MKJ Group
FCP
7:45pm - FridayFri 13th SeptemberSep 2013
The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Att: 1264

Woking
Woking
2 - 2

Tamworth
Tamworth

Crucial home game on Friday evening

Brian Caffarey
7:12pm, Wed 11th Sep 2013
Woking v Tamworth
7.45pm on Friday 13 September 2013 (NB change of date)

Although the scoreline did not reflect it, the Cards put in a much-improved display at Alfreton Town last Saturday and will be hoping to turn the tide on Friday evening as they look to banish a run which has seen them lose four games in a row. Garry Hill will be very anxious to get something from this match and would no doubt welcome lots of vocal support from Cards fans, so get down to Kingfield if you possibly can and cheer on the team. All U16s will be admitted free.

WOKING

Barring any injuries, Garry Hill should have a full squad to choose from on Friday evening, with Adam Newton expected to return after compassionate leave following the birth of his daughter. Cards fans will be hoping that the squad will include the much-awaited signing of a new striker since it’s clear that the side isn’t posing a big enough threat up front at present.

The Cards currently sit in 20th place in the table with four points from their opening seven games: a poor return from matches against clubs which, with perhaps one exception, are unlikely to be play-off contenders.

TAMWORTH

The Lambs are a full-time side but have tended to struggle in this league, having escaped relegation on the final day of the last two seasons – last term with a victory over the Cards. They had a good start to this season, with an away win at Salisbury followed by home draws against fancied Barnet and Wrexham, but then suffered three consecutive defeats at the hands of Hereford (away), Dartford (home) and Cambridge United (away). But they recovered last Saturday in fine style, beating Southport 4-1 at home, with Richard Peniket notching two goals. They now sit in 16th place in the table with eight points from seven games.

Manager Dale Belford rang the changes in the summer, with only seven of last season’s squad being retained. Among the arrivals, Cards fans will be particularly interested to see former favourite Justin Richards. Another arrival was Cameron Belford, the manager’s son, who appeared some 80 times in goal for Bury before being released in the summer. 20 year-old midfielder Louis Harris appeared for AFC Wimbledon last season. The best-known name in the Lambs’ squad is that of Darren Byfield, the one-time Aston Villa player and Jamaican international, who is now approaching his 37th birthday. A recent signing is Lateef Elford-Alliyu, a former England U17 international who was with Crawley Town last season.

The Cards will have to be aware of Tony Capaldi’s long throws: Tony is a former Northern Ireland international who joined the Lambs in the summer after stints at Plymouth Argyle, Cardiff City and Oxford United.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £15
Over 65s and students (with valid student card) £10
U16s FREE

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Don’t miss out on the Club’s excellent matchday programme! In another packed edition Ian Nicholson interviews Josh Payne. I look at the recent goings-on at Farnborough FC and Richard Mason recalls one of Woking’s greatest-ever victories. And there’s an ‘opposing view’ from Tamworth fan, Nigel Vaughan. And of course there are all the usual match reports, previews, news and great photos. If you can’t get to the game, you can order a copy from the Club Shop on shop@wokingfc.co.uk

LAST TIME OUT

The Lambs did the double over us last season. On 29 September 2012 they ended Woking’s four-match unbeaten run. The Cards performed poorly in the first half, seeming to miss the suspended Lee Sawyer in midfield. Tamworth took the lead in the 7th minute, with Tommy Wright latching onto a knock-down from a corner. Another goal followed in the 22nd minute when top scorer Adam Cunnington outpaced the Cards’ defence as he chased a seemingly harmless through ball. The Cards were denied a clear penalty shortly before half-time but came out in more purposeful mood after the break. Loick Pires, on for Jay Davies, created a goal for Kevin Betsy on 57 minutes and many of the Woking players thought that Gavin McCallum had grabbed the equaliser three minutes later. The Lambs took advantage, going straight up the other end, with Baldock netting to make it 1-3. The Cards reduced the arrears in stoppage time when Mike Cestor bundled the ball over the line.

The return game on 20 April this year was the final fixture of the season. Jayden Stockley gave the Cards the lead with a header but Tom Marshall equalised from the edge of the box. On the 20-minute mark Lee Hendrie was bowled over by Mike Cestor, with Cunnington converting the penalty. The win secured the Lambs’ place in the Conference Premier, although other results would have left them safe as it happened.

