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3:00pm - SaturdaySat 21st DecemberDec 2013
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Nuneaton Town
Nuneaton Town
0 - 2

Woking
Woking

Cards target away points

Brian Caffarey
6:04pm, Thu 19th Dec 2013
Nuneaton Town v Woking
3pm on Saturday 21 December 2013

The Cards, now in 17th spot in the table, begin a testing sequence of five league games in a fortnight, which could either leave them well clear of the relegation places or still looking nervously over their shoulders. With key loans due to come to an end at the beginning of January, Garry will be keen to amass as many points as possible from games which all look potentially winnable provided the side plays better than it did at North Ferriby United last Saturday.

WOKING

The Cards will no longer be able to call on the versatile Jack Parkinson, following his transfer to ambitious Maidstone United. Cards fans will wish him well in his future career but regret that it won’t be with Woking FC. Fortunately, Mike Cestor has generally played well at centre back in recent games and Brett Johnson is also now returning following his hamstring injury.

What the Cards need is the sort of commanding performance away from home which saw them beat Hereford United 3-0 in the Trophy and triumph 4-3 at the hitherto impregnable Shay.

NUNEATON TOWN

Nuneaton were the surprise package in the early part of the season, winning seven and drawing two of their first nine games before falling away in a sequence that brought no wins in the succeeding ten games. But a recovery seems to be underway: they have lost only twice in their last eight league and cup games, including Tuesday’s defeat on penalties in a Trophy replay against Gosport Borough. That sequence includes a notable away win at Welling United and a league and Trophy double over Alfreton Town.

Nuneaton now sit 4th in the table with 39 points and therefore still have a good chance of making the play-offs if they can maintain their recent form.

However, the squad is suffering from a lot of injury problems and had to field a very depleted side on Tuesday evening. Manager Kevin Wilkin has just brought in former Northampton Town youth player, right back Chimdi Akubiune.

Louis Moult, only fit enough for the bench on Tuesday evening, is the ‘danger man’ with 13 goals already this season. A fellow striker is Freddie Ladapo, who failed to make any impression when on loan at Kingfield from Colchester United earlier this season. Other familiar non-League names include midfielder Phil Trainer and striker James Armson.

GETTING THERE

Nuneaton Town FC
The Sperrin Brewery Stadium
Liberty Way
Nuneaton
Warwickshire
CV11 6RR

Official website: www.nuneatontownfc.com

By coach
The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 11.00am. Members £16, non-Members £21. Ring the Club Shop on 01483 772470 or email shop@wokingfc.co.uk to book your place.

By car
Exit the M6 at Junction 3 and follow the A444 into Nuneaton. At the Coton Arches roundabout turn right into Avenue Road, which is the A4254 signposted for Hinckley. Continue along the A4254 following the road into Garrett Street, then Eastboro Way, then turn left into Townsend Drive. Follow the road round before turning left into Liberty Way for the ground. There is parking at the ground at a cost of £2 and street parking in the vicinity.

By train
The nearest station is Nuneaton.

The ground is about a 30-minute walk from the station or there are taxis available. If you’re walking, leave the station and turn left along Regent Street and, where the road forks, keep to the right. At the traffic lights at the bottom turn left into Vicarage Street (A444 signposted Attleborough/Bulkington). Keep going along this road, passing a police station on your left. At the next roundabout with a church on one corner, turn left onto Church Street (B4114 towards Attleborough). Walk along Church Street, passing a park on your right and then going under a railway bridge. Go straight on at the mini-roundabout into Attleborough Road, passing the Rugger Tavern on your right and then the Attleborough Arms on your left as the road becomes Highfield Road. At the next roundabout take the first exit onto the A4254 towards Hinckley (also signposted Attleborough Fields Industrial Estate). You will next pass the Crows Nest pub on your right and, at the next roundabout, take the first exit into Townsend Drive. The entrance to Liberty Way is a short distance down on the right. (Directions courtesy of www.footballgroundguide.com)

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults: £12
16 and under: £3
Plus £2 to transfer to the Main Stand seats if required.

When games are segregated visiting supporters are allocated the Loans 2 Go Stand and the visitors’ turnstiles will be in use. As you enter the Stadium area through the main gates, the visitors’ turnstiles are the first ones that you come to on your left.

