Specsavers
FCP
7:45pm - ThursdayThu 10th AprilApr 2014
The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Att: 1805

Woking
Woking
0 - 3

Cambridge United
Cambridge United

The Cards Face Must Win Game

Glen Harrington
3:37pm, Wed 9th Apr 2014
Woking v Cambridge United
7.45pm on Thursday 10 April 2014


It shows just how far the Cards have come in the space of a couple of short months, that they were a team leaving promotion chasing Grimsby on Tuesday night, devastated to have not picked up all three points.

While the 2-2 draw did give Garry Hill’s side a very much deserved point – Woking’s first in four meetings against the Mariners since their return to the Conference Premier last season – it left any faint play-off hopes hanging by a thread.

The Cards have a very attractive fixture tomorrow evening when Cambridge United, lying second in the table, visit Kingfield. A win could move Woking as high as ninth in the table, just three points adrift of the top five ahead of Saturday’s equally important fixture against Alfreton.

Regardless of whether or not the Cards are able to achieve the unthinkable, and finish in the top five, it has been a wonderful late run from a Woking team that are now unbeaten in seven league games. So come down to Kingfield, if you possible can on Thursday, and Saturday to cheer on the team!


WOKING

Not often to a team take the lead twice in the final six minutes of game, and still not manage to win it. However, the Cards suffered late heartbreak yet again against a Grimsby team, who seem to be making an unwelcome habit of scoring late goals against Woking.

On a more positive note, results elsewhere on Tuesday night went predominately in the Cards' favour. Alfreton were thrashed 4-1 at home by Aldershot, Braintree were beaten 1-0 by Macclesfield, Forest Green and Kidderminster played out a 1-1 draw, while Barnet dropped points with the same scoreline at Southport.

The Cards face a very stiff test in the shape of promotion chasing Cambridge, who themselves have plenty to play for. Defeat at Kingfield will officially hand Luton Town the Skrill Premier title, as well as allowing opportunity for their play-off rivals to close the gap behind them.

Woking have no fresh injury worries ahead of tomorrow’s game, with goalkeeper Aaron Howe the only long-term absentee.


CAMBRIDGE UNITED

The U’s started the season very strongly, leading the way until a poor spell, coupled with Luton’s fine run, saw them overhauled by the Hatters. Nevertheless, United, who won the FA Trophy Final against Gosport Borough a couple of weeks ago, look certain to achieve a play-off place.

Recent league form has been good, with Richard Money’s team also unbeaten in seven league games, stretching back to a 3-2 defeat by Forest Green. That run has seen four wins, against Welling, Salisbury, Macclesfield and Southport, and three draws against Luton, Dartford and Barnet. The U’s have also scored in each of their last nine games – with the last time they failed to score being against Braintree in late February, when they lost 1-0.

The U’s have an extremely talented squad, including forwards Adam Cunnington, Tom Elliott, Matthew Barnes-Homer, Andy Pugh and former-Card Delano Sam-Yorke. However, top scorer Luke Berry has managed just 12 league goals this season.

Their success is based heavily on their excellent defence, who have conceded just 27 league goals this season. Kevin Roberts, Greg Taylor, Tom Bonner and Ian Miller are amongst their options at the back, while as well as Berry, they also have the likes of Ryan Donaldson, Tom Champion, Harrison Dunk and Josh Gillies in midfield.


ADMISSION PRICES

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


MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

The Club is publishing a single programme, priced at the usual £3, to cover both this game and Saturday’s game against Alfreton Town. Highlights include an interview with Woking chairman, Mike Smith, who reflects on the season on and off the pitch and looks at the prospects for next season. Ian Nicholson interviews captain Mark Ricketts, who sets out his views on the season and also picks his ‘best 11’ from the players he’s played with at Woking. Glen Harrington looks at all the promotion and relegation issues affecting the Conference leagues: something which will be very much of interest to both visiting teams. 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 TIME OUT

Cambridge United 2 Woking 0
23 November 2013

A frustrating afternoon because for much of this game the Cards played some fine football, more than matching their table-topping hosts. Unfortunately, Woking’s Achilles heel – conceding early goals – had meant that getting anything out of the game was a remote prospect against a very mean U’s defence.

