Cards look to slay Dragons

Woking v Wrexham
Vanarama National League
3pm on Saturday 17 October 2015

The Cards take on Wrexham on Saturday afternoon hoping to build on their win at Halifax and their draw against Torquay by grabbing three points against a faltering Dragons side who’ve not won in their last six games. Come on down to the Laithwaite Community Stadium to cheer on Garry Hill’s side!

WOKING

Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw against Torquay United was full of incident but most Cards fans will probably be disappointed that Garry Hill’s side did not make more of their early dominance, having taken a quick lead through a superb strike from Kadell Daniel. In the end the Cards had to thank Dan Holman for rescuing a point with another sharply-taken goal, his third in two matches, after they conceded early in the second half and then found themselves behind in the 77th minute from a penalty. Although the Cards themselves were denied what must surely be one of the clearest penalties most fans have ever seen, it must be said that their uneven display probably didn’t merit three points against a resilient and combative Torquay side who threatened to over-run Woking early in the second half.

Most of Woking’s problems seemed to stem from midfield, with Joey Jones limping periodically throughout the match and John Goddard taking a knock, whilst neither Keiran Murtagh nor Mark Ricketts looked fully fit, with the former also being inhibited by a yellow card, which in any event rules him out of Saturday’s match.

Woking’s game was certainly lifted once Bruno Andrade, with his pace and trickery, came off the bench in the second half.

WREXHAM

Wrexham appointed the former Gateshead boss, Gary Mills, as their new manager in the summer but, as in many previous seasons, are finding it difficult to live up to the expectations befitting a club of its stature and history. They currently sit in 13th place in the table, one point above Woking following last night’s 3-3 draw at home to Guiseley, having played one more game. Mills, not surprisingly, was disappointed with the result, with a draw only being obtained from a late equaliser, saying that his side were conceding too many goals and might have to become a little ‘uglier’. Let’s hope we don’t see too much of that on Saturday!

This is the Dragons’ eighth season at this level and Gary Mills, who guided York City to a play-off final win in 2012, is hoping to succeed where his predecessors, Brian Little, Dean Saunders, Andy Morrell and Kevin Wilkin, all failed, by leading them back into the League.

Mills made a lot of changes in the summer, releasing the experienced and popular skipper Dean Keates, Andy Bishop and Neil Ashton amongst others. Among the many new faces were returning midfielder Lee Fowler, two recruits from Welling, Dominic Vose (scorer of two goals last night) and Jamal Fyfield, keeper Cameron Belford from Swindon and striker James Gray from Accrington. Two recent loan additions are 18 year-old striker Joe Quigley from AFC Bournemouth and midfielder Jon Nolan from Lincoln City.

Wrexham’s main weakness has been away from home, having won two, drawn one and lost five. Their last two trips have seen them taste defeat at Dover and Chester.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £18
Over 65s and Students with NUS card £13
U16s £5

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

A packed 64-page matchday programme on Saturday includes two very interesting interviews: one with in-form striker Dan Holman and the other with the head of Woking’s youth set-up, Scott Harrison. Read what Scott has to say about the efforts being made to bridge the gap between the Club’s Development Centre and the first team. There’s also a look at what’s been going at other National League clubs; and news from the Cards Trust, plus match previews, reports and the usual superb match action photos.

LAST TIME WE MET

Woking 1 Wrexham 1
12 November 2014

This match immediately followed the Cards’ hugely disappointing FA Cup exit at the Racecourse Ground in the First Round Proper of the FA Cup. Garry Hill got the reaction he wanted with a gutsy, energetic display.

The Cards, missing Josh Payne and Joe McNerney, dominated the first half, with Jack Marriott, returning to form, hitting the bar but found themselves a goal down just before the break when Andy Bishop headed home to give the visitors an undeserved lead.

Scott Rendell equalised shortly after the interval, his 13th goal of the season. Both sides had chances thereafter to snatch victory, with Jake Cole making two outstanding saves to foil Joe Clarke and Wes York, but a draw was probably a fair result in an entertaining game.

Woking: Jake Cole, Adam Newton, James Clarke, Mike Cestor, Chris Arthur, Kevin Betsy, Theo Lewis (John Nutter 94), Joey Jones, John Goddard, Scott Rendell, Jack Marriott (Giuseppe Sole 73)

Unused Substitutes: Aaron Howe, Reece Beckles, Ollie Taylor

Goal: Scott Rendell 47

Wrexham: Andy Coughlin, Mark Carrington, Neil Ashton, Manny Smith, Blaine Hudson, Joe Clarke, Elliot Durrell (Connor Jennings 71), Andy Bishop, Wes York, Jonny Hunt, James Pearson (Ross White 77)

Unused substitutes: Louis Moult, Dean Keates, Robbie Evans

Goal: Andy Bishop 45

Attendance: 1418 (158 Wrexham fans)

COMING UP

The Cards are away at Maidenhead United next Saturday (24 October) in the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. A week later the Cards travel to Kidderminster Harriers in the league. Visit the Club Shop on Saturday to book your places on the Cards Trust coach to both games.

The next home league game is against Braintree Town on Tuesday 10 November.

If the Cards get through against Maidenhead Town, their 1st Round Proper tie in the FA Cup will be played on the weekend of 7/8 November.

Come on, you Cards!

P.S. How about going along on Monday evening to support the young Cards in their FA Youth Cup 3rd Round Qualifying tie v Pagham? Kick-off is at 7.30pm and the price of admission is only £4 for adults and £2 for concessions/U16s.