Boxing Day at Kingfield
Brian Caffarey
12:05pm, Mon 23rd Dec 2013
Woking v Salisbury City
3pm on Thursday 26 December 2013
Garry Hill’s side have been in terrific form recently, with five wins in their last six league games, including, most recently, a very impressive 2-0 victory last Saturday at Nuneaton Town. With Jack Marriott’s loan spell due to end on 2 January, this could be the last chance to see this hugely-promising young striker at Kingfield, so bring along family and friends for what should be a well-contested and exciting game on Boxing Day afternoon. Gates and bar open from 12.30pm.
WOKING
Cards’ fans’ faith that Garry Hill and Steve Thompson would turn the Club’s fortunes round after a difficult start to the season has proved fully justified as the side has gone on a great run, helped enormously by some judicious loans. The run of five league wins in the last six has included a 4-3 win at FC Halifax Town, who were hitherto undefeated at home, and a 1-0 home win over much-fancied Kidderminster Harriers. The Cards now sit nine points above the relegation places and a few more good results over the holiday period could see them pushing into the top half of the table.
Jack Marriott, with eight goals in eight games, and his in-form strike partner, Scott Rendell, have been gathering lots of plaudits, not surprisingly, but the Cards have great quality in other areas too, not least in the silky play-making skills of Josh Payne, Keiran Murtagh and Kevin Betsy in midfield.
SALISBURY CITY
The Whites, who won promotion through the Conference South play-offs last year, have had a very encouraging start to life back in the top tier of non-League football. They currently sit in 11th place with 34 points, five places and five points ahead of the Cards, with a game in hand. They had a tricky opening to the season with three successive defeats but then registered six wins and two draws in their next eight league games. Form has tailed off a bit recently and they’ve now gone four league games without a win, having lost at home to Forest Green Rovers and Cambridge, lost away to Macclesfield and, last Saturday, drawn 1-1 at home to Southport.
There are a number of familiar names in the Whites’ squad, including Ricky Wellard, formerly with AFC Wimbledon; Glenn Wilson, who had a brief loan spell at Kingfield; midfielder Rob Sinclair, formerly with Luton and Stevenage; Chris McPhee, a midfielder previously with Torquay; and keeper/goalkeeping coach James Bittner, who, however, has been on the substitutes’ bench for most games, with Will Puddy getting the vote. Dan Fitchett is the main ‘danger man’.
The Whites recently came out of administration after five years of financial problems, which led to a double demotion.
ADMISSION PRICES
Adults £15
Over 65s and students (with valid student card) £10
U16s £3
The game will not be segregated, so Whites fans are very welcome to join us in the Cardinals Bar.
BOOST THE BUDGET
There will be a bucket collection at the game for the Cards Trust’s Boost the Budget scheme. The money raised so far this season has helped Garry bring in players of the calibre of Jack Marriott, Scott Rendell, Keiran Murtagh and Charles Banya, so please give as generously as you can and, better still, sign up for regular monthly contributions if you can afford it.
LAST TIME OUT
The Cards and the Whites last met in the season when Woking won the Conference South title. Kingfield saw a 0-0 draw in October 2011 but the Whites won the return encounter 2-0 at the Ray Mac Stadium in February 2012 after Aaron Howe had been sent off.
MATCHDAY PROGRAMME
The 56-page matchday programme on Boxing Day includes some amusing stories from the crazy world of football and memories of Boxing Day games in past years. 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
NEXT UP
The Cards’ next home game is on Saturday 4 January 2014 when Hereford United are the visitors. Before then the side travels to Dartford on Saturday 28 December and to Salisbury City on New Year’s Day. Support the Cards home and away if you possibly can.
Come on, you Cards!
P.S. Don’t forget to visit the Club Shop on Boxing Day to book your seats on the coaches to Dartford and Salisbury. (Bookings after that will be taken by Rosemary Johnson on 01483 776609.)