NEXT UP

The Cards travel to Hyde on Tuesday evening and will be hoping for a very different result from last season, when they succumbed to a shock 7-0 defeat. That’s followed by another trip north to Macclesfield on Saturday 21 September. The next home game sees the not-to-be-missed visit of Luton Town on Tuesday 24 September, quickly followed on Saturday 28 September by the visit of surprise package, Nuneaton Town. Make sure you’ve got the home games firmly in your diary.

Come on, you Cards!

Improving Cards fail to see game out

Brian Caffarey
10:00am, Sat 14th Sep 2013
Woking 2 Tamworth 2
13 September 2013

An absorbing, dramatic game on a pitch which was barely playable saw the Cards come from behind to put themselves within reach of claiming all three points and then throw two of them away with some calamitous defending with a few minutes to go. Garry Hill must be tearing out (what’s left of) his hair at such profligacy. At least the point ended the Cards’ run of four defeats.

Garry gave a debut to new loan signing Scott Rendell, who had an impressive first outing, taking up good positions, making himself available and laying the ball off intelligently. He even scored on his debut, although it seems doubtful if he knew much about it (photo shows him celebrating with Gez Sole). The Cards lined up in what looked like a 4-2-3-1 formation, with a back line of Adam Newton, Joe McNerney, Jack Parkinson and Mike Cestor in front of Aaron Howe, shielded by Mark Ricketts and Josh Payne, with an advanced midfield three of Lee Sawyer on the right, Gavin Williams in the middle and Kevin Betsy out left all supporting Rendell.

The rain had been chucking it down and continued to do so virtually throughout the game, with a good deal of surface water on the dugout side of the pitch, especially towards the Kingfield Road end, causing the ball to hold up frequently.

The Cards, kicking towards the Leslie Gosden Stand, started at a furious pace, with Rendell having two strikes on goal in as many minutes. Unfortunately, his header was straight at Tamworth’s keeper, Cameron Belford, and the latter palmed away a decent left-footed effort. McNerney then had a goalbound shot deflected for a corner. Woking continued to make virtually all the running, moving the ball well in spite of the conditions. Betsy, out on the more playable side of the pitch, put in a dangerous cross which ricocheted off a defender to the keeper and Sawyer, playing in a more advanced role than usual, also threatened from out on the opposite flank.

The 15-minute mark was up before the visitors managed their first real attack. Howe caught the (no doubt slippery) ball well from a corner but then dropped it as he landed, fortunately recovering quickly. At the other end, Rendell showed up well again, feeding Sawyer, whose cross was blocked once more.

Having been fortunate to survive the first 20 minutes unscathed, the visitors – typically in Woking’s season so far – then grabbed the lead. Richard Baker seized on a loose ball some 25 yards out and let fly on the half-volley. Speculative though the shot may have been, it was well directed and beat Howe’s dive to his left just inside the post.

‘Oh, no, here we go again!’ must have been the thought that went through many Cards fans’ minds as play resumed. Hopes were raised, though, as more fine play by Rendell saw him pull the ball back into Williams’s path, only for another interception to thwart the attack. The Cards continued to press but Tamworth were now much more in the game and Garry Hill’s side were finding it harder to create openings. Nevertheless, Rendell got in a header which the keeper fumbled on the line; Betsy cut inside but shot weakly and then made a surging run into the area. The defenders resisted the temptation to hack him down and the ball just wouldn’t carry with him.

Ryan Lloyd thumped a free-kick for the Lambs not far over Howe’s cross-bar as the half drew to a close but the nearest we came to another goal was when Williams ended a superb Woking move with a glancing header from a Newton cross which went into the side-netting.

The Cards left the field no doubt feeling that they were hard done by to be losing by a goal in a game which they had largely controlled.

Half-time: Woking 0 Tamworth 1

The Cards re-appeared in a changed yellow strip for the second half and almost immediately had an excellent chance to level the scores but Parkinson, a couple of yards out, couldn’t make contact with McNerney’s downward header from a corner.

