Another tough away test for Cards

Grimsby Town v Woking
7.45pm on Tuesday 25 November 2014

Yet another Tuesday night trip to Grimsby, so most Woking fans will be forced to glue their ears to the (invariably excellent) radio commentary. Let’s hope the Cards can produce a performance to match their last away outing, at FC Halifax.

WOKING

The Cards did well on Saturday to recover from a disastrous start against Barnet, with a much-improved second-half showing. The point gained in a 1-1 draw was enough to keep them in third place, only two points behind second-placed Grimsby, who are now nine points behind the Bees.

There were no obvious injuries to Garry Hill’s side in yesterday’s game. It seems unlikely that he would want to disturb overmuch a fairly settled side but, with the likes of Jack Marriott, Dean Morgan, Joey Jones and John Goddard on the bench yesterday, he has a few options if he wishes to inject some fresh legs into the starting line-up. The Cards have a fine record away from home this season and will travel confidently after a terrific away win at FC Halifax, but they will be aware that the Mariners will be very keen to bounce back from yesterday’s defeat at home to Kidderminster.

GRIMSBY TOWN

The Mariners, who lost out to Gateshead in the semi-finals of the play-offs last year, had a slow start to this season, drawing their first three games, including home fixtures against Nuneaton and Dover, before smashing six past the Heed at Gateshead and going one better at home to Alfreton. Their form continued to be somewhat unpredictable until recently, when they appeared to have hit their stride, notching five successive league wins, including impressive victories away at Braintree, Wrexham and Torquay, before registering a draw at Altrincham. That run was enough to catapult them into second place in the table. But, surprisingly, they came unstuck on Saturday, losing 0-2 at home to a Kidderminster side which has recently had to dispense with three of its best players for financial reasons.

The Mariners’ home record now reads: won five, drawn three, lost three, with 17 goals scored and only six conceded.

Predictably, the Mariners have a strong squad. A likely line-up is James McKeown in goal; a back four of Carl Magnay, ex-Southport 6’4� Toto Nsiala, Shaun Pearson and ex-Card Aswad Thomas, a midfield of Nathan Arnold, Craig Disley, holding midfielder Daniel Parslow, Harry Pell, on loan from Wimbledon, and Scott Neilson; with “the Shop�, Lenell John-Lewis up front, aiming to add to his total of nine league goals this season. Other possibilities open to manager Paul Hurst include strikers Ross Hannah and Jon-Paul Pittman.

GETTING THERE

Blundell Park
Cleethorpes
Lincolnshire
DN35 7PY

Official website: www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk

The Cards Trust is not running a coach to this game.

By car
Follow the signs for Grimsby on the M180. Continue on this road when it becomes the A180 towards Cleethorpes. This road runs right past the ground, which is next to the McDonalds Drive-thru.

By train
Nearest station: Cleethorpes. It’s not possible to get a train back to London after the game. On the way there, the best train would be the 16.03 from Kings Cross which, with a change at Doncaster, would get you to Cleethorpes station at 19.01. If you want to give yourself more time, the 14.48 from KX, also with a change at Doncaster, would get you to Cleethorpes at 17.50.

The station is just over 1 mile away from the stadium. Walking would take about 20 minutes. Public transport is available.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults: £18
Over 65s & Young Adults (15-18): £12
Under 14s: £6

Away fans sit in the Osmond Stand in the south side of the ground. Entry to this stand is in Constitutional Avenue, turnstiles 7-10.

LAST TIME OUT

Grimsby Town 2 Woking 2
8 April 2014

The Cards continued their fine late-season form with this excellent draw at Grimsby. In an astonishing finish to the game, the Cards took the lead on 84 minutes, only to be pegged back on the stroke of full-time and then re-gain the lead and, finally, concede again with a penalty right at the death.

The Cards’ defence, with Joe McNerney and Mark Ricketts outstanding at centre-back, had to withstand a great deal of pressure from the Mariners in the first half, with Lenell John-Lewis and Aswad Thomas both going close. But Woking also threatened on the break, with Scott Rendell almost profiting. A similar pattern continued after the break, with Sam Beasant making a tremendous save from Connor Jennings and Shaun Pearson’s header hitting the bar. However, on 84 minutes, a swift counter-attack begun and finished by Kevin Betsy saw the Cards take the lead. On the stroke of full time sub Oumare Tounkara levelled the scores for the Mariners.

In the second minute of added time the Grimsby keeper was unable to hold a fierce Joey Jones strike and Keiran Murtagh was there to gobble up the rebound to make it 2-1 to the Cards. But, right at the final whistle, Craig Disley went down in the Woking area, the referee pointed to the spot and John-Lewis converted.

Woking: Sam Beasant, Adam Newton, John Nutter, Mark Ricketts ©, Joe McNerney, Kevin Betsy, Josh Payne, Scott Rendell, John Goddard (Joey Jones 89), Jack Marriott (Giuseppe Sole 71), Keiran Murtagh

Subs not used: Brett Johnson, Mike Cestor, Liam Allan

Goals: Betsy 84, Murtagh 90

Cautions: Newton 38, Nutter 90

Grimsby Town: James McKeown, Sam Hatton, Aswad Thomas (Jamal Fyfield 85), Scott Kerr, Shaun Pearson, Craig Disley, Scott Neilson (Joe Colbeck), Lenell John-Lewis, Alex Rodman, Connor Jennings (Oumare Tounkara 74), Andrew Boyce

Subs not used: Ross Hannah, Andi Thanoj

Goals: Tounkara 90, John-Lewis 90(pen)

Caution: Disley 28

Attendance: 3,507

NEXT GAME

The Cards are at home to Alan Devonshire’s Braintree Town next Saturday (29 November) and then to Altrincham on the following Tuesday (2 December). Make sure you’ve got both dates in your diary!


Come on, you Cards!


P.S. (1) WFC shareholders - don’t forget the AGM on Monday evening at 8pm.
(2) Everyone – make up a team and join in the Cards Trust’s Quiz Night at 7.30pm on Friday 28 November! Tickets on sale from the Club Shop shop@wokingfc.co.uk – only £6.