Woking had been boosted by wins against Dartford and Hyde in their previous two games but the defensive frailties evident against Hyde were all too apparent at the Abbey Stadium as a nervy and disorganised defence shipped a goal inside three minutes, Harrison Dunk side-footing home after the defence had failed to clear their lines. Scott Rendell headed a decent chance over the bar before, with only fifteen minutes gone, more hesitant defending allowed Dunk to head home his second goal of the afternoon.

The Cards went on to dominate possession in the second half but rarely troubled a very efficient Cambridge defence.

Woking: Sam Beasant, Adam Newton, John Nutter (Gez Sole 80), Mark Ricketts (Gavin Williams 75), Joe McNerney, Jack Parkinson (Mike Cestor 46), Kevin Betsy, Josh Payne, Scott Rendell, Jack Marriott, Charles Banya

Unused subs: Aaron Howe, Niall Wright

Cautions: Mike Cestor 52, Mark Ricketts 66, Jack Marriott 69, Adam Newton 83, Joe McNerney 90, Josh Payne 90

Cambridge United: Chris Maxwell, Greg Taylor, Josh Coulson, Ian Miller, Tom Champion, Adam Cunnington (Delano Sam-Yorke 78), Harrison Dunk (Michael Spillane 86), Richard Tait, Liam Hughes, Luke Berry, Kwesi Appiah

Unused subs: Will Norris, Mitch Austin, Nathan Arnold

Goals: Harrison Dunk 3, 15

Attendance: 3515


NEXT UP

The Cards are at home again on Saturday when they take on play-off chasing Alfreton Town. Make sure too that you’ve got the last home game of the season firmly in your diary: the eagerly awaited clash with Aldershot Town at 1pm on Easter Monday (21 April).


Come on, you Cards!

The Cards Run Out Of Steam

Glen Harrington
9:00am, Fri 11th Apr 2014
Woking 0 Cambridge United 3

The Skrill Premier

10th April 2014

Goals from Delano Sam-Yorke, Luke Chadwick and Liam Hughes handed promotion chasing Cambridge United a comfortable victory over Woking at Kingfield.

For the Cards, it was simply a case of a game too far. Despite three changes from the team which drew 2-2 with Grimsby Town on Tuesday night, the signs of fatigue were clearly evident, as Garry Hill’s men lined-up for their third match in just five days.

The hosts actually started the game brightly, with Josh Payne, Joey Jones and Kevin Betsy all squandering half-chances, only for a mistake from goalkeeper Sam Beasant to allow ex-Card Sam-Yorke to slot the visitors ahead.

An error from Keiran Murtagh allowed Chadwick to double the U’s advantage, and within 25 minutes the game looked all but over. The Cards battled hard in the second half, and were unlucky not to pull a goal back through substitute Scott Rendell before Liam Hughes smashed in a spectacular third goal.

Woking’s three changes from that epic match at Blundell Park saw Mike Cestor replace John Nutter at left-back, Jones come in for John Goddard in midfield and Giuseppe Sole start up front in place of Rendell.

The Cards started the game well, playing the brand of neat, attractive, passing football which Woking fans have been treated to on a regular basis during the second-half of the season. Payne saw his shot from distance comfortably saved by goalkeeper Will Norris, while Jones also tested the U’s stopper from range. Next, Sole’s neat pass looked to have played Betsy in on goal, only for the ball to escape underneath the experienced winger’s foot.

