Lovetts
FCP
7:45pm - TuesdayTue 8th AprilApr 2014
Blundell Park | Att: 3507

Grimsby
Grimsby Town
2 - 2

Woking
Woking

The Cards Hoping to Boost Play-Off Hopes

Glen Harrington
12:32pm, Mon 7th Apr 2014
Grimsby Town v Woking
7.45pm on Tuesday 8 April 2014

The Cards face a challenging trip to play-off bound Grimsby Town tomorrow night, with Garry Hill’s side looking to prove they have top five credentials of their own.

Woking’s trip to Grimsby marks the first of three challenging games inside six days, with second-place Cambridge and sixth-place Alfreton still to come. With a seven point gap still between the Cards and an unlikely play-off place, maximum points is really the only option.

After being harshly beaten by a goal deep, deep into stoppage time when the sides met at Kingfield earlier in the season, the Cards will be even more eager to come away with a positive result this time around.

WOKING

It has been a wonderful few weeks for the Cards, who have gone from battling relegation to play-off outsiders thanks to six straight league victories. Realistically, Garry Hill’s team are now just two points short of last season’s tally of 62 – so surpassing that and their twelfth place finish of the previous campaign will remain the new number one priority, now that safety has been mathematically confirmed.

Even by winning all of their remaining six games, the Cards cannot guarantee a play-off place, and for now that remains an ambitious dream. But with some fantastic results away from home in the last couple of months – at Luton, Gateshead and Barnet amongst other – this is a Woking team that will be full of confidence as they travel to Blundell Park.

Despite seemingly picking up a knock against Forest Green, Adam Newton was fit to play against Hereford at the weekend – breaking his 126-game scoring duck for the club in the process. With no fresh injury worries, the Cards are likely to stick with the team that has been so successful for them recently, although the likes of Joey Jones, Mike Cestor and Giuseppe Sole will no doubt be eager to get involved, should Hill and Steve Thompson wish to freshen things up.

GRIMSBY TOWN

The Mariners, who lost in the play-offs last year to Newport County, have always looked a good bet for a second successive play-off place. They now sit in third place, nine points ahead of the Cards, and with a couple of games in hand on most of the teams around them, they will be confident of securing a top five finish. Recent form has been more than satisfactory, with three straight 1-0 victories over Hereford, Wrexham and Kidderminster – all away from home. They were beaten last time they played at home, losing 2-1 to Luton.

The Mariners’ squad is strong, and includes influential captain Craig Disley, striker Ross Hannah, ex-Card Aswad Thomas, ex-Don Sam Hatton and huge defender Clayton McDonald. However, striker Liam Hearn has recently left the club following a cruciate injury suffered earlier this season.

GETTING THERE

Blundell Park
Cleethorpes
Lincolnshire
DN35 7PY

Official website: www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk

By coach
The Cards Trust minibus leaves Kingfield at 2pm. The cost is £22 for members and £29 for non-members. Ring the Club Shop or email shop@wokingfc.co.uk to book your place.

By car
Follow the signs for Grimsby on the M180. Continue on this road when it becomes the A180. This road runs right past the ground, which is next to the McDonalds Drive-thru.

By train
Nearest station: Cleethorpes. It’s not possible to get a train back to London after the game. On the way there, the best train would be the 16.03 from Kings Cross which, with a change at Doncaster, would get you to Cleethorpes station at 19.00.

The station is just over 1 mile away from the stadium. Walking would take about 20 minutes. Public transport is available.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults: £18
Over 65s & Students: £12
Under 14s: £6 (unaccompanied) £4 (accompanied)
Away fans sit in the Osmond Stand in the south side of the ground. Entry to this stand is in Constitutional Avenue, turnstiles 7-10.

