Lovetts

Cards eye double over Shots

Brian Caffarey
9:56am, Sat 27th Dec 2014
Woking v Aldershot Town
1pm on Sunday 28 December 2014 (NB Kick-off time)

Get down to Kingfield early tomorrow (Sunday) for what will surely be a very well-attended, competitive clash with neighbours and fierce rivals, the Shots. Can the Cards, chasing a play-off place, do the ‘double’ over Andy Scott’s side, who, in contrast to their fine run in the FA Cup, have under-performed in the league this season? However, league form often counts for little in local derbies, so no one is expecting this to be an easy ride for Garry Hill’s team.

WOKING

The Cards were perhaps a trifle unlucky to get only a point at Eastleigh on Boxing Day after taking the lead twice. But it was a very respectable point against a side which hasn’t been beaten at home. It also ended Woking’s three-match losing streak in league games. Garry Hill shuffled the side, with Dean Morgan, superb up front, supported by a five-man midfield of Gez Sole and Jack Marriott on the flanks and Josh Payne, Keiran Murtagh and Theo Lewis in the centre, with Kevin Betsy dropping to the bench. Once again, Scott Rendell wasn’t fit enough to make the 16 but it sounds as if he’s very close to being able to make a comeback. No doubt Mike Cestor and Mark Ricketts will still be missing, though.

Sunday will mark the end of Ross Worner’s second loan spell but Jake Cole, recovered from injury, is ready to step in.

ALDERSHOT TOWN

In spite of their fine FA Cup run, which saw them beat Portsmouth before finally going out to Rochdale in a replay, the Shots’ recent form has been poor. They’ve lost their last four league games and also suffered the indignity of being beaten at home by Burgess Hill Town in the FA Trophy. The latest defeat came at home, 3-1, to Barnet on Boxing Day, with John Akinde getting a hat-trick. The main problem has been their failure to take chances, especially at home, where the Shots have scored fewer league goals than anyone apart from Southport. Woking fans will note with a certain degree of schadenfreude that former Card Brett Williams (described by Garry Hill as being in Joe McNerney’s pocket in September’s away game) has scored only one goal from open play in his last 20-plus outings and was dropped for the visit of Rochdale in the FA Cup. He started against Barnet, alongside Dan Holman, with Dan Fitchett coming on as a late replacement.

The Shots now lie in 19th place in the table but with a cushion of seven points over Dartford, who are in 21st position. Away from home the Shots have won three league games, drawn four and lost six, scoring 13 goals and conceding 17.

Andy Scott’s new signings in the summer included ex-Portsmouth keeper, Phil Smith; defender Glenn Wilson from Salisbury City, who had a brief loan spell at Kingfield when with Crawley Town and who is now the Shots’ captain; defender/midfielder Sam Hatton, well known from his time with AFC Wimbledon and Grimsby Town; midfielder Damon Lathrope, previously with Torquay United; Kieron Forbes, midfielder, on loan from Forest Green Rovers; Salisbury City’s top scorer last season, Dan Fitchett; striker Joseph N’Guessan, on loan from Stevenage; Nabi Diallo, a midfielder who has appeared for Weston-super-Mare amongst other clubs; and Tom Derry, a 19 year-old striker on non-contract terms, who was formerly with Gillingham.

Andy Scott has had to contend with a lot of injuries. Left-back Anthony Tonkin has been out for three months with a calf injury, with Damon Lathrope missing for almost as long with a groin problem. Josh Scott has a broken metatarsal and Joe N’Guessan has an ankle injury. Mark Phillips was added to the injury list at Welling as he picked up a hamstring injury. But Dan Fitchett returned for the first time since the end of September. Phil Smith was sent off towards the end of Boxing Day’s game against Barnet, so will miss this match.

ADMISSION

Adults: £15
Over 65s and Students with a valid NUS card: £10
U16s: £3

The game will be segregated.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Sunday’s programme includes an interview with Garry Hill about the season to date in which he has some interesting things to say too about his own future at the Club. Shots and Cards fans alike will enjoy recalling some great meetings between the two sides, while we also look back on a game in which the Cards made a remarkable comeback. There’s a welcome for special Geoff Chapple Lounge guest Scott Smith and we also celebrate a very committed Cards fan. And, of course, there are all the usual match reports, previews, Club news and great photos. The 64-page all-colour programme will be in great demand, so get your copy quickly!

THE BIG PUSH

The Cards Trust is holding a bucket collection at this match and at the game against Eastleigh on New Year’s Day as a contribution to their target of raising £5,000 to add to Garry Hill’s playing budget so that he can strengthen the side in January. Please give as generously as you can and, better still, if you can afford a minimum of £10 a month, please become a regular contributor to the Boost the Budget scheme.

LAST TIME OUT

Aldershot Town 0 Woking 1
9 September 2014

This game will always be remembered as the match against the Shots ‘in which Gez Sole scored that amazing goal’: Gez’s superb 35 yard free-kick in the 70th minute providing the Cards with their first-ever win at the Rec.

Woking came into this game unbeaten in the league and third in the table but had to contend with the early loss of captain Mark Ricketts – from an injury which has effectively kept him out of the side ever since – and then Aaron Howe, forcing Andy Little (with Jake Cole injured) to come on for his first competitive game since April 2012. In a fairly even, cagey first half Dean Morgan came closest to scoring, hitting the woodwork with a curling shot just before half-time.

Half-chances came and went in the second half before the defining moment of Gez Sole’s goal. Aldershot pressed for an equaliser but the Cards’ defence, in front of a composed Andy Little, held firm to the delight of the visiting fans.

Woking : Aaron Howe (Andy Little 32), Mark Ricketts (Mike Cestor 13), Joe McNerney, James Clarke, Josh Payne, Scott Rendell, Giuseppe Sole (John Goddard 78), Theo Lewis, Dean Morgan, Chris Arthur

Unused Subs: Keiran Murtagh, Reece Beckles

Bookings: Josh Payne (35)

Goal: Giuseppe Sole (70)

Aldershot Town: Phil Smith, Joe Oastler, Anthony Tonkin (Tom Derry 78), Damon Lathrope, Glenn Wilson (Captain), Sam Hatton (Dan Fitchett 57), Brett Williams, Josh Scott (Tristan Plummer 78), Jaydon Gibbs, Jordan Roberts, Kieron Forbes

Unused Subs: Dan Thomas, Nabi Diallo

Bookings: Kieron Forbes (69)

Attendance: 3567

COMING UP

The Cards are at home again at 3pm on New Year’s Day when they take on Eastleigh in the return ‘leg’ of the Boxing Day/New Year’s Day ‘double’. This is another vital home game, so please come along and support the Cards if you possibly can.


Come on, you Cards!


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