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 2 Nuneaton Town 0
28 September 2013

This was a very welcome three points for the Cards, ending a winless run of eight games and also constituting their first home win of the season. Nuneaton came to Kingfield second in the table but were second best to Garry Hill’s side throughout the game.

The Cards opened the scoring after 13 minutes when Scott Rendell turned in a Kevin Betsy cross. The lead could easily have been increased in the first half but for some fine goalkeeping from James Belshaw but he couldn’t do anything about Josh Payne’s strike early in the second half, Josh having been set up by some clever play by Gavin Williams.

Woking: Sam Beasant, Mark Ricketts, John Nutter, Jack Parkinson, Joe McNerney, Darren Murphy (Mike Cestor 77), Josh Payne, Gavin Williams (Giuseppe Sole 82), Anthony McNamee (John Goddard 46), Kevin Betsy, Scott Rendell

Unused Subs: Aaron Howe, George Frith

Goals: Rendell 13, Payne 49

Booked: Parkinson 32

NEXT GAME

Line up the family and friends for a visit to Kingfield on Boxing Day afternoon when Woking take on Salisbury City. Kick-off is at 3pm. On Saturday 28 December the Cards are away at Dartford and then on
1 January they travel to Salisbury for part two of the holiday ‘double’. A hectic schedule sees them at home again on Saturday 4 January when struggling Hereford United come to town.

Come on, you Cards!

Cards dig points out of the 'Boro

Ray Avards
1:37pm, Sun 22nd Dec 2013
Nuneaton Town 0 Woking 2
The Skrill Premier

21st December 2013

On a blustery day in the East Midlands, Woking’s quality on the ball saw them home, in the end with something to spare, another three valuable points in their climb out of danger and into mid-table.

Garry Hill kept faith with what currently seems to be his first choice starting eleven, captain Mark Ricketts resuming at right back, Nuneaton Town (formerly Borough) setting up with two banks of four and a 1 and 1 up front, one of their recent injury casualties and top scorer Louis Moult, as spearhead.

An even start in a very lively first half saw the Cards set a pattern early on, Scott Rendell shooting over from around the penalty spot within the first minute. Jack Marriott and then Kevin Betsy sought to wriggle through on the right before KB was surrounded by three defenders. Keiran Murtagh had a shot blocked, then Charlie Banya surfed two tackles on the left and was inside the area but his cross-cum-shot was cleared. At the other end Moult shot wide. He also chipped over Sam Beasant and wide but was given offside.

Betsy, away on the right, could not break the last tackle and he would soon switch wings with Charles Banya. Marriott picked Gordon’s pocket on the Boro back line but a saving tackle came in. A Rendell cross from the right wing was blocked after good work by Murtagh and Josh Payne’s shot was saved. Then Jack M should have volleyed home, but stealing in at the far post onto Josh Payne’s curler he missed it hip high altogether, from eight yards.

The Cards were having the better of the play but not nailing their chances. Suddenly their high back line was broken on the counter and Beasant dashed out in no-man’s land. Hibbert shot instead of lobbing and the keeper got a crucial hand down to deflect away for a corner in a heart-stopping moment that nearly undid all the good early work from Woking. A shaken defence then had to thank Payne, who headed off the line as the ball looped over Beasant from Adam Walker’s corner won in the air at the back post.

Hibbert was brought down in the area after being back-heeled in, but Mr Huxtable, the referee, waved play on. Walker got a dangerous cross in and with Hibbert rising Cestor headed straight up in the air and out for a corner. From it, 'Boro skipper Gareth Dean headed down but wide.

The Cards countered and a back-heel from Banya combined with John Nutter but his cross flew over with no one attacking the back post. Now Rendell, Murtagh and Banya combined sweetly for the latter’s cross to be headed onto the roof of the net by Scott Rendell with the keeper looking beaten. Next Banya rampaged in from the right onto yet another Murtagh pass and guided his shot just wide of the left-hand post, cutting in. Out of nowhere again, Hibbert was clear and stretching for a floated ball on the edge of the area with no flag for offside, but could only guide his stab into Beasant’s arms. At the other end Kevin Betsy cut in and shot left to right but bending away wide.

'Boro pressed hard and the ball fell invitingly for James Armson, whose volley was sweet, crashing back off the cross bar with Beasant well beaten. The Woking 'keeper had to be alive moments later and at full stretch to turn away Walker’s thump on the rebound low at his right-hand post. There was still time for Payne to set up Marriott at the other end but his goal-bound shot from the centre of the box was blocked.