Unfortunately for the home side, Cambridge’s goal came from some sloppy play. Initially, it was Cestor who dallied too long in possession after trying to play the ball out of defence. While the ball ended up back with Beasant, the Woking stopper’s poor roll out, which asked too much of Jones, handed possession back to United. With frightening speed, the ball was played inside to Sam-Yorke, who slotted his shot calmly into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Cambridge were much too clinical for the liking of an 1,800-strong Kingfield crowd, and when Murtagh was too casual and lost the ball on the half-way line, the U’s were more than ready to take advantage. Hughes played the defence-splitting pass, and Chadwick lifted the ball into the roof of the net past an on-rushing Beasant.

Things had gone from bad to worse for the Cards, and specifically for Murtagh who, ten minutes after giving away possession for the visitors' second goal, pulled up holding the back of his leg. While the change looked more precautionary than enforced, there will still be concerns over the Woking midfielder.

Half-time: Woking 0 Cambridge United 2

Woking continued to play some nice football in the second-half, without managing to create a tremendous amount against the Skrill Premier’s strongest defence – who have conceded just 27 goals in 41 league games this season.

Jack Marriott had the Cards best chance, but he couldn’t get the ball out of his feet quick enough to get the sort of shot away that he would have liked. Norris juggled the Ipswich loanee’s effort, before falling on top of the ball.

Garry Hill brought on both Rendell and Brett Johnson for the last 20 minutes, with Marriott and Mark Ricketts making way. Richard Money also made changes, with Andy Pugh and Ashley Chambers replacing Sam-Yorke and Matthew Barnes-Homer.

Five minutes from time, Rendell came the closest to pulling a goal back for the hosts, narrowly failing to get on the end of Adam Newton’s cross, after the full-back had been played in down the right flank by Betsy.

A couple of minutes later and United had their third goal. Chadwick’s exquisite jinxing run set-up Chambers for the shot, and while Beasant was able to bat away the initial effort, he could do nothing about Hughes’ follow-up, with the midfielder smashing the ball into the top left hand corner of the goal.

It was a disappointing night for the Cards, who saw their seven match unbeaten league run come to an end in something of an anti-climax. But the result is an understandable one. Cambridge are flying high in the league and are probably favourites to be promoted alongside champions-elect Luton Town.

Three games in five days is a huge ask for a team with a small squad operating on a part-time basis, especially when playing against a side with the resources of United. Grimsby, Woking’s opponents on Tuesday evening, also played for a third time in five days on Thursday, and lost 1-0 at Dartford.

The Cards' faint play-off hopes are now all but over after one point from their last two games. They sit in twelfth place, six points adrift of the top five with four games remaining. However, they host sixth place Alfreton Town on Saturday with the possibility of surpassing last season’s point’s tally of 62. So come down to Kingfield if you possibly can and cheer on the team in their penultimate home match of the season!

Woking: Sam Beasant, Adam Newton, Mike Cestor, Joe McNerney, Mark Ricketts (Brett Johnson 69), Kevin Betsy, Keiran Murtagh (John Goddard 37), Josh Payne, Joey Jones, Giuseppe Sole, Jack Marriott (Scott Rendell 69)

Unused Subs: Andy Little, John Nutter

Goal(s): None

Booked: Betsy 90

Cambridge United: Will Norris, Richard Tait, Greg Taylor, Ian Miller, Josh Coulson, Liam Hughes, Tom Champion, Luke Chadwick (Nathan Arnold 86), Ryan Donaldson, Delano Sam-Yorke (Ashley Chambers 71), Matthew Barnes-Homer (Andy Pugh 65)

Unused Subs: Kevin Roberts, Luke Berry

Goals: Sam-Yorke 17, Chadwick 25, Hughes 85

Booked: None

Sponsor's MOTM: Josh Payne – Worked hard for very little reward in the middle of the park, a typically industrial performance.

Attendance: 1,805


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

Woking 0 - 3 Cambridge United (Garry Hill Interview)

Josh Payne Interview

Nick Shaw
11:01pm, Thu 10th Apr 2014
David Holmes speaks to sponsors' Man of the Match Josh Payne following the Cards' 3-0 defeat at home to Cambridge United.



Josh Payne: (iPhone/iPad link)









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