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 1 Grimsby Town 2
2 November 2013
The Cards were unlucky not to get a point out of this game, matching their high-flying opponents for most of the match. Their cause wasn’t helped by a disastrous start, Ross Hannah heading home for the visitors from a corner in the first minute. Half an hour later the score was levelled when Scott Rendell dummied a long ball from Josh Payne, putting Kevin Betsy through, who finished neatly under the Mariners’ onrushing keeper. Both Payne and Betsy went close for the Cards in a good spell leading up till half-time.
Play was fairly evenly shared in the second half, with debutant loanee Charles Banya impressing on several occasions. But the Cards suffered a cruel blow in injury time, with the ball falling kindly to Craig Disley on the edge of the area. He slammed it into the roof of the net, giving Sam Beasant no chance.
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.

Attendance: 1,432

NEXT GAME

The Cards have two home games coming up quickly against top sides. On Thursday 10 April they are at home to Cambridge United and on Saturday 12 April they entertain Alfreton Town in the penultimate home game of the season.


Come on, you Cards!

Late penalty heartache for in-form Cards

Malcolm Wyatt
10:27am, Wed 9th Apr 2014
Grimsby Town 2 Woking 2
The Skrill Premier
8th April 2014

It’s a testimony to the way Woking have pushed on in the latter part of this season that their hosts were so pleased to grab a late, late equaliser against their part-time opposition on Tuesday night.

You would scarcely have credited the Cardinals of two months ago the ability to come to North Lincolnshire and hold out for 95 minutes before conceding a late equaliser.
It was the spirit of Kenilworth Road on show again, and while Garry Hill’s heroes had to settle for one point this time, it stretched an amazing run and at least kept the team in the play-off picture.

Grimsby were out of the traps first, a pattern quickly emerging in which Sam Beasant was expertly covered by a determined defence.

Josh Payne was on hand to clear the best of those early three chances, and that cover continued at key times, Mark Ricketts and Joe McNerney nothing less than colossal in the centre.

Woking hadn’t just come to defend, with Scott Rendell the main provider early on, although Jack Marriott seemed to have a frustrating night, more or less marked out of the game.

John Goddard went closest to unlocking the home defence, while as Grimsby threatened swift raids, Payne was twice called on to help out in the middle, acquitting himself superbly.

Adam Newton also played a crucial role, and kept main threat Lenell John-Lewis at bay, while Kevin Betsy proved sharp at the other end, at one stage cutting right across the area before testing home 'keeper James McKeown.

John-Lewis whipped up the home faithful with a mighty shot that flew just over, while as Woking countered, Marriott sliced wide after good work by Newton and Keiran Murtagh.
There were home appeals for a penalty as Craig Disley went to ground in the area, the ref signalling a corner instead, which Goddard cut out.

Payne was next to play Marriott in, while Ricketts and Rendell set up the next attack, Grimsby somehow clearing their lines.

Beasant saved well from a Disley long shot, while Payne tested the home defence from distance, then – as play switched ends again – Ricketts denied John-Lewis.
When Disley went down again in the box, the ref booked him, and as Woking countered, Goddard’s pass was just a tad too strong for Rendell.

McNerney and Ricketts again stood up to the next raid, while Beasant caught Shaun Pearson’s header, although Newton was booked for stopping Alex Rodman’s left-wing raid.

Ex-Cardinal Aswad Thomas unleashed a mighty volley that just missed the target, and more chances followed before the break, Newton clearing a Scott Kerr free-kick, while McNerney and Ricketts took turns to thump away the next attacks and see the Cards to the interval on level terms.

Half-time: Grimsby Town 0 Woking 0

That pressure continued after the break with John-Lewis frustrated again, and after Ricketts tucked behind for a corner, Connor Jennings struck his effort wide with an overhead kick.

The hosts stepped it up, but still McNerney and Ricketts frustrated the Mariners, John Nutter also on hand to help calm the nerves.

Marriott and Betsy were still a threat on the break, but the visitors seemed to be living off scraps.

