Preview: Bromley vs. Woking - prediction, team news, lineups

The home side will commence this week's round of fixtures eighth in the league standings, while the visitors begin in fifth place.

Match preview

Bromley started the season brilliantly, and found themselves fourth in the table after a 2-0 victory at seventh-placed Boreham Wood at the beginning of October, just four points off first.

However, since that important victory against a fellow playoff-chasing side, there has been a major change of form for Andy Woodman's side, picking up two draws and four defeats in their last six matches.

In that time, the Ravens also failed to book their place in the first round of the FA Cup, despite a favourable draw, as they succumbed to a 2-1 home defeat against sixth-tier side Hereford United.

For the vast majority of the season though, Bromley have been been good on home soil, losing just once at Hayes Lane in the league, and conceding just twice in their opening seven matches on their own turf.

After a four-game losing run in all competitions, Woodman's men showed positive signs last Tuesday night, picking up a 1-1 draw away at first-placed Notts County, but they will need to follow it up with a win against a team also in the playoff mix to ensure that they stay in promotion contention.

Indeed, Woking have emerged as promotion contenders with just over a third of the season gone, acquiring 30 points from their opening 17 games, a tally that means they are five points clear of their opponents on Wednesday.

Recent form has been key in Darren Sarll's side cementing themselves in the playoffs, winning four and drawing one of their last five games in all competitions.

The run started with a 2-1 win against Southend United to ensure the Cards' place in the first round of the FA Cup, before defeating Gateshead 3-1 away from home, and drawing 3-3 at home to Dorking Wanderers.

Having shipped goals in their five previous outings, two recent home fixtures have given Sarll's men the chance to display their defensive acumen, beating both Eastleigh and Yeovil Town 1-0 in closely-contested affairs.

The most recent of which, against Yeovil, was decided by an 85th-minute Padraig Amond strike, a result that ended a bad run against the Glovers, who they had not beaten in the last five competitive meetings between the two clubs.

Bromley National League form:

W

D

L

L

L

D

Torquay United form (all competitions):

Woking National League form:

D

L

W

D

W

W

Torquay United form (all competitions):

Team News

Adam Marriott has been in fine form for Bromley this season, with the striker notching eight goals in the league this season, and he is likely to come into the team, replacing Corey Whitely, who is yet to score.

After a good performance last time out, the rest of the team is set to remain unchanged, and the goalscorer on the day, Michael Cheek, is set to start again in attack.

Veteran defender Byron Webster should line up again in defence, having started the last 11 games, while Chris Bush should also play, after starting the last three.

As his team have a very solid recent record, Sarll is also unlikely to make too many changes to his Woking side, with Amond set to lead the line, having scored three goals in his last three matches.

The defence has been of vital importance in securing wins for the Cards in their last two outings, and Joe McNerney and Scott Cuthbert are key components, so they are both set to get the nod again.

Bromley possible starting lineup:

Smith; Reynolds, Hannam, Bush, Webster, Reynolds; Vennings, Bingham, Coleman; Marriott, Cheek

Woking possible starting lineup:

Ross; Moss, Cuthbert, McNerney, Casey, Vokins; Ince, Kellerman, Anderson; Korboa, Amond

We say: Bromley 1-1 Woking

Bromley proved that they have what it takes to perform against the National League's better sides in the draw at Notts County last time out, however Woking are in very good form, so the spoils are quite likely to be shared.

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