Specsavers
FCP
3:00pm - SaturdaySat 2nd NovemberNov 2013
The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Att: 1432

Woking
Woking
1 - 2

Grimsby
Grimsby Town

Cards look to end goal drought

Brian Caffarey
5:02pm, Thu 31st Oct 2013
Woking v Grimsby Town
3pm on Saturday 2 November 2013

Come on down to Kingfield on Saturday to cheer the Cards on to a much-needed home win! Garry Hill’s side have won one and drawn two of their last three league games at Kingfield but really need another three points to start moving away from the danger zone. High-flying Grimsby Town will be equally keen to grab the points, though, as they look for another top five finish.

WOKING

The Cards have now gone four games without scoring in spite of creating some very decent chances in all the games concerned. Garry will be hoping that the return of Scott Rendell, who was ineligible to play against Luton Town in last week’s 1-0 defeat to Luton Town, plus the arrival of Craig Sutherland, will help to end the goal drought.

Mike Cestor has served his one-match suspension, so, subject to any new injuries (Brett Johnson being the only long-term absentee), Garry will have a full squad to choose from. Garry has hinted at changes as he seeks to turn Woking’s fortunes round.

With the postponement of next Saturday’s away game at Kidderminster Harriers, the Cards are now beginning a crucial sequence of three home games, with fellow-strugglers Dartford and Hyde to follow. A good points haul from these home games looks to be vital if the Cards are to avoid a prolonged relegation battle.

GRIMSBY TOWN

At one stage last season the Mariners looked an excellent bet for the automatic promotion place before they fell away badly, eventually ending in 5th place and going out tamely to Newport County in the play-off semi-final.

The then management duo of Paul Hurst and Rob Scott shuffled the pack in the summer but, although the Mariners now lie in 5th place (subject to Salisbury’s result on Friday evening), their form has been somewhat inconsistent. Away from home the Mariners’ record is respectable but not outstanding: they have won three (at Gateshead, Hyde and Aldershot), drawn two (at Luton and Chester) and lost three (at Welling, Halifax and Salisbury).

Rob Scott was dismissed for disciplinary reasons earlier this season, leaving Paul Hurst in sole charge.

Among the summer arrivals were several recruits from York City: midfielders Scott Kerr and Alex Rodman, experienced defender Chris Doig and midfielder and Northern Ireland U21 international defender/midfielder Patrick McLaughlin. Back-up keeper Jonathan Hedge was signed from Cambridge United. Defender Paul Bignot, once of Crewe and Kidderminster Harriers, last appeared for Plymouth Argyle. 6’6” defender Clayton McDonald was most recently with Port Vale and Bristol Rovers. A strong squad also includes ex-Card Aswad Thomas, strikers Liam Hearn and Ross Hannah, ex-Don Sam Hatton and the influential Craig Disley.

Last Saturday, in the FA Cup, Grimsby beat Rushall Olympic 3-0 at home and they now have a Lincolnshire ‘derby’ with Scunthorpe United in the next round.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £15
Over 65s and students (with valid student card) £10
U16s £3

The Club has asked fans to use the Heathside car park on Saturday since the Woking Leisure car parking areas will be particularly busy, with priority being given to the events being held there and in Woking Park. The Heathside car park is signposted from the town centre.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

The 56-page matchday programme this Saturday features a piece by Mike Smith, recently re-appointed as Chairman of the Club, updating us on the latest developments at Board level and reflecting on Woking’s place in a tough league. In a ‘where are they now?’ feature Liam Newman looks at the careers of four former Woking favourites, while Richard Mason recalls a classy Cards performance. Grimsby fan Chris Parker tells us about the Mariners’ season so far and discusses their promotion prospects. 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 SEASON

In the away fixture in November 2012 the Cards played some fine football but were overwhelmed by Grimsby’s clinical finishing, with the final score running out at 5-1 to the home side. The Cards took a second-minute lead when ex-Mariner Dean Sinclair netted from a Gavin McCallum cross. But Grimsby equalised after 10 minutes when Sam Hatton scored the first of his two goals from free-kicks. A galvanised Grimsby notched two more goals before half-time through Craig Disley and Ross Hannah, although the Cards continued to have a good share of the game. The nail in Woking’s coffin came five minutes after the break when Lee Sawyer was sent off for a reckless challenge on Aswad Thomas. On 75 minutes Hatton scored with a stunning free-kick and Andy Cook grabbed the fifth goal right at the end.