Beasant collected the next centre, while Rendell was desperately unlucky not to tuck home after a great run and cross from Newton, as the Cards got on top again.
From a deep Payne delivery, McNerney came close with a header, Marriott needing treatment in the aftermath, but John-Lewis might still have put Paul Hurst’s side ahead, the striker inches away following another great Thomas delivery.

Beasant then made the save of the match, down to his right to push away, despite seeing Jennings’ shot late.

Again, Marriott was frustrated in the middle after great work on the flank by Betsy, while Jennings was just wide with another overhead flick.

Changes followed, with Giuseppe Sole soon in the thick of it in Marriott’s place, while McNerney swept up at the other end.

The Mariners also stirred things up, subs Joe Colbeck and Oumare Tounkara soon making an impact.

But McNerney cut out from Colbeck, while Ricketts turned and cleared the next attack, with Payne, Murtagh then McNerney again on hand to clear as Grimsby came strong.
Pearson came even closer, his looping header striking the crossbar as Woking looked anxiously on, while Beasant punched away the next cross.

Then it all changed, Murtagh setting up Betsy’s right-wing raid as Woking countered perfectly, the move taken on by Newton and Sole, with Grimsby’s defence confused and Betsy there to tuck away.

The small contingent of Cards fans in the top corner behind the goal went wild, but with at least six more minutes to go, the visitors knew they were still up against it.
There was a sign of that when Tounkara came close from distance, and then – when Woking left a gap on the edge of their area - the Mariners sub fired home, right on the cusp of four added minutes.

Blundell Park came alive again, those who’d made their way to the exits early no doubt wondering when they got home just what they’d missed.

Within two minutes, Woking were back in front again, with the visitors’ bench erupting as Joey Jones’ power shot was parried by McKeown and Sole and Murtagh were first to react, the latter tucking home.

But it wasn’t to be, and despite further stops from Newton and Beasant, a long ball upfield from the home keeper led to something of a confused mess in the Woking box, Disley going down again and the ref pointing to the spot this time.

Up stepped John-Lewis, striking beyond Beasant’s right hand for the equaliser, or what Hill later described as Grimsby ‘getting out of jail – big time’.

Woking: Sam Beasant, Adam Newton, John Nutter, Mark Ricketts ©, Joe McNerney, Kevin Betsy, Josh Payne, Scott Rendell, John Goddard (Joey Jones 89), Jack Marriott (Giuseppe Sole 71), Keiran Murtagh

Subs not used: Brett Johnson, Mike Cestor, Liam Allan

Goals: Betsy 84, Murtagh 90

Cautions: Newton 38, Nutter 90

Grimsby Town: James McKeown, Sam Hatton, Aswad Thomas (Jamal Fyfield 85), Scott Kerr, Shaun Pearson, Craig Disley, Scott Neilson (Joe Colbeck), Lenell John-Lewis, Alex Rodman, Connor Jennings (Oumare Tounkara 74), Andrew Boyce

Subs not used: Ross Hannah, Andi Thanoj

Goals: Tounkara 90, John-Lewis 90(pen)

Caution: Disley 28

Attendance: 3,507

MOTM: Mark Ricketts – so many great performances, but the Cards skipper led by example from the back, proving equal to more or less everything that came his way from full-time opposition.
Grimsby Town LINEUP
WOKING LINEUP
18Sam Beasant
2Adam Newton
3John Nutter
5Joe McNerney
4Mark Ricketts
20Josh Payne
26Keiran Murtagh
11Kevin Betsy
22John Goddard ('89)
21Scott Rendell
25Jack Marriott ('71)
BENCH
13Liam Allen
6Brett Johnson
15Mike Cestor
30Joey Jones ('89)
10Giuseppe Sole ('71)

Grimsby Town Interviews

Nick Shaw
12:19am, Wed 9th Apr 2014
John Moore speaks to Garry Hill, and David Holmes speaks to Sam Beasant, following the Cards' 2 - 2 draw away to Grimsby Town.



Garry Hill: (iPhone/iPad link)









Sam Beasant: (iPhone/iPad link)









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