Seymours
FCP
3:00pm - SaturdaySat 5th AprilApr 2014
| Att: 2140

Hereford United
Hereford United
0 - 2

Woking
Woking

The Cards Look to Continue Late Charge

Glen Harrington
12:59pm, Thu 3rd Apr 2014
Hereford United v Woking
3pm on Saturday 5 April 2014

The Cards travel to relegation-threatened Hereford United on Saturday, having already beaten the Bulls by a three-goal margin twice this season – once at Kingfield in the league and once at Edgar Street in the FA Trophy.

Five successive league victories have earned Garry Hill the Skrill Premier Manager-of-the-Month award for March, and as a result his team now sit in a season-high twelfth place. He will be hoping to mastermind another success on Saturday as he aims to better the Cards twelfth place finish of last season.

WOKING

While the eight point gap to the play-off places looks a little beyond Woking with just seven games remaining, there is still plenty to play for. A congested mid-table means that the Cards are more than capable of securing a top ten finish – which would be a fantastic achievement considering their difficult start to the campaign. The Cards are just five points short of last season’s final tally of 62, and will be confident of closing that gap again this weekend.

Josh Payne will be available for selection, having served his two-match suspension, although there are doubts over Adam Newton, who limped off in the closing stages of Woking’s win over Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night.

With Payne a near certainty to slot straight back into his central midfield role, expect Joey Jones – who did a fine job in Payne’s absence – to drop back to right back, if Newton is indeed carrying a knock. Sam Beasant, who started the game against Rovers, will presumably keep his place in the continued absence of Aaron Howe.

HEREFORD UNITED

Hereford currently sit in 20th place is the Skrill premier table, one point above Aldershot Town and the first of the four relegation places.

The Bulls have struggled on and off the pitch this season, with financial problems frequently making the headlines. Although if the club is forced to go into administration the ten-point penalty will apply next season, not this season, according to a report in the Non-League paper.

After a promising start to the season, with three wins, two draws and only one defeat in August, their form dipped in September/October, with only two wins in 12 league and cup games. Results picked up in November, December and January but February and March were disastrous, with eight defeats and three draws in eleven league games, with their latest loss coming at home to Grimsby last weekend

The club parted company with manager Martin Foyle and his assistant Andy Porter a couple of weeks ago, with Foyle failing to win another game after picking up the January Manager-of-the-Month award. Pete Beadle is now in charge until the end of the season.

Familiar names include striker Michael Rankine, midfielder Rob Purdie and defender Chris Bush, who had a short loan spell with Woking in 2010. The loss of star player Josh O’Keefe has proved vital, with the Bulls yet to win a game since his departure to Kidderminster in January.

GETTING THERE

Edgar Street Athletic Ground
Blackfriars Street
Hereford
HR4 9JU

Official website: www.herefordunited.co.uk

By coach
The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 10.30am. The cost is £17 for Trust members and £22 for non-members. To book a seat on the coach please ring (01483 772470) the Club Shop or email shop@wokingfc.co.uk

By car
Exit the M4 at junction 15, head north on the A419, keep straight on to the A417. Remain on the A417, cross under the M5 and then join the A40. At the Wilton Roundabout join the A49, signposted Hereford. At Hereford remain on the A49, at the 1st roundabout take the 2nd exit, which is the A49 north, over the River Wye. Having crossed the river, go through two sets of traffic lights, remaining in the left-hand lane and following the signs to Leominster. At the next roundabout remain in the left-hand lane and take the 1st exit again sign-posted Leominster and on the A49. The football ground is then 150 yards on your right.

By train
It’s a complicated train journey from Woking to Hereford, involving at least two changes, usually via Basingstoke and Reading. Look up www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.thetrainline.com if you are thinking of making the journey.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £17 seated and £12 terrace; Concessions (60+ and 15-20) £14 seated and £10 terrace; U15s £5 seated and £3 terrace.

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 3 Hereford United 0
3 February 2014

The Cards completed their second 3-0 win over the Bulls this season, having eliminated them from the FA Trophy by the same score at Edgar Street, with another commanding display. The win was inspired by the returning strike duo of Jack Marriott and Scott Rendell, although the ‘man of the match’ award deservedly went to Josh Payne, showing superb form in midfield.

The Bulls came into the game unbeaten since Boxing Day but showed little in the first half as Woking gradually took control. A goal seemed only a matter of time and it duly arrived on 24 minutes as Marriott glanced home a perfect cross from John Nutter. Two minutes later the lead was doubled as all four midfielders worked the ball around the box before Keiran Murtagh found the bottom corner. But for some excellent work from Hereford keeper Daniel Lloyd-Weston the game could have been over by half-time as the Cards carved out several more good chances.