Half-time: Nuneaton Town 0 Woking 0

There was early pressure at the start of the second half as 'Boro’s Adam Walker attacked down the Woking left, ably assisted by Phil Trainer, influential for Nuneaton in the second half and working hard. Beasant was forced to stride out of his goal to clear away right-footed over the touchline after another ball dropped over his back four. The Cards soon took up where they left off in the first half, Marriott almost in on the counter-attack through the middle, but blocked out. Next he was set up by Betsy inside the area on the left with a clear sight of goal and his left-foot shot flew high into the far corner of the net to give the Cards the lead in the fiftieth minute.

Akubuine shot wide in reply and Moult took a dangerous free-kick on the right-hand point of the Woking area as Cards' tackles came in thick and fast to halt the 'Boro's attempted fight back. But Betsy was away again and shot over left-footed. Adam Walker did get in to see the whites of Beasant's eyes from 8 yards after good work by Hibbert but the keeper blocked his waspish left-foot shot with his body for a corner.

Kevin Betsy then provided the perfect riposte on the hour mark. He was fed by Murtagh and this time skipped inside his man on the left and into the area, sweeping a superb shot beyond Roos before wheeling away behind the goal to celebrate with the visiting fans.

The Woking rearguard featured now, in attack! Mark Ricketts slide-tackled twice to win the ball in midfield and set up a break for Rendell, who fed Marriott but somehow 'keeper Roos managed to block the effort. Later, Mike Cestor ran imperiously from his own half at Nuneaton through at least three tackles before being upended on the edge of the penalty area. There was work at the back too. McNerney cleared from under his bar after Sam Beasant fumbled Walker’s shot under pressure.

Nuneaton summoned up their energy for a final effort to get back into the game. A free-kick from Armson, spun in from the left, evaded onrushing attackers and Walker ran away down the right, his cross just evading a team-mate sliding into the goal area.

Garry Hill rang the changes in the last 10 minutes as time ebbed away. Josh Payne swept a free-kick just wide of the right-hand post after Sole won a free-kick 25 yards out. Rendell was then sent away down the right by neat work from John Goddard as the Cards played out the remainder of the match.

This really was an accomplished all-round team performance once the Cards had got their noses in front, and provided a lift for the travelling fans to send them into the Christmas period celebrating.

Woking: Sam Beasant, Mark Ricketts (Adam Newton 90), Joe McNerney, Mike Cestor, John Nutter, Kevin Betsy, Keiran Murtagh, Josh Payne, Charles Banya (John Goddard 81), Jack Marriott (Giuseppe Sole 86), Scott Rendell

Goals: Jack Marriott 50, Kevin Betsy 60

Unused subs: Aaron Howe, Brett Johnson

Nuneaton Town: Kelle Roos, Daniel Akubuine (Jon Adams 68), Delroy Gordon , Gareth Dean (c) Daniel Sleath , Wesley York, James Armson, Phil Trainer, Adam Walker(Connor Taylor 77), Dave Hibbert, Louis Moult

Unused subs: James Belshaw, Freddie Ladapo

Attendance: 895

MotM: Keiran Murtagh - set up so much of what Woking did best throughout the match
Nuneaton Town LINEUP
29Kelle Roos
2Daniel Akubuine ('68)
13Daniel Sleath
15Delroy Gordon
5Gareth Dean
6Adam Walker ('77)
7James Armson
20Phil Trainer
26David Hibbert
9Louis Moult
16Wesley York
BENCH
19James Belshaw
8Jon Adams ('68)
17Connor Taylor ('77)
27Freddie Ladapo
WOKING LINEUP
18Sam Beasant
4Mark Ricketts ('90)
3John Nutter
5Joe McNerney
15Mike Cestor
20Josh Payne
26Keiran Murtagh
11Kevin Betsy
30Charles Banya ('81)
21Scott Rendell
25Jack Marriott ('87)
BENCH
1Aaron Howe
2Adam Newton ('90)
6Brett Johnson
22John Goddard ('81)
10Giuseppe Sole ('87)

Nuneaton Town 0 - 2 Woking (Garry Hill Interview)

Kevin Betsy Interview

David Holmes
9:23am, Sun 22nd Dec 2013

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