In Woking’s final home game of the season in April the Mariners gained a 1-0 win against the run of play, with John-Lewis heading home midway through the second half after Billy Knott had earlier struck the post. Greg Fleming in the Mariners’ goal pulled off a number of fine saves as the Grimsby defence held out against a late Woking onslaught. This match was the only occasion when Woking failed to score in a league game at Kingfield last season.

NEXT UP

The Cards’ away fixture next Saturday at Kidderminster Harriers has been postponed because the Harriers are in FA Cup action. Woking’s next game is at home to Dartford on Tuesday 12 November, followed by another home game against Hyde on Saturday 16 November. Make sure you’ve got the dates firmly in your diary!

Come on, you Cards!

Cards cruelly denied by last gasp Grimsby

Glen Harrington
9:45am, Sun 3rd Nov 2013
Woking 1 Grimsby Town 2

The Skrill Premier

2nd November 2013

Woking were cruelly denied what would have been a deserved point, after Craig Disley’s stoppage time strike earned Grimsby Town a late victory at Kingfield.

The visitors had initially taken the lead within the opening minute of the match, when Ross Hannah headed in Scott Kerr’s corner. But the home side fought back bravely against their play-off chasing opponents, and deservedly levelled when Kevin Betsy coolly slotted the ball under the onrushing James McKeown and into the Mariners net.
An even second half ensued, with limited chances for both sides, and a draw seemed both a likely and fair result until Disley crashed his shot past Sam Beasant mere moments into the three minutes of added-on time.

Garry Hill and Steve Thompson made just two changes to the Woking team beaten 1-0 by Luton Town in the FA Cup last Saturday, with Scott Rendell (ineligible to play against his parent club) starting in place of John Goddard, and new loan signing Charles Banya replacing Gavin Williams. This meant that Giuseppe Sole dropped into a deeper role behind lone striker Rendell, with Banya – who has recently been catching the eye playing in Fulham’s youth set-up – and Betsy acting as the two wide players. There was no room for Craig Sutherland, who made his debut against the Hatters, or Will Salmon on the Woking bench – but promising academy prospect Reece Beckles retained his place alongside Goddard, Anthony McNamee, Mike Cestor and Aaron Howe.

It was a game which started in the worst possible fashion for the Cards. A slight slip by Joe McNerney allowed the Mariners to win themselves an early corner, and Hannah was duly on hand at the back post to give his side the lead before a Woking player had even had control of the ball.

Josh Payne and Giuseppe Sole each shot half-chances wide of the target, while at the other end Joe Colbeck fired over from range, but in truth it was an evenly fought encounter throughout, with few opportunities at either end. Grimsby’s attacking prowess was also not helped by the loss of Andy Cook, who limped off mid-way through the first period and was replaced by Liam Hearn.

Despite not creating many chances, the hosts were playing well, arguably edging the midfield battle, and deserved their equaliser when it came just shy of the half hour mark.
Josh Payne struck a long ball forward out of defence towards Rendell, who sold his marker a dummy and let the ball run through towards the Grimsby goal. It was a trick that fooled almost everyone as Betsy was allowed to take up possession in relative freedom, and slot the ball past the sprawling dive of the Mariner’s goalkeeper. The goal helped produce the home side’s best period of the game, as Payne went close with a curling effort from the edge of the area that had to be punched behind by McKeown and Jack Parkinson headed a corner wide.

Half-time: Woking 1 Grimsby Town 1

Woking introduced Goddard at the interval in the place of Sole, who had endured a quiet first-half, and the midfielder came close to making an immediate impact – shooting wide on the run directly from the kick-off, before seeing another effort blocked after a clever pull-back from Betsy.

