Cards eye Cup progress

Maidenhead United v Woking
FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round
3pm on 15 October 2011

The Cards have to surmount the potentially awkward obstacle of an away trip to Maidenhead United on Saturday if they are to make further progress in the FA Cup this season. Promotion to the Blue Square Premier is undoubtedly Garry Hill’s priority but no non-League club can afford to ignore the financial incentive of a good FA Cup run, so getting safely past the Magpies will be Garry’s sole focus this weekend.

WOKING

The Cards enjoyed a romp in the sunshine in the last qualifying round, putting seven goals past an outclassed Wells City. Even then Garry showed that he wasn’t going to take an FA Cup tie lightly, putting out the same side that had ground out three points at Dorchester Town the previous weekend. This Saturday’s tie will be much more testing. But the Cards are in good form, with five wins and last weekend’s draw at home to Salisbury City in their last six outings. Assuming everyone is fit and well, we can expect to see the resumption of the centre back pairing of Joe McNerney and Adam Doyle, although Mark Ricketts has shown that he’s more than capable of substituting for either should the need arise. Similarly, Josh Griffiths demonstrated last weekend that, if Adam Newton hasn’t recovered from injury, he can substitute very ably at right back. Up front Garry seems likely to stick to last weekend’s starting line-up, with Wayne Gray keeping out Elvis Hammond and Dale Binns getting the nod over Gez Sole. Jay Davies could consider himself unlucky if, after recent displays, he’s forced to return to a crowded bench but this away tie might better suit the solidity of Ricketts and Jack King in midfield.

MAIDENHEAD UNITED

The Magpies are probably one of the more unpredictable sides in the league, having secured some impressive results, especially on their travels, but having also been ‘tonked’ by several sides. They suffered a dreadful start to the season, being walloped 4-0 in both their opening games, by Tonbridge Angels at home and Dorchester Town away. But they then went on a fine run, winning four and drawing one of their following five league games, beating Bromley, Farnborough and Truro City away, as well as securing, at home, a win over Thurrock and a draw against Staines Town. Form was reversed in the following five league games, with defeats at home to Weston-super-Mare and Truro City and away to Welling United and Sutton United, and a solitary win at home to Havant and Waterlooville.

In the FA Cup the Magpies drew 1-1 at home to Farnborough before winning the replay 3-2.

Last Saturday they drew 1-1 at home to Chelmsford City, securing a last-minute equaliser from Ashan Holgate.

The robust Alex Wall has usually caused us a few problems up front, but ex-Card Manny Williams will be missing, serving out a suspension. Also suspended are defender Leon Soloman and keeper Sam Beasant, a recent signing from Glenn Hoddle’s Academy side. Two recent signings are Ishmail Kamara, a pacy Sierra Leone international who played for Margate last season and who has had a trial with Leeds United, and Wadah Ahmidi, a 20 year-old midfielder who has joined from Molten. Some well-known names include midfielder Will Hendry and experienced defenders John Scarborough and Nevin Saroya.

GETTING THERE

See Tuesday’s news item on travelling to Maidenhead. Please bear in mind that the Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 12.30pm, not 1pm as originally advertised.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £10
Concessions £6
Under 18s £3

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Maidenhead’s matchday programme (£2) will include a piece by Mark Doyle on Dereck Brown, Woking legend and present Maidenhead Assistant Manager.

There is a promotion after the game in the Stripes Bar with all tap beers at £2 a pint.

LAST SEASON

Woking 0 Maidenhead United 2
28 August 2010

This performance and result did little to engender confidence for the season ahead. Having lost their opening games against Dover and Chelmsford, Graham Baker’s side had gained narrow wins over Dorchester and Lewes, but they were distinctly second best against the Magpies. The visitors’ Alex Wall, having been denied a penalty earlier, gave Maidenhead the lead on the half-hour mark with a shot which Adam Doyle deflected past Lenny Pidgeley. The Magpies nearly presented Woking with an own goal equaliser just before half-time when Mark Nisbet hammered a header against his own crossbar but the referee judged that the ball hadn’t crossed the line.

Baker threw on Daryn Hennessy and Sam Hurrell for Moses Ademola and Jerome Maledon but Maidenhead soon doubled their lead, with star striker Kieron St Aimie finishing off a nice passing move. Joe McNerney had a header disallowed as the Cards tried to stage a come-back but they could not complain about the result.

Maidenhead United 0 Woking 1
22 February 2011

This proved to be the fourth successive win in a run which eventually extended to seven straight league wins as the Cards surged up the table in pursuit of an unlikely play-off place. Woking immediately went on the offensive with some good passing football, orchestrated by Kieran Murtagh and Jay Davies, and should have taken the lead from the penalty spot after Elvis Hammond had been fouled, but Moses Ademola’s kick was weak and was easily saved. The home side mainly relied on balls pumped forward to Alex Wall but Andy Little barely had anything to do.

The second half exploded into life when Joe McNerney was sent off in the 55th minute for a high tackle on Wall. With Craig Dobson now on for Ricky Anane, the 10-man Cards continued to take the game to Maidenhead and were rewarded in the 72nd minute when Hammond seized on a through ball from Adam Doyle and found the corner.

Come on, you Cards!

P.S. Don’t forget that the Cards are away at Staines the following Saturday and that their next home game, against Weston-super-Mare, has been switched to Monday 24 October.