Big Boxing Day clash

Woking v Farnborough
1pm on Monday 26 December 2011 (NB Kick-off time)

Garry Hill is hoping for a big crowd on Boxing Day to roar his side on to victory against our near neighbours Farnborough. The Cards lie ten points clear at the top of the table, having lost only one league game all season. What’s more they’ve been playing some great football, so haul yourself out of the sofa, bring the in-laws (or leave them at home!) and get down to Kingfield for what should be a very entertaining game.

WOKING

Garry Hill has targeted 12 more wins to clinch the Blue Square South title. He must be hoping that two of them will come from the holiday double-header against Farnborough, who sit in 16th position in the table. But he knows very well that league positions sometimes don’t count for much in local derbies and especially so at this time of year, when surprise results are not uncommon. Moreover, Farnborough, like Thurrock last Saturday, are a side in transition, eager to please a new manager – and recent results suggest that they are on the rise again.

Woking will again be missing Mark Ricketts and Paris Cowan-Hall. Subject to any other injury worries, the defence will no doubt line up as at Thurrock. Garry Hill will presumably ponder whether to start with Wayne Gray, who came off the bench to join Elvis Hammond at Thurrock.

The game will have an added edge for Woking’s ex-Farnborough contingent of Adam Doyle, Jack King and Dale Binns – and I suppose we ought to include Jay Davies in that list, although, in truth, he was briefly ‘pinched’ by Steve King from us!

FARNBOROUGH

It’s hard – even for Farnborough fans! – to keep up with all the developments at the Rushmoor Stadium. Following their defeat by Ebbsfleet in the play-off final last year, Steve King left the Club, with former Hayes and Yeading manager Garry Haylock being appointed. There was a huge turnover of players – from which of course Woking and other clubs benefited. Results in the early part of the season were indifferent and nosedived spectacularly in late October/early November, with five successive league defeats by margins of 3-0, 8-2, 5-0, 3-1 and 3-1. On 15 November Haylock was sacked, with Spencer Day, owner/manager of Chertsey Town, taking over. He brought with him a clutch of Chertsey players, several of whom started in his first game in charge: a 3-1 win away at Salisbury City, with Daniel Bennett, a prolific striker with Chertsey, scoring two goals.

Although Day has a somewhat chequered history, he has enjoyed considerable success at Chertsey, bringing on a number of talented young players and playing some attractive football. Farnborough’s fortunes have continued to improve, with subsequent defeats of Truro and, last Saturday, of Bromley, making a run of four league games without defeat. The side is young and lacks experience, but Day has now brought in Richard Orlu from Staines Town in central defence. Day has said that they are looking forward to the trip to Woking since the pressure to get a result will all be on Garry Hill’s side.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £12
Concessions/Students £8
U16s £2

The match will be segregated. The turnstiles and bar will open at 11.00am and the bar will shut promptly at 3.30pm.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Make sure you get a copy of the Club’s excellent matchday programme. Chairman Mike Smith has produced a comprehensive summary of what’s happening around the Club, including updates on: the lease of the ground; the preparation of new Articles of Association and the election of a new Board; the Club’s finances and commercial activities; and the latest news on the ‘Darlington stand’. There is also an interview with in-form Alan Inns, a look at the funnier side of the world of football and, of course, all the usual previews, reports and great photos.

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 0 Farnborough 1
BSBS Play-Off Semi-Final, 1st leg
4 May 2011

A crowd of over 2,700 witnessed a tight game, with relatively few clear chances created. Woking had slightly more of the attacking play, looking to free Elvis Hammond and Moses Ademola, while Farnborough were largely content to sit back and counter-attack. The breakthrough for Farnborough came unexpectedly in the 71st minute when Andy Little’s attempted punched clearance fell to Garry Holloway, who promptly smacked the ball back under the bar. In an exciting finale Woking came close to forcing an equaliser on several occasions but Farnborough missed a great chance to give themselves a two-goal cushion for the second leg when Paul Booth somehow contrived to scoop the ball over the bar from a couple of yards out.

Come on, you Cards!

P.S. Don’t forget that the Cards resume battle with Farnborough on New Year’s Day at the Rushmoor Stadium. Kick-off is at 3pm.