Preview: Expect a feisty cup night at The Laithwaite Community Stadium
A mid-January night in Woking promises cup drama as Woking host Macclesfield in Round 4 of the FA Trophy on 13/01/2026. The surface, the crowd and the compact Kingfield Road setting tend to sharpen the edges of knockout football, and both teams arrive with recent confidence-boosting wins. Woking’s emphatic 4-0 league victory over Hartlepool United on 10 January underlines a squad that can finish chances clinically, while Macclesfield, coming off a surprise 2-1 FA Cup success over Crystal Palace the same day, will back themselves to reproduce the kind of single-game magic that cup ties demand.
Woking’s numbers from the supplied data paint a picture of a home side that presses relentlessly. Their attacks average sits at an eye-catching 102, with dangerous attacks averaging 58 — a clear sign that they manufacture chances and territory. Macclesfield counters with a higher total-shot output in recent fixtures and a more varied scoring pattern away from home, boasting nine shots on target and an attacks average of 50; they also show greater threat from set-pieces, reflected in an average of five corners versus Woking’s two. Those contrasts suggest Woking will look to control and probe, while Macclesfield will aim to seize transition moments and exploit set-piece opportunities.
Tactical battle and form narratives
Formlines add colour to the tactical duel. Woking’s recent sequence carries momentum: several wins interspersed with draws and a couple of defeats, but crucially a booming latest scoreline that should lift morale. Macclesfield’s form reads as punchy and unpredictable — victories over tougher opposition in cup action, coupled with a handful of setbacks in lower-profile fixtures. In knockout football, that unpredictability is dangerous; the visitors have shown they can raise their level when needed.
From a clean-sheet perspective, both sides have kept shutouts recently, but Woking’s home attacking pressure and better conversion of chances in their latest outing give them a narrow edge. This is a match where home territory and sustained pressure could be decisive, while Macclesfield’s sharper shooting statistics and corner dominance mean they should not be written off.
Before placing a stake, consider reading targeted strategy pieces like Soccer betting tips and the choice of markets to decide which market suits your style, or the timing advice in The right time to place bets on goal markets if you prefer wagering on totals.
Betting suggestion: For a straight, single-market play the data points to the home side. Recommended market — 1X2: back Woking to win. The combination of heavy attacking intent at home, recent 4-0 form statement and the club’s ability to create sustained pressure makes Woking the favoured outcome in this FA Trophy clash.
