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FCP
3:07pm - SaturdaySat 12th AprilApr 2014
The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Att: 1485

Woking
Woking
2 - 1

Alfreton Town
Alfreton Town

The Cards Look to Get Back on Track

Glen Harrington
4:59pm, Fri 11th Apr 2014
Woking v Alfreton Town
3.07pm on Saturday 12 April 2014


While the Cards faint play-off hopes all but evaporated with their 3-0 defeat to Cambridge United on Thursday evening, Garry Hill’s side will be keen to get back to winning ways and finish the season strongly.

Woking are just one point adrift of last season’s points tally of 62, while they will also be keen on chasing down Braintree Town for the right to be the league’s number one part-time team.

They face another challenging fixture tomorrow when Alfreton Town visit Kingfield. The Reds have been in the top five for much of the season, but now face a fight to hold on to a play-off spot, following a three point deduction for fielding an ineligible player.


WOKING

After playing themselves into play-off contention with a fantastic run of six straight league victories, the Cards were undone by, essentially, an unfortunately busy schedule, as they faced promotion chasing duo Grimsby and Cambridge inside 48 hours.

There will be doubts over the fitness of Keiran Murtagh for tomorrow’s game, after the midfielder limped off before half-time in the Cards match with Cambridge. John Goddard, Scott Rendell and John Nutter – who were all understandably dropped to the bench on Thursday as Garry Hill and Steve Thompson rotated their squad – could well be in line to return.

Goalkeeper Aaron Howe remains the only long-term absentee, with Andy Little or academy stopper Liam Allen likely to continue covering for Sam Beasant.


ALFRETON TOWN

Alfreton have had an excellent season thus far, with their prospects boosted by some heavy investment last summer. They sat comfortably inside the play-off places between mid-December and the end of last month, when a point’s deduction and a downturn in form saw them drop to sixth place.

Nicky Law’s side are without a win in any of their last four games – drawing twice against Nuneaton and Welling, and losing to Halifax and, most recently, Aldershot, who defeated them 4-1 on Tuesday evening. Alfreton are also traditionally stronger at home, having lost just three times at North Street compared to their eight defeats on the road.
Nonetheless, they still have an extremely talented squad more than capable of getting a result. The Cards will know all about the Reds 15-goal top scorer John Akinde, who was a triallist at Kingfield in pre-season. Other stand out players include Akinde’s fellow striker Shaun Harrad, who scored 69 goals in over 200 games for Burton between 2005 and 2011, Mansfield Town loanee Godfrey Poku, and 24-year-old midfielder Josh Law, son of his team’s manager, who has already played well over 200 games for the club.


ADMISSION PRICES

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


MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

The Club has published a single programme, priced at the usual £3, to cover both Thursday night’s game against Cambridge United and this 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

Alfreton Town 3 Woking 1
7 September 2014

It was a fairly familiar story of the Cards having at least their fair share of the game but frustrated by defensive errors and a lack of firepower. Woking conceded another early goal as Akinde, a summer triallist for the Cards, bypassed Joe McNerney, filling in at right back for the missing Adam Newton, and set up Tom Shaw to fire home in the 9th minute.

A minute later, however, the Cards equalised from the penalty spot as Gavin Williams took advantage of a slightly fortuitous handball decision.

Williams nearly registered again later in the half as his shot crashed against the underside of the bar but it was Alfreton who turned the screw towards the end of the half, penning Woking in, before Howe was only able to half-punch clear a long throw, with Shaw again firing home.

The Cards created half-chances in the second half, continuing to look the better side, but in added time the home side made the game safe with a breakaway goal, Akinde setting up Meadows.

Woking: Aaron Howe, Joe McNerney, Jack Parkinson, Brett Johnson (John Nutter 19) Mike Cestor Mark Ricketts, Lee Sawyer, Josh Payne (Gavin McCallum 85) Kevin Betsy, Gavin Williams, Gez Sole (Tony McNamee 65)

Unused subs: Sam Beasant, George Frith

Booked: Josh Payne, Mike Cestor

Goals: Williams 10 (pen)

Alfreton Town: Ross Atkins, Dan Bradley Nick Fenton (c) Michael Wylde, Lathaniel Rowe–Turner, Tom Shaw, Dan Bradley, John McGrath, Josh Law, Paul Clayton (Daniel Meadows 87), Job Akinde.

Unused subs: Connor Franklin, Kristian Ramsey-Dickson, Danny Wishart, Alastair Taylor.

Booked: Job Akinde

Goals: Shaw 9 & 43, Meadows 90+3

Attendance: 628


NEXT UP

The Cards travel to Forest Green Rovers on Saturday 19 April. On Monday 21 April the Cards entertain Aldershot Town in an eagerly awaited clash, which is also the last home game of the season. Don’t forget that it is a 1pm kick-off.


Come on, you Cards!

Exhausted Cards Complete Majestic Comeback

Frankie Hullett
9:25am, Sun 13th Apr 2014
Woking 2 Alfreton Town 1

The Skrill Premier

12th April 2014


Late goals from Joey Jones and Jack Marriott gave Woking the win they needed to keep their play-off push alive after John Akinde had opened the scoring for Alfreton in the first half.