Tamworth attacked with a couple of long balls to the far post and several corners as the Cards increasingly seemed to get bogged down, too often attempting to play passes on the ground in the most waterlogged area of the pitch. Home fans had to wait until the 58th minute for the next real attempt on goal when Payne sent in a fierce drive which was deflected safely up into the keeper’s arms. More minutes passed before Cestor whipped in a smart cross which Rendell glanced wide.

The 67th minute saw Gez Sole come on for Payne and, shortly afterwards, the Cards grabbed a somewhat fortuitous, if deserved, equaliser. Lee Sawyer did well to make space on the edge of the area and his shot deflected off Rendell, leaving the keeper stranded. Rendell was more than happy to claim the goal on his debut while acknowledging Sawyer’s major contribution.

The game became increasingly feisty as the Cards drove forward scenting victory and players slid into waterborne tackles. On 78 minutes Duane Courtney clambered all over Sole in the box and Williams coolly converted his fourth penalty of the season to put the Cards 2-1 in front.

Tempers frayed as Williams was tripped. Wayne Thomas, clearly believing that Williams had ‘made a meal of it’, rushed over, grabbed him, attempted to haul him from the ground and appeared to tread on him. A melee followed, with the referee eventually booking three Tamworth players but not Thomas in spite of being vocally reminded by the home crowd of the number of the principal offender!

Just as the Cards were beginning to think that the three points had been all but secured, some dreadful defending threw away the victory. It looked as though at least two Woking players had the opportunity to clear the ball decisively but they chose instead to dally and dither. The ball flew across the box and Richard Peniket steered it home past Howe. Woking heads slumped into hands on and off the pitch!

It could have been worse. Howe had to pull off an excellent block as Tamworth broke clear a few minutes later.

In the closing stages Sawyer tested the keeper with a crisp shot. Belford fumbled but recovered before Rendell could swoop. The Cards then had to survive a final corner before the referee blew time on a game which certainly wasn’t dull!

The Cards can at least take heart from another improved performance and, in Scott Rendell, they do at last seem to have someone who looks as though he really knows how to lead the line. There is no reason why they shouldn’t approach the trips to Hyde and Macclesfield in a positive frame of mind.

Woking: Aaron Howe, Adam Newton, Mark Ricketts, Joe McNerney, Jack Parkinson, Gavin Williams, Kevin Betsy, Mike Cestor, Josh Payne (Giuseppe Sole 67), Scott Rendell

Unused subs: John Nutter, Anthony McNamee, Gavin McCallum, Sam Beasant

Booked: Mike Cestor

Tamworth: Cameron Belford, Jack Evans (Duane Courtney 48), Ben Richards-Everton, Kerry Lloyd (Jordan Rose 68), Richard Baker, Richard Peniket, Tony Capaldi, Wayne Thomas, Ryan Lloyd (Andy Todd 72), Lateef Elford-Alliyu, Mark Wright

Unused subs: Darron Byfield, James Wren

Booked: Jack Evans, Richard Peniket, Andy Todd, Cameron Belford, Duane Courtney

Sponsor’s MOTM: Gavin Williams

Attendance: 1264





WOKING LINEUP
1Aaron Howe
2Adam Newton
15Mike Cestor
5Joe McNerney
8Jack Parkinson
4Mark Ricketts
7Lee Sawyer
20Josh Payne ('67)
11Kevin Betsy
9Gavin Williams
21Scott Rendell
BENCH
18Sam Beasant
3John Nutter
14Anthony McNamee
29Gavin McCallum
10Giuseppe Sole ('67)
Tamworth LINEUP
1Cameron Belford
2Jack Evans ('50)
6Ben Richards-Everton
7Kerry Lloyd ('68)
8Richard Baker
17Richard Peniket
19Tony Capaldi
21Thomas Wayne
25Ryan Lloyd ('74)
26Lateef Elford Alliyu
27Mark Wright
BENCH
5Jordan Rose ('68)
10Darren Byfield
15Duane Courtney ('50)
20Andy Todd ('74)
23James Wren

Woking 2-2 Tamworth (Steve Thompson Interview)

Gavin Williams Interview

Nick Shaw
12:12am, Sat 14th Sep 2013
David Holmes speaks to Man of the Match Gavin Williams after the Cards drew 2 - 2 at home to Tamworth.



Gavin Williams:








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