Adam Newton clipped an ambitious effort with the outside of his foot narrowly over the bar soon after as the Cards continued to enjoy the better chances, although Hannah will think that he should have done better after finding himself free on the corner of the Woking six-yard box, his turn and shot only finding the side netting.

Goddard went close again after former Woking defender Aswad Thomas gave the ball away in midfield, Banya played Rendell into space down the right, and the midfielder only just fell short of latching onto his team-mate’s ball across the box. The young loanee Banya grew into the game steadily, and enjoyed his best moment with a neat left footed shot from the edge of the area, that needed to be pushed wide by McKeown. Outside of this, his speed was his most evident attribute. Indeed, he fell just short of beating the Mariners goalkeeper, and getting on the end of Payne’s hopeful long ball five minutes later.

But it was Grimsby who were to have the final say, as a minute into stoppage time the ball fell kindly for Disley on the edge of the Woking area, and the midfielder slammed his shot into the top left hand corner of the goal, giving Beasant no chance.

It was harsh on a Woking side for whom nothing seems to be going right of late. Despite impressing for long spells against a team which is now placed fourth in the Skrill Premier table, the Cards fell to a third successive defeat in all competitions: players in red and white were left crumpled on the ground in despair as their visitors gleefully celebrated their unlikely winner.

The result was particularly cruel on the home side’s back four and defensive midfield duo, particularly Joe McNerney and Mark Ricketts – the two long-serving stalwarts as reliable as ever whenever the Cards were on the back foot.

The problem still appears to be a lack of cutting edge up front. Rendell was kept relatively quiet by the giant Clayton McDonald, the six foot six former Manchester City youth player while, as has been seen often this season, Betsy invariably found himself surrounded by defenders within moments of taking up possession. Banya’s impact was restricted by his unfamiliarity with his new teammates, while the influence of the experienced Gavin Williams was perhaps missed at times.

In reality, a positive result from today’s game would have been a welcome bonus for Woking against their high-flying opponents. But defeat does place even more importance on two far more winnable home games, on paper at least, against Dartford a week on Tuesday, and then winless Hyde four days later.

Woking: Sam Beasant, Adam Newton, John Nutter, Jack Parkinson, Joe McNerney, Mark Ricketts, Josh Payne, Charles Banya, Giuseppe Sole (John Goddard 46), Kevin Betsy, Scott Rendell.

Unused Subs: Aaron Howe, Anthony McNamee, Mike Cestor, Reece Beckles.

Goal: Betsy 28.

Booked: None.
Grimsby Town: James McKeown, Sam Hatton, Scott Kerr, Shaun Pearson, Aswad Thomas, Clayton McDonald, Craig Disley, Joe Colbeck, Ritchie Jones, Andy Cook (Liam Hearn 26), Ross Hannah (Caine Winfarrah 88).

Unused Subs: Paul Bignot, Andi Thanoj, Paul Walker.

Goals: Hannah 1, Disley 90.

Booked: Hatton 32.

Sponsor's MOTM: Mark Ricketts – Solid and dependable in front of the back four, the captain worked tirelessly to keep Grimsby’s frontline quite until the final moments.

Attendance: 1,432


WOKING LINEUP
18Sam Beasant
2Adam Newton
3John Nutter
8Jack Parkinson
5Joe McNerney
4Mark Ricketts
20Josh Payne
11Kevin Betsy
30Charles Banya
10Giuseppe Sole ('45)
21Scott Rendell
BENCH
1Aaron Howe
15Mike Cestor
22John Goddard ('45)
14Anthony McNamee
34Reece Beckles
Grimsby Town LINEUP
13James McKeown
2Sam Hatton
3Aswad Thomas
4Scott Kerr
5Shaun Pearson
7Joe Colbeck
8Craig Disley
9Andy Cook ('26)
12Clayton McDonald
17Ross Hannah ('88)
19Ritchie Jones
BENCH
10Liam Hearn ('26)
15Paul Bignot
18Andi Thanoj
24Paul Walker
25Caine Winfarrah ('88)

Woking 1 - 2 Grimsby Town (Garry Hill Interview)

Interview with Mark Ricketts

David Holmes
7:00pm, Sat 2nd Nov 2013

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