3:00pm - SaturdaySat 22nd AprilApr 2017
The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Att: 2702

Woking

1 - 1

York City

A game not to be missed

Brian Caffarey
8:50pm, Wed 19th Apr 2017

Woking v York City
Vanarama National League
3pm on Saturday 22 April 2017

What a match is in prospect on Saturday! The Cardsâ€™ two superb wins over Easter have given their survival hopes a massive boost. A win over York City would certainly see them safe, and a point might be enough. But the Minstermen, three points below Woking and on a hot streak away from home, will have other ideas and definitely need to go for a win themselves to try to secure their own safety. This is surely the biggest game of the season so far for both clubs, so make sure youâ€™re at the Laithwaite Community Stadium on Saturday for this hugely important match. And donâ€™t forget to bring your completed season ticket application forms to take advantage of the Clubâ€™s astonishing offer for the next campaign!

WOKING

Enormous credit must go to Garry Hill, Steve Thompson and the players for holding their nerve in the closing stages of the season and pulling off some great results, including the crucial wins over Macclefield Town and Chester over Easter. The Cards now sit in 17th place with 51 points but are by no means safe. Braintree Town in the last relegation place are only three points behind, so, with six points still to play for, Woking cannot afford to be complacent.

The remaining fixtures for the clubs in the fight to avoid joining Southport and North Ferriby United in the â€˜dropâ€™ are:

Chester (52 points) (GD: -3): Sutton United (a), Boreham Wood (h)
Woking (51 points) (GD: -14): York City (h), Dagenham and Redbridge (a)
Solihull Moors (51 points) (GD: -15): Eastleigh (h), Guiseley (a)
Guiseley (49 points) (GD: - 17): Bromley (a), Solihull Moors (h)
York City (48 points) (GD: -15): Woking (a), Forest Green Rovers (h)
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Braintree Town (48 points) (GD: -21): Barrow (h), Aldershot Town (a)
Torquay United (47 points) (GD: -10): Dover Athletic (a), North Ferriby United (h)

Defeats for Braintree Town and Torquay United would effectively see the Cards safe, irrespective of the outcome of the game against York City. Even if Braintree were to win and Woking were to lose on Saturday, it is highly probable that the Cards would still be ahead of the Iron on Saturday evening, given Wokingâ€™s present seven goal advantage in goal difference. But Garry will be very keen to avoid having to get a result at Dagenham and Redbridge on the final day to secure safety. Woking must aim for a win over York but, at worst, ensure that they are not beaten. If York do win, however, they will go above Woking on goal difference.

Garry Hill will no doubt be hoping that Ismail Yakubu will be fit enough to return in central defence and will have to decide whether to start with Jamie Lucas or Gozie Ugwu up front, partnering the battling Delano Sam-Yorke.

YORK CITY

The Minstermen were relegated from League 2 at the end of last season after a four-year spell back in the Football League, having previously been relegated to the Conference at the end of the 2003-04 season. With parachute money at their disposal, they were expected to challenge for an immediate return under new manager Jackie McNamara but a poor start saw McNamara replaced in October by Gary Mills, returning to the club he successfully managed from 2010-13 before leaving for Gateshead and then Wrexham.

At one stage the Minstermen were rock bottom of the table but have staged a remarkable recovery in recent weeks and now lie just above the relegation places on goal difference. Their last three away games have seen them gain consecutive wins over Macclesfield, Chester and Solihull Moors. But they were disappointed to lose their last two home games, against Bromley and, last Monday, Wrexham. Remarkably, in addition to this recovery, York City have also made it to the final of the Buildbase FA Trophy, beating Lincoln City in the semi-final, and will play Macclesfield Town.

McNamara made over 20 signings in the summer. Among those remaining are captain Simon Heslop; midfielder Yan Klukowski signed from Newport County and formerly with Forest Green Rovers; midfielder Clovis Kamdjo, previously with Salisbury, Forest Green Rovers and Boreham Wood; central defender Matt Fry, one of many players lured away from Braintree; winger Aidan Connolly, who played briefly under McNamara at Dundee United; defender Alex Whittle, who was previously at Dunfermline Athletic but who has played since for AFC Telford and Southport; right back Shaun Rooney, another recruit from Dunfermline; and keeper Scott Loach, on a season-long loan from Notts County.

