Cards focus on Trophy tie

Oxford United v Woking
FA Trophy 2nd Round
7.45pm on Tuesday 19 January 2010

With the weather seemingly set reasonably fair for the next couple of days, it looks as though this twice-postponed tie will definitely get underway on Tuesday evening. The U’s finally got a game under their belts on Saturday, but suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat to Tamworth: their first home loss this season. It will be interesting to see how Manager Chris Wilder reacts to this in terms of his team selection, with priority having to be given to fighting for the automatic promotion place. The Cards had to kick their heels on Saturday and haven’t played since New Year’s Day. The winners of this tie will pocket £6,000 and will then be away to either Chelmsford City or Crawley Town in the next round, due to be played on 30 January.

WOKING

The Cards have a good record at the Kassam Stadium, having forced three 0-0 draws on their visits there, and won’t lack confidence this time round, given their fine away record this season. But they will be missing two players who’ve made quite an impact in recent games: their two Crystal Palace loanees, Matthew Wright (Trophy-tied anyway) and Nathaniel Pinney, who’ve returned to Selhurst
Park at least temporarily. Tom Hutchinson and Jamie Hand are also suspended. Woking fans can expect to see new signing Jamie Slabber, who had a brief spell with Oxford, leading the forward line, with Moses Ademola in support. Luke Medley’s loan spell has now ended, so we can presumably expect Delano Sam-Yorke to at least get a place on the bench.

In previous rounds Woking defeated St Albans City 6-0 and Forest Green Rovers 1-0, both at Kingfield.

OXFORD UNITED

Needless to say, Chris Wilder has assembled a very strong squad for this season’s onslaught on the BSP title and has recently been strengthening it with the signing of left-back Anthony Tonkin from Cambridge United, midfielder Lee Fowler from Kettering (previously Forest Green) and Jake Wright, a left-sided centre back from Brighton, who previously played for Wilder at Halifax Town. Up front, Jamie Constable has amassed 18 goals already this season. Wilder can also call on Franny Green, who’s just transferred permanently from Kettering following his loan deal, ex-Histon striker Jack Midson, Matt Green and Jamie Cook (with Crawley last season). But former York striker, Onome Sodje, has returned to Barnsley. In midfield the U’s can look to the likes of Dannie Bulman (ex-Stevenage), the highly-experienced Adam Murray, Simon Clist (ex-FGR) and Alfie Potter (best known for his FA Cup goal for Havant and Waterlooville at Liverpool). In defence the powerful ex-Kidderminster Harrier Mark Creighton will prove a considerable obstacle to Jamie Slabber. It looks, though, as if Luke Foster is on his way to Cambridge United.

In the previous round the U’s defeated Hayes and Yeading 1-0 at the Kassam Stadium.

Previous encounters
2006-07: Oxford United 0 Woking 0
Woking 1 Oxford United 0 (Smith)
2007-08: Oxford United 0 Woking 0
Woking 1 Oxford United 2 (Sole pen)
2008-09: Oxford United 0 Woking 0
Woking 0 Oxford United 2

Recent form
28 Nov FAC Oxford United 1 Barrow 1
1 Dec BSP Crawley Town 1 Oxford United 2
5 Dec BSP Oxford United 4 Ebbsfleet United 2
8 Dec FACR Barrow 3 Oxford United 1
12 Dec FAT Oxford United 1 Hayes and Y 0
16 Jan BSP Oxford United 0 Tamworth 1

GETTING THERE

Oxford United FC
Grenoble Road
Oxford
OX4 4XP

Tel: 01865 337500
Tickets: 01865 337533
Fax: 01865 337555
Website: www.oufc.premiumtv.co.uk

By coach
Leaves 5pm; £12 members; £17 non-members; phone 01483 772470 or email shop@wokingfc.co.uk

By car
Take the M25 and M40; the Stadium is just outside the ring road on the south of the city, and clearly signposted on all major routes into Oxford. There is plenty of parking at the ground.

By train
Getting there, the best route is probably to get the 17.16 from Woking, arriving at Basingstoke at 17.35 and then changing onto the 17.47, arriving at Oxford at 18.34. Returning is trickier. The 22.34 from Oxford gets you to Reading at 22.58, from where you can get the 23.12 to Virginia Water, arriving at 23.49 and then catching (if you’re lucky!) the 23.54 train to Woking, arriving at 00.18. A possible alternative for the return journey is to go via London. There are trains at 22.11 and 22.34 to London, arriving at Paddington at 23.27 and 23.38 respectively. Then scoot down the Bakerloo Line to Waterloo to catch the 00.05 or 00.09 to Woking or, at worst, the 01.05. Respective arrival times are 00.35, 00.57 and 01.35. All this assumes, of course, that train services are running properly!

Oxford station is a LONG way from the ground. A taxi looks the only sensible option on the way back. But, going there, you could take the number 5 bus (Stop R2) from the station to Knights Road in Blackbird Leys, which is about 5 minutes’ walk from the ground. Buses take about 25 minutes and run frequently.

ADMISSION PRICES

Ticket prices on the day are:

Adults: £14
Students: £12
Over 65s: £7
Under 16s: £5.

An under-16 accompanied by a full-paying adult or senior citizen can get in for £1. Children under 7 can get in for free when accompanied by a full-paying adult or senior citizen.

Tickets previously bought will be valid on the night. Those Woking fans who bought tickets from Kingfield but cannot attend the postponed game will be eligible for a refund – they should apply to Woking FC.

Come on, you Cards!