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3:00pm - SaturdaySat 19th AprilApr 2014
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Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers
2 - 2

Woking
Woking

Cards target top ten finish

Brian Caffarey
4:06pm, Thu 17th Apr 2014
Forest Green Rovers v Woking
3pm on Saturday 19 April 2014

Garry Hill’s side will have been relieved to have had a week’s break after a gruelling sequence of fixtures. But they will have to be on their mettle on Saturday to secure a point or three against a Rovers side who had an impressive midweek win at Macclesfield Town. Realistically, the play-offs are now out of reach for both clubs but both managers will be looking for a strong finish to the season. The Cards will have to do it, though, without Jack Marriott, who has been recalled by his parent club, Ipswich Town.

WOKING

The Cards now sit in 11th place with three league games to go, having already surpassed last season’s points total. The side are now eight points off 5th place, so any chance of making the play-offs is now only theoretical, with a number of other clubs better placed. Nevertheless Garry Hill will be keen to see his side achieve a top 10 finish if at all possible – which would be a fine achievement for a part-time club in only the second season back in the top non-League tier.

The Cards’ wonderful six-match winning run came to an end last week against Cambridge United when tiredness eventually took its toll but Garry Hill’s side showed huge character to fight back against Alfreton Town last Saturday, coming from behind to take all three points with two late goals.

Keiran Murtagh, with a hamstring injury, missed that game, opening the way for Joey Jones to start once more. Aaron Howe was also an absentee. Earlier today it was announced that Jack Marriott, who had scored 13 goals for the Cards in 23 games, had been recalled by Ipswich Town. Giuseppe Sole is the probable replacement for Jack in the Woking line-up.

FOREST GREEN ROVERS

Rovers started the season as one of the promotion favourites, a judgment that seemed to be borne out by their 8-0 thrashing of Hyde on the opening day. But subsequent results were modest at best, with September and October proving disastrous, the latter seeing five straight defeats in the league and FA Cup. Things began to pick up from November onwards following Ady Pennock’s arrival as manager in place of Dave Hockaday. But the weather put paid to any games for almost a month from late January, with the result that they had an extremely busy March, playing eight league games. Four wins, two draws and two defeats weren’t quite good enough to take them into the play-off places. April has witnessed a similar story with defeats at Woking and Barnet, a draw at Kidderminster and, most recently, wins at Dartford and Macclesfield.

Rovers have invested heavily in a very strong squad and were active in the transfer window. The most high profile arrival was that of 37 year-old Lee Hughes, who showed against Woking that he still knows where the net is. Hughes originally made his name with Kidderminster Harriers many moons ago but arrived from Port Vale, for whom he scored 10 goals in 18 starts last season.

A very familiar name to Woking fans will be that of defender Luke Oliver, who recently signed a contract to stay at Rovers till the end of the season, having played over 100 games for Bradford City.

Rovers had a major change in their strikers midway through the season. Ex-Barrow, Luton and York City hitman Jason Walker, who had been signed in the summer, went on loan to Southport. Matthew Barnes-Homer joined Cambridge United; Reece Styche went on loan to Wycombe Wanderers with a view to a permanent transfer; and Matty Taylor joined Chester on loan. Luke Rodgers, a very experienced striker with 136 goals in 460 appearances here and abroad, has also joined Rovers. He boosts a strike force which also contains James Norwood, Danny Wright, Magno Vieira and goalscoring midfielder Yan Klukowski in addition to Lee Hughes. The most recent arrival is Bradley Jordan, a young midfielder on loan from Charlton Athletic.

GETTING THERE

The New Lawn
Another Way
Nailsworth
GL6 0FG (Satnav: GL6 0ET)

Official website: www.forestgreenrovers.com

By coach
The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 11.30am. The cost is £16 for Trust members and £21 for non-members. To find out if there are any seats left, ring the Club Shop or email shop@wokingfc.co.uk

By car
Take the M4 west-bound towards Bristol and exit at J18. Then head north on the A46 to Nailsworth. At the mini-roundabout turn left onto Spring Hill and The New Lawn is at the top of the road on the left.

By train
The nearest station is Stroud, which is four miles from the ground. Three changes would be needed from Woking. The best bet looks to be taking the 11.25 from Woking to Guildford, arriving at 11.33. Then pick up the 11.44 to Reading, arriving at 12.19. From there take the 12.27 to Swindon, which gets in at 12.54. Finally, take the 13.15 from Swindon to Stroud, arriving at 13.45. On the way back, there is a similar journey in reverse, starting with the 17.35 from Stroud, returning to Woking at 20.11.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults: £14
Over 65s: £10
Under 21s/Students: £7
Under 16s: £4

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 2 Forest Green Rovers 1
1 April 2014

The Cards notched up their fifth win in a row with this victory over Rovers. Both sides had chances in the first half, with Scott Rendell blazing the ball over the bar shortly before half-time.

Woking were made to pay for their missed chances in the 63rd minute when veteran striker Lee Hughes put Rovers ahead with a fine volley. But the lead lasted only four minutes, Rendell converting from the spot after Oshodi had been adjudged, perhaps harshly, to have handled the ball.

The Cards were now very much on the offensive, with Rovers’ keeper, Sam Russell, denying Jack Marriott twice before the Ipswich loanee finally got the better of him with an excellent finish.

‘Man of the match’ Kevin Betsy hit the underside of the bar, whilst Hughes went close for the visitors with a looping header.