The Bulls came into the game after the break and had one or two chances to reduce the deficit before the Cards responded with another fine goal, Payne exchanging passes with Rendell before crashing the ball high into the net.

Woking: Sam Beasant, Adam Newton (Joey Jones 75), John Nutter, Joe McNerney, Brett Johnson, Kevin Betsy, Keiran Murtagh, Josh Payne (Reece Beckles 90), John Goddard, Jack Marriott (Giuseppe Sole 85), Scott Rendell.

Unused Subs: Aaron Howe, Anthony McNamee.

Goals: Marriott 24, Murtagh 26, Payne 88.

Booked: Johnson 80

Hereford United: Daniel Lloyd-Weston, Dominic Collins (Daniel Leadbitter 62), Luke Graham, Rod McDonald, Chris Bush, Jonathan Brown, Frankie Artus (Dan Walker 55), Kingsley James, Jamie Edge, Michael Rankine, Chris Sharp (Sam Smith 62).

Unused Subs: Rhys Evans, Rob Purdie.

Booked: Graham 90

Attendance: 1,131

NEXT GAME

The Cards have a long journey to Grimsby on Tuesday evening (8 April). Their next home game is on Thursday 10 April when they take on Cambridge United, followed by another home game on Saturday 12 April when Alfreton Town are the visitors.

Come on, you Cards!

Cards stay bullish with six from six

Ray Avards
9:33am, Sun 6th Apr 2014
Hereford United 0 Woking 2
The Skrill Premier

5th April 2014




With a nap hand of wins, the Cards kept the same side as that which beat Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night, apart from the unfortunate Joey Jones ceding a midfield berth to returning England C international Josh Payne.

Last time out at Edgar Street, Woking put in a superb first half-hour or so to lead 3-0 in the FA Trophy. Here they were fortunate not to find themselves an early goal down. A quick free-kick had them in trouble through the centre. Dan Walker followed up by finding space wide and his deep cross was met by Sam Smith’s header looping over Sam Beasant only for Mark Ricketts to save his side by heading off the line. Walker was making inroads on the Woking right and twice had chances, shooting wide and then being thwarted by McNerney’s superb block.

The Cards soon settled though. Jack Marriott breaking away on the right and into the area saw his stinging drive hit the side netting. Kevin Betsy (pictured) then tried his luck from 40 yards but home 'keeper Daniel Lloyd-Weston was ready. Next it was John Nutter galloping away on the overlap and his low cross was side-footed narrowly wide by Scot Rendell at the near post before Josh Payne‘s dipping drive was tipped over by Lloyd-Weston arching backwards.

Woking were now very much on the front foot. Scott Rendell capitalised on a mix-up to get in behind central defence only for Lloyd-Weston to smother his effort. Josh Payne tried from distance and was just wide of the right-hand post. At the other end, Adam Newton gave the ball away but he and Mark Ricketts recovered the situation and cleared. Back on the attack Betsy, getting ‘the bird’ from the home fans for appealing to the referee for what he considered to be an earlier trip, dribbled in and won a corner against two defenders. The Bulls were clearly unsettled and minutes later another mix-up at the back, this time including 'keeper Lloyd-Weston, left Scott Rendell to waltz clear of him and roll the ball into an empty net for the lead.

Rendell got in behind the defence yet again without result and Betsy twisting and turning into the area had a shot saved, whilst at the other end Walker‘s cross found Sam Smith but his header was taken comfortably by Sam Beasant, as the Bulls reacted. The Cards were still looking to add to their tally and after a Payne drive was saved, Mark Ricketts followed up a cleared corner, won his tackle on the touchline and fired across the goal area, Rendell not quite able to turn it home on the slide. Woking raided yet again and two shots were blocked before the pressure finally paid off as a low left wing cross found its way to Adam Newton who, suffering nose-bleed from an incursion so far into opposition territory, gleefully side-footed home for his first-ever goal for the Cards to give the visitors a deserved two goal lead.

Even with this cushion, Woking were not content to sit back as half-time approached. Rendell’s angled ball released Jack Marriott away into the area on the right but he was tackled. Two defenders blocked him out and Betsy‘s follow up was stifled too. Josh Payne’s free kick from wide left was also hit with intent but wide of the far post. Betsy, picking up the ball in the centre this time, so nearly released Marriott for a clear run on goal, but the pass was picked off as the Cards finished strongly in a half they had largely dominated.