Gary Mills, on arrival, immediately set about strengthening an already sizeable squad. A key signing was that of 6â€™ 4â€� striker Jon â€œThe Beastâ€� Parkin, who had left Forest Green Rovers in the summer to join Newport County. Other arrivals in the autumn included defender Sean Newton from Wrexham, striker Adriano Moke from Boreham Wood and Danny Holmes, a defender from AFC Fylde.

More recent arrivals include defender Hamza Bencherif, on loan from Wrexham; defender Dan Parslow, returning to Bootham Crescent from Cheltenham Town; striker Amari Morgan-Smith, also from Cheltenham Town; midfielder Asa Hall, yet another recruit from Whaddon Road; and Sam Muggleton, a left-back who has previously played for Barnet and Eastleigh.

The main goal threat is likely to come from Jon Parkin and the ex-Lincoln and Crewe Alexandra striker, Vadaine Oliver.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults Â£18
Over 65/Students with valid student card Â£13
U16s Â£5

The game will be segregated, with York fans allocated the uncovered Chris Lane Terrace and part of the seated Leslie Gosden Stand.

SEASON TICKETS FOR 2017-18

The Club has made a fantastic offer to fans for season tickets for the next campaign but you need to get your application in by 15 May to take advantage. Adult season tickets will cost only Â£99, while students aged 20 and over can buy one for Â£75 and for those aged 19 and below the cost is only Â£20. Even if you go to only a few games a season, this is an offer not to be missed. And how about buying a season ticket or two for the kids, nephews, nieces, grandchildrenâ€¦.? You can download the application form from the news item dated 13 April http://www.wokingfc.co.uk/news/article/5826/cards-launch-unbelievable-99-season-ticket-offer-/

BOOST THE BUDGET

There will be a Boost the Budget collection on Saturday, with all proceeds going to the playing budget via shares bought by the Cards Trust. Please give as generously as you can: the funds raised in recent seasons have provided vital support to Garry Hill and Steve Thompson.

LAST TIME OUT

York City 4 Woking 1
Vanarama National League
27 August 2016

Not a game Cards fans will remember at all fondly! This was the Cardsâ€™ fifth defeat in the opening six games of the season. Woking took an early lead, Gozie Ugwu latching onto a Zak Ansah pass to coolly fire past keeper Letheren. But it was very short-lived, with war horse Richard Brodie equalising a minute later as he was allowed too much time on the edge of the box. Worse was to follow as the Minstermen rattled in three more goals in the following quarter of an hour through Yan Klukowski, Jake Wright and Aidan Connolly.

York City: Kyle Letheren, Shaun Rooney, Alex Whittle, Clovis Kamdjo (Daniel Nti 62), Matt Fry Â©, Richard Brodie (Scott Fenwick 69), Yan Klukowski, Aidan Connolly, Ben Clappison, Matty Dixon, Jake Wright (Reece Thompson 69).

Unused subs: Jack Higgins, Luke Simpson.Â

Goals: Brodie 9, Klukowski 13, Wright 20, Connolly 26.

Woking: Michael Poke, Jake Caprice, Joey Jones, Brian Saah, Keiran Murtagh Â©, Gozie Ugwu (Charlie Penny 16), Zak Ansah (Chike Kandi 72), Nathan Ralph, Charlie Carter, Fabio Saraiva, Anthony Edgar (Max Kretzschmar 46).Â

Unused subs: Dennon Lewis, Brandon Hall.

Goal: Ugwu 8.

Attendance: 1,972 (56 from Woking)

COMING UP

The Cardsâ€™ final league game of the season is away to Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday 29 April. Please note that it is a 12.15pm kick-off. Why not book yourself on the Cