Cards need a home win

Woking v Nuneaton Town
3pm on Saturday 8 September 2012

The Cards will be very anxious to secure three points from this game, given their run of four successive defeats, which has left them sitting in 19th place after seven games. Arguably, Garry Hill’s side have been unlucky not to come away with any points from their four away games so far but those defeats make it even more vital to maintain good home form – which means being much less slipshod in defence, and more ruthless in front of goal, on Saturday than in their last Kingfield outing, against Braintree Town. Come on down to Kingfield if you possibly can and cheer the Cards on to victory!

WOKING

The last few weeks have been a frustrating time for the Woking management team and fans alike. The team has often played some good football, frequently matching much-fancied sides away from home, but they have shot themselves in the foot by giving away goals at particularly bad times, including three goals just before half-time – which, in each case, turned a 1-0 deficit into a two-goal half-time deficit. Tuesday night’s match at Hereford was a case of déjà vu: an early goal conceded in the 10th minute, with Woking recovering well only for Mike Cestor’s poor defending to make a present of Hereford’s second goal in the 44th minute. Woking fought back superbly in the second half but could only claw back one goal. In that game the Cards had more of the possession, more shots on goal and more shots on target but still lost.

Garry Hill is too experienced to panic but has hinted that changes will have to be made if the players do not learn quickly from the mistakes made in recent games. He has been hampered, though, by injuries to Gez Sole and Bradley Bubb, leading to Joe McNerney (who often played up front in his Academy days) being thrown forward during the last two games from his usual central defensive position. It will be interesting to see how Garry lines up his side on Saturday.

NUNEATON TOWN

Nuneaton Town are the reincarnation of the former Nuneaton Borough, who folded in 2008. The reformed club under Kevin Wilkin’s leadership have climbed quickly up the non-League ladder, gaining three promotions, all through the play-offs, including last season’s jump from the Blue Square North.

There has been a big influx of players during the summer, including Kyle Perry, a striker who was with Lincoln City last season, and Kyle Patterson, another striker who was with Tamworth and formerly LA Galaxy. Recent additions include central defender Manny Parry, a highly-regarded work experience central defender from Stoke City, and the experienced Stephen O’Halloran, formerly with Aston Villa and capped by Republic of Ireland. Skipper Gaz Dean, with some 200 appearances, is a tower of strength in central defence.

Adam Walker is the ‘danger man’, having notched six goals already, including a hat-trick against Alfreton Town.

Nuneaton started the season with two defeats but they have lost only one of their following five games and now sit in 15th place in the table, two points and four places above Woking. Their results have been:

Nuneaton 4 Ebbsfleet 5
Newport 4 Nuneaton 0
Grimsby 0 Nuneaton 0
Nuneaton 2 Cambridge 2
Alfreton 0 Nuneaton 3
Nuneaton 0 Gateshead 1
Nuneaton 3 AFC Telford 1

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £15
Over 65s/Students £10
U16s £5

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Saturday’s 56-page programme includes an interview with Jack Parkinson, plus all the news from the BSP, match reports, previews, great action photos and much more. If you can’t get to the game, you can order a copy from the Club Shop on shop@wokingfc.co.uk

NEXT GAME

The Cards are away to Stockport County the following Saturday (15 September). The next home game is on Saturday 22 September when Gateshead visit Kingfield.

Come on, you Cards!