Half-time: Hereford United 0 Woking 2

Half–time changes saw the Bulls throw on Michael Rankine, returning from a recent lay off, at the point of the attack and Danny Pilkington, replacements for Dan Walker and Jon Brown. This allowed Jarrod Bowen to switch to the right wing. Early on, he squirmed free of Nutter and Payne to get in a dangerous cross. From the left wing, Rankine was set up for a sharp turn and shot near the penalty spot but it lacked power. In this rare spell of home pressure, Josh Payne received the only caution of the match after tangling with an opponent outside the penalty area. Home skipper Luke Graham, in stopping Marriott, went down with a thigh injury but carried on after treatment twice, to finish the match.

The young Ipswich loanee, freed on the counter attack again, shot wide though it looked like a deflection. In reply, Danny Leadbitter, one of the better United players on the day, careered forward from right-back into the heart of the Woking defence and was only stopped by a last ditch Ricketts tackle, who was again giving a captain's performance. At the other end Keiran Murtagh somehow smuggled the ball through for yet another Marriott run on goal and fizzing shot wide.

Woking dominance on the ball and in possession took the sting out of The Bulls second half push. Neat triangles worked the ball out of trouble or clear of challenges in midfield, wearing down the home side’s resolve, even though they were roared on by an enthusiastic home crowd. Payne shot wide of the far post and Betsy’s effort drifted wide of the other stick. He was soon away again and Rendell just failed to turn in a cross at the near post under pressure from the resilient Graham. Back came the Bulls. Rankine’s looping header was saved and Beasant was bundled into the net with the ball but referee Hopkins, who had an excellent game throughout, rightly blew up for a foul.

Joey Jones joined the action for Josh Payne midway through the half but it did not reduce the Cards' effectiveness in any way. The Johns, Goddard and Nutter combined to set the latter free for a drive which was blocked for a corner.

Michael Rankine came closest to breaking the home duck with a crashing header from Bowen’s pinpoint cross which had Beasant arching to tip over his bar before Frankie Artus shot narrowly over as Hereford looked to find a way back into the match.

With time ticking by, Garry Hill brought on Mike Cestor for John Nutter and Giuseppe Sole replaced Kevin Betsy to keep the team fresh and it was the visitors, rather than the home side who looked the more threatening. Indeed, the last action of the game saw a fine effort from Sole excellently tipped over the bar by Lloyd-Weston. It said it all that the Hereford 'keeper was voted the home team's 'man of the match'.

A richly deserved victory for the Cards then who are on an extraordinary run of six league wins in a row. They will surely be fully tested in the coming week, however, as they are forced to face successive games against third and second in the table, Grimsby away on Tuesday and Cambridge United at home on Thursday before another home match against Alfreton next Saturday. The squad is about to be tested to the limit!

Hereford United: Daniel Lloyd-Weston, Danny Leadbitter, Kingsley James, Luke Graham (c) Rob Purdie, Dan Walker (Michael Rankine 46), Dom Collins, Frankie Artus, Jarrod Bowen, Jon Brown (Danny Pilkington 46), Sam Smith (Cory Williams 75)


Unused Subs: Rod McDonald, Jamie Edge


Woking: Sam Beasant, Adam Newton, Mark Ricketts (c), Joe McNerney, John Nutter (Mike Cestor 75), Kevin Betsy (Giuseppe Sole 83), Keiran Murtagh, Josh Payne (Joey Jones 67), John Goddard, Scott Rendell, Jack Marriott




Unused Subs: Andy Little, Brett Johnson



Goals: Scott Rendell 20, Adam Newton 35



Caution: Josh Payne 49



My MOTM: Kevin Betsy for me, with an ageless performance, popping up all over the pitch to set the Cards in motion and always providing an outlet.

Attendance: 2,140
Hereford United LINEUP
WOKING LINEUP
18Sam Beasant
2Adam Newton
3John Nutter ('75)
5Joe McNerney
4Mark Ricketts
20Josh Payne ('67)
26Keiran Murtagh
11Kevin Betsy ('83)
22John Goddard
21Scott Rendell
25Jack Marriott
BENCH
28Andy Little
6Brett Johnson
15Mike Cestor ('75)
30Joey Jones ('67)
10Giuseppe Sole ('83)

Garry Hill Interview from Hereford

Nick Shaw
5:18pm, Sat 5th Apr 2014
Garry Richardson speaks to Garry Hill after the Cards make it six wins in a row, with a 2 - 0 victory at Hereford United.



Garry Hill:








Requires Adobe Flash Player.

Click here to listen on iPhones/iPads

Shop Online

adidas Laithwaite Financial Services Boz's Fruit and Veg Jewson MKJ Peacock Construction Seymours The National League Vanarama

Woking Football Club Limited
A company incorporated in England and Wales (company number: ‍03329172)
Registered office The Laithwaite Community Stadium, Kingfield, Woking, Surrey, GU22 9AA

Click here to read our Data Protection Privacy Policy
Click here to read our Accessibility Statement