Woking: Sam Beasant, Adam Newton (Mike Cestor 90), John Nutter, Mark Ricketts (c), Joe McNerney, Kevin Betsy, Keiran Murtagh, Scott Rendell, John Goddard, Jack Marriott (Brett Johnson 88), Joey Jones

Unused Subs: Reece Beckles, Giuseppe Sole, Andy Little

Goals: Scott Rendell 68 (pen), Jack Marriott 82

Cautions: None

Forest Green Rovers: Sam Russell, Chris Stokes (Alhassan Bangura 76), Jamie Turley, James Norwood, Yan Klukowski, Danny Wright (Luke Rodgers 86), Aarron Racine (Eddie Oshodi 53), Paul Green, Luke Oliver, Lee Hughes, Bradley Jordan

Unused Subs: Matt Taylor, Paul White

Goal: Lee Hughes 63

Caution: Eddie Oshodi 67

Attendance: 1,315

NEXT GAME

The Cards’ next (and final) home league game on Easter Monday promises to be a cracker! Close neighbours and rivals Aldershot Town, desperately fighting against relegation, are the visitors. Don’t forget that it’s a 1pm kick-off. A big crowd is expected, so give yourself plenty of time to get to the match, which will be segregated. Gates will open at 10.30am and the Cardinals Bar will be open from 11.00am.

Come on, you Cards!


Cards Almost Snatch Unlikely Victory

Jacob Greenwood
9:38am, Sun 20th Apr 2014
Forest Green Rovers 2 Woking 2
The Skrill Premier
19th April 2014

Garry Hill saw his ten-man side battle back to gain a point at Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.

Giuseppe Sole came in for Jack Marriott , who was recalled by Ipswich Town in midweek due to an injury crisis, and John Goddard replaced Joey Jones who had an operation on his appendix.

Woking started the game the brighter of the two sides and went close when a long ball forward was chested down by Scott Rendell and laid back to Kevin Betsy but he could only find Sam Russell in the Rovers goal. Betsy linked up well with Rendell again minutes later when he played the ball across to the visitors' target man but his shot was deflected just wide.

Despite a positive start, the Cards found themselves behind in the 33rd minute when a through ball by Rovers found James Norwood in what looked suspiciously like an offside position. The flag stayed down, however, and the prolific home marksman calmly rounded Sam Beasant and slotted into an empty net to open the scoring. After falling a goal behind, things went from bad to worse for the visitors a few minutes later when Mark Ricketts mistimed a challenge on Bradley Jordan and received a straight red card.

Woking struggled to create chances thereafter with their numerical disadvantage but managed to reach half-time still in the game.

Half-Time: Forest Green Rovers 1 Woking 0

The visitors were put under pressure by the Rovers attack at the start of the second half and Eddie Oshodi went close after keeping the ball in play and firing just wide of the far post. The Cards battled back into the game and Sole came close to drawing Woking level after Rendell cut back and found his strike partner but Sole’s shot curled wide.

Showing great team spirit, the ten men of Woking deservedly found themselves level midway through the half when Goddard, having another busy and effective game in midfield, laid the ball off to Rendell who floated a cross in for Brett Johnson. The central defender, finding himself with a surprising amount of time and space six yards out, chested down and finished calmly. Attacking runs from Betsy, Josh Payne and Goddard were causing problems for the Forest Green defence, and when Al Bangura took down John Goddard in the 77th minute he received his second yellow card and was given his marching orders to make it ten against ten.

Back to parity Woking pushed for a winner and, with time running out, thought they had secured all three points. Betsy made a good run down the right, beat Jared Hodgkiss, cut back and found Goddard who smashed the ball home with the aid of a slight deflection. The joyous celebrations of players and travelling fans proved a trifle premature, unfortunately. As at Grimsby Town the previous week, the Cards couldn’t quite get the job done as a Lee Hughes header at the back post levelled the scores in stoppage time.

So, not for the first time this season, the team had dropped points by conceding late on in a game. Overall, however, Garry Hill will probably be pleased with the point. At one-nil down and with a man sent off, things looked bleak at half-time. However, the players showed great character and resilience in the second half and continued to play some attractive football. Having done all the hard work to nose in front, it was just a pity that they couldn't quite see it through at the end to take all three points.

Next up, the big home game of the season on Easter Monday as the Cards host local rivals Aldershot Town. Don't forget it's a 1pm kick-off.

Woking: Sam Beasant, Adam Newton, John Nutter, Mark Ricketts (c), Joe McNerney, Brett Johnson, Giuseppe Sole (Cestor 85), Kevin Betsy, Josh Payne, Scott Rendell, John Goddard

Unused subs: Anthony McNamee, Niall Wright, Andy Little, Reece Beckles

Sent Off: Ricketts 37

Goals: Johnson 68, Goddard 89

Forest Green Rovers: Sam Russell, Jared Hodgkiss, Dale Bennett (Bradley Jordan 17)(Alhassan Bangura 45), James Norwood, Matty Taylor, Eddie Oshodi, Luke Oliver, Paul Green, Anthony Barry, Marcus Kelly(Danny Wright 54), Lee Hughes

Unused subs: Paul White, Luke Rodgers

Sent Off: Bangura 77

Goals: Norwood 33, Hughes 90

My Man of the Match: Kevin Betsy – the veteran midfielder provided plenty of energy to Woking’s attack and made a good run to set up the second goal.

Attendance: 1,245
Forest Green Rovers LINEUP
WOKING LINEUP
18Sam Beasant
2Adam Newton
3John Nutter
5Joe McNerney
6Brett Johnson
4Mark Ricketts
20Josh Payne
11Kevin Betsy
22John Goddard
21Scott Rendell
10Giuseppe Sole
BENCH
28Andy Little
15Mike Cestor
17Niall Wright
14Anthony McNamee
34Reece Beckles

Forest Green Rovers 2 - 2 Woking (Garry Hill Interview)

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