The Cards were lining up for their fourth game in eight days. There was a return to the starting XI for John Nutter and Scott Rendell but Kieran Murtagh was ruled out following the injury he sustained against Cambridge United two days earlier. The team took to the field in the now familiar 4-4-2 formation. In front of Sam Beasant was a back four of Adam Newton, Joe McNerney, Brett Johnson and Nutter. The midfield comprised Kevin Betsy, Mark Ricketts, Josh Payne and Joey Jones with Rendell and Jack Marriott spearheading the attack.

Alfreton looked the stronger of the two sides in the opening exchanges and Elliott Whitehouse in midfield was carrying the attack to Woking. It was his breakaway and pass which set up Shaun Harrad for a good chance but he dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Despite being on the back foot, it was Woking who created the first clear chance. Adam Newton sent in a first-time cross from the right which Scott Rendell met with a header, but there wasn’t enough on it to beat Jon Worsnop in the Alfreton goal.

One minute later and the visitors thought they were in front. Akinde met a long ball and headed it over Beasant into an empty bet but the flag was already raised for offside. Akinde was the man causing all the problems for the Cards' defence and the ball was sticking to his feet in and around the Woking box.

In the 20th minute it was Akinde again who was on hand to put the visitors ahead when Harrad's misdirected shot found the ex-Portsmouth striker eight yards from goal and he was able to finish into an empty net.

Seven minutes later Beasant pulled off a brilliant save to deny Tom Shaw one-on-one to keep the lead down to a single goal. In the 34th minute Joey Jones sent a dangerous diagonal ball into the penalty area, which was inches away from finding Jack Marriott in the six-yard box in an otherwise quiet half for the Woking attacking unit.


Half-time: Woking 0 Alfreton Town 1


Woking started the second half considerably brighter than the first and Marriott was immediately denied brilliantly by Worsnop from close range after being freed by Betsy. Then a vicious left-footed free-kick by John Nutter was flicked onto his own post by a fortunate Nicholas Fenton in the Alfreton defence.

It looked as though it might not be the home side's day when, on 74 minutes, substitute Giuseppe Sole was inches away from levelling the scores with his first touch when his thunderous volley hit the underside of the crossbar. Five minutes later Rendell headed across the box to Marriott who was denied by another crucial point blank block from the busy Worsnop.

In the 80th minute Worsnop’s defences were finally breached as Woking deservedly equalised. Nutter delivered another quality free kick and Joey Jones met it with a precise header in off the post.

Just minutes after the restart, Beasant got a fingertip to an audacious long shot from Josh Law to tip it onto the bar and prevent Alfreton from retaking the lead instantly.

Five minutes from time, however, it was Marriott who was able to latch on to a brilliant ball over the top from Josh Payne. His first touch was exquisite and his second was equally as good as he fired it past Worsnop into the roof of the net to send the fans in the Gosden Stand wild with joy.

Alfreton were unable to pose any further serious threat to the Woking goal after that as the hosts comfortably saw out the remaining few minutes for victory. Garry Hill’s men will be delighted with the way they were able to turn the game around in the second half given the mental and physical fatigue they must have been feeling at the end of a gruelling week. They now have three games remaining and sit six points behind Halifax Town who currently occupy the final play-off place. The dream is still alive - but only just. The squad will no doubt be pleased to have a seven day break from competitive action before they travel to the Cotswolds to take on Forest Green Rovers on Easter Saturday.


Woking: Sam Beasant, Adam Newton, John Nutter, Mark Ricketts (c), Joe McNerney (John Goddard 57), Kevin Betsy (Giuseppe Sole 74), Josh Payne, Scott Rendell, Jack Marriott (Brett Johnson 88), Joey Jones



Unused Subs: Reece Beckles, Andy Little, Mike Cestor



Goals: Joey Jones 80, Jack Marriott 85



Cautions: Josh Payne 14, Joe McNerney 54



Alfreton Town: Jon Worsnop, Andrei Jones, Bradley Wood, Josh Law, Nicholas Fenton (c) (Darran Kempson 73), Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, Elliott Whitehouse, Connor Franklin, Tom Shaw (Dan Meadows 88), Shaun Harrad (Paul Clayton 88), John Akinde



Unused Subs: Joe Wildsmith, Godfrey Poku



Goal: John Akinde 20



Cautions: None



Sponsor's MOTM: Josh Payne - another all-action performance from the midfield dynamo

Attendance: 1,485

WOKING LINEUP
18Sam Beasant
2Adam Newton
3John Nutter
5Joe McNerney
6Brett Johnson
20Josh Payne
4Mark Ricketts
11Kevin Betsy
30Joey Jones
21Scott Rendell
25Jack Marriott
BENCH
28Andy Little
15Mike Cestor
22John Goddard
34Reece Beckles
10Giuseppe Sole
Alfreton Town LINEUP

Woking 2 - 1 Alfreton Town (Garry Hill Interview)

John Nutter Interview

Nick Shaw
6:49pm, Sat 12th Apr 2014
David Holmes speaks to John Nutter after Woking's excellent comeback against Alfreton Town.



John Nutter: (iPhone/iPad link)









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