Cards target away points

Nuneaton Town v Woking
3pm on Saturday 21 December 2013

The Cards, now in 17th spot in the table, begin a testing sequence of five league games in a fortnight, which could either leave them well clear of the relegation places or still looking nervously over their shoulders. With key loans due to come to an end at the beginning of January, Garry will be keen to amass as many points as possible from games which all look potentially winnable provided the side plays better than it did at North Ferriby United last Saturday.

WOKING

The Cards will no longer be able to call on the versatile Jack Parkinson, following his transfer to ambitious Maidstone United. Cards fans will wish him well in his future career but regret that it won’t be with Woking FC. Fortunately, Mike Cestor has generally played well at centre back in recent games and Brett Johnson is also now returning following his hamstring injury.

What the Cards need is the sort of commanding performance away from home which saw them beat Hereford United 3-0 in the Trophy and triumph 4-3 at the hitherto impregnable Shay.

NUNEATON TOWN

Nuneaton were the surprise package in the early part of the season, winning seven and drawing two of their first nine games before falling away in a sequence that brought no wins in the succeeding ten games. But a recovery seems to be underway: they have lost only twice in their last eight league and cup games, including Tuesday’s defeat on penalties in a Trophy replay against Gosport Borough. That sequence includes a notable away win at Welling United and a league and Trophy double over Alfreton Town.

Nuneaton now sit 4th in the table with 39 points and therefore still have a good chance of making the play-offs if they can maintain their recent form.

However, the squad is suffering from a lot of injury problems and had to field a very depleted side on Tuesday evening. Manager Kevin Wilkin has just brought in former Northampton Town youth player, right back Chimdi Akubiune.

Louis Moult, only fit enough for the bench on Tuesday evening, is the ‘danger man’ with 13 goals already this season. A fellow striker is Freddie Ladapo, who failed to make any impression when on loan at Kingfield from Colchester United earlier this season. Other familiar non-League names include midfielder Phil Trainer and striker James Armson.

GETTING THERE

Nuneaton Town FC
The Sperrin Brewery Stadium
Liberty Way
Nuneaton
Warwickshire
CV11 6RR

Official website: www.nuneatontownfc.com

By coach
The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 11.00am. Members £16, non-Members £21. Ring the Club Shop on 01483 772470 or email shop@wokingfc.co.uk to book your place.

By car
Exit the M6 at Junction 3 and follow the A444 into Nuneaton. At the Coton Arches roundabout turn right into Avenue Road, which is the A4254 signposted for Hinckley. Continue along the A4254 following the road into Garrett Street, then Eastboro Way, then turn left into Townsend Drive. Follow the road round before turning left into Liberty Way for the ground. There is parking at the ground at a cost of £2 and street parking in the vicinity.

By train
The nearest station is Nuneaton.

The ground is about a 30-minute walk from the station or there are taxis available. If you’re walking, leave the station and turn left along Regent Street and, where the road forks, keep to the right. At the traffic lights at the bottom turn left into Vicarage Street (A444 signposted Attleborough/Bulkington). Keep going along this road, passing a police station on your left. At the next roundabout with a church on one corner, turn left onto Church Street (B4114 towards Attleborough). Walk along Church Street, passing a park on your right and then going under a railway bridge. Go straight on at the mini-roundabout into Attleborough Road, passing the Rugger Tavern on your right and then the Attleborough Arms on your left as the road becomes Highfield Road. At the next roundabout take the first exit onto the A4254 towards Hinckley (also signposted Attleborough Fields Industrial Estate). You will next pass the Crows Nest pub on your right and, at the next roundabout, take the first exit into Townsend Drive. The entrance to Liberty Way is a short distance down on the right. (Directions courtesy of www.footballgroundguide.com)

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults: £12
16 and under: £3
Plus £2 to transfer to the Main Stand seats if required.

When games are segregated visiting supporters are allocated the Loans 2 Go Stand and the visitors’ turnstiles will be in use. As you enter the Stadium area through the main gates, the visitors’ turnstiles are the first ones that you come to on your left.

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 2 Nuneaton Town 0
28 September 2013

This was a very welcome three points for the Cards, ending a winless run of eight games and also constituting their first home win of the season. Nuneaton came to Kingfield second in the table but were second best to Garry Hill’s side throughout the game.

The Cards opened the scoring after 13 minutes when Scott Rendell turned in a Kevin Betsy cross. The lead could easily have been increased in the first half but for some fine goalkeeping from James Belshaw but he couldn’t do anything about Josh Payne’s strike early in the second half, Josh having been set up by some clever play by Gavin Williams.

Woking: Sam Beasant, Mark Ricketts, John Nutter, Jack Parkinson, Joe McNerney, Darren Murphy (Mike Cestor 77), Josh Payne, Gavin Williams (Giuseppe Sole 82), Anthony McNamee (John Goddard 46), Kevin Betsy, Scott Rendell

Unused Subs: Aaron Howe, George Frith

Goals: Rendell 13, Payne 49

Booked: Parkinson 32

NEXT GAME

Line up the family and friends for a visit to Kingfield on Boxing Day afternoon when Woking take on Salisbury City. Kick-off is at 3pm. On Saturday 28 December the Cards are away at Dartford and then on
1 January they travel to Salisbury for part two of the holiday ‘double’. A hectic schedule sees them at home again on Saturday 4 January when struggling Hereford United come to town.

Come on, you Cards!