Over the course of the season, The Cardinals have struggled to live up to their playoff run of the
last campaign, falling into the bottom half of the table and being in and around the relegation
zone. Despite this, the appointment of Michael Doyle has seen the side pick up 19 points from
48 since his arrival, which has been enough to get them into 17th.
One to Watch: Charley Kendall
With eight goals in their last five, Woking have been a free-scoring side recently, and Charley
Kendall has put away four of those. Having joined the club from Dagenham and Redbridge in
January, the 23-year-old’s goals have won his side seven points, including a 90th-minute winner
against Kidderminster Harriers earlier in the month.
In the Dugout: Michael Doyle
As a player, Doyle made over 750 career appearances, including spells at Coventry, Sheffield
United and Portsmouth. Having only retired from his playing career in 2022, this Woking job is
Michael Doyle’s first time as head coach, where he has a 31% win rate thus far. That said, he
has had experience in other coaching roles, working as assistant manager at Forest Green
Rovers and Professional Development Phase coach at Portsmouth.
Speaking after the loss against Rochdale, Doyle made the point of being “confident in the
second half of games”, something Barnet will have to be wary of come Saturday
