Cards need good run

Bromley v Woking
Vanarama National League
3pm on Saturday 20 February 2016

Cards fans will be hoping that Garry Hill’s side won’t be distracted by discussions about off-field issues and that they will, instead, concentrate on putting on a more convincing display than they did against Guiseley last weekend. While achieving a play-off place is now looking considerably more difficult, the Cards are still only three points off fifth place: a good run till the end of the season could still leave them in contention.

WOKING

The Cards’ 1-0 defeat at home to Guiseley last weekend was the fourth league game in a row in which, with a place in the top five beckoning, Garry Hill’s side failed to grab all three points: a haul of two points out of twelve is a poor return for three home games against FC Halifax Town, Barrow and Guiseley and an away fixture at Altrincham.

Cards fans will be hoping that on-loan Yeovil striker Shaun Jeffers will have recovered from the injury which he received against Guiseley.

BROMLEY

The Ravens’ form this season has been just as erratic as Woking’s. After a fine opening day win at Wrexham they came off second best at Woking, which was the beginning of a six-game run without a win. There was then a dramatic upturn in fortunes which saw Bromley win nine out of the next ten games, including a 7-3 trouncing of Torquay United away from home. But, rather like the Cards, this was followed by a slump in form from mid-October, which has seen them gain only two wins, the last being at Dover Athletic on 28 December.

This poor run led to the departure of manager Mark Goldberg, with assistant manager, former Woking favourite, Neil Smith, taking charge pending a permanent replacement.

The Ravens made several promising-looking signings during the summer, including striker Alex Wall, who often impressed against us for Maidenhead United before signing for Luton Town, from where he had a loan spell with Dartford; and midfielder Max Porter, who won promotion from the Conference with Newport County and who has also had extensive experience at this level with Barnet, Rushden and Diamonds and AFC Wimbledon. Other well-known names include ex-Card Moses Emmanuel (formerly Ademola); former Don Lee Minshull, who was with Newport County for three seasons; ex-Barnet keeper Alan Julian; former Dover striker Sean Francis, who also had a loan spell with Chester last season; and captain Rob Swaine.

Winger Anthony Cook has recently left, re-joining Ebbsfleet United. Recent loan additions are striker Adam Coombes, a former Chelsea youngster who had a spell with Notts County; Rohdell Gordon, a 19 year-old winger from Stevenage; and Reise Allassani, a 20 year-old winger from Crystal Palace.

GETTING THERE

Bromley FC
Hayes Lane
Bromley
BR2 9EF

Tel: 020 8460 5291
Official website: www.bromleyfc.tv

By coach

The Cards Trust coach leaves at 12.30pm. The cost for Trust members is £14 for adults and £7 for U16s accompanied by a paying adult (maximum of two per adult). The corresponding prices for non-members are £19 and £10. Ring (01483 772470) or email (shop@wokingfc.co.uk) to book your place.

By car

Exit junction 4 of the M25 onto the A21. After 4 miles fork left onto A232/Croydon Road, then right onto B265/Baston Road. After 1.5 miles the ground is on the right after a mini-roundabout.

By train

Make your way to Clapham Junction and change onto a London Victoria train. There are frequent trains from there to Bromley South. The quickest take 16 minutes and generally leave at 07, 22, 37 and 52 minutes past the hour. On return, the fastest trains are usually at 05, 20, 35 and 50 minutes past the hour.

Walking from the station to the ground takes about 15 minutes. Turn left out of the station and then right shortly afterwards into Westmoreland Road, at the traffic lights by the T-junction near the Police Station and the Churchill building. Turn left just after the church into Hayes Road. Take care to follow the road when it bears round to the left rather than ending up in Cameron Road. At the end of Hayes Road turn right into Hayes Lane having first crossed Hayes Lane using the traffic island near the mini-roundabout. The drive to the ground is about 200m on your left.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £15
OAPs 65 and over: £10
Armed Forces, NHS and Emergency Services: £10
Students (16 years and over): £5
U16s FREE (when accompanied by a paying adult and arriving before 2pm; £5 otherwise)
Premier League and Football League season ticket holders: £10

Appropriate ID required for concessions. Tickets can also be purchased in advance via Bromley FC website.

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 2 Bromley 0
11 August 2015

The Cards went into this game on the back of the disappointing opening day defeat at Tranmere Rovers and, above all, still reeling from the shock of the season-ending injury to top scorer Scott Rendell. Newly-promoted Bromley arrived in confident mood after their excellent 3-1 win at Wrexham. Their line-up included ex-Card, Moses Emmanuel.

Giuseppe Sole came in for Rendell, while Bruno Andrade made way for Woking’s latest signing, Kadell Daniel. There was a surprise re-appearance for Adam Newton on the substitutes’ bench.

A fairly even opening half hour seemed to swing Woking’s way when the visitors lost both Rob Swaine and Lee Minshull to injury. Shortly afterwards Gez Sole played in John Goddard for the first goal of what has proved to be a prolific season for the talented midfielder.

The Cards doubled their lead shortly after the break. Sole managed to get the better of keeper Alan Julian in a tousle for the ball and it fell kindly to Goddard, who smashed it into the net.

Woking largely dominated the rest of the half, with Goddard passing up an excellent chance for a hat-trick. Adam Newton came on towards the end to help quell Bromley’s main threat, winger Anthony Cook.

This was a very encouraging win for Garry Hill’s side, suggesting that they might be able to cope better than expected with the loss of Rendell.

Woking: Jake Cole, Jake Caprice (Adam Newton 83), Chris Arthur, Mark Ricketts (c), Brian Saah, Ismail Yakubu, Joey Jones, Keiran Murtagh, Giuseppe Sole (Godfrey Poku 79), John Goddard, Kadell Daniel (Bruno Andrade 64)

Subs not used: Reece Beckles, Nick Hamann

Goals: John Goddard 36, 51

Bromley: Alan Julian, Ugo Udoji, Ali Fuseini, Rob Swaine (Jack Holland 40), Bradley Goldberg, Anthony Cook, Joe Anderson, Lee Minshull (Reece Prestedge 20), Alex Wall, Moses Emmanuel (Louis Dennis 64), Sean Francis

Subs not used: Pierre Joseph-Dubois, Ben May

Attendance: 1,507

COMING UP

The Cards travel to Grimsby Town in the league on Tuesday evening (23 February) and have to make their way there again a few days later when they play the Mariners in the Quarter-Final of the FA Trophy on Saturday 27 February.


Come on, you Cards!

P.S. Don’t forget the Sportsman’s Dinner with Paul Merson on Friday 26 February: see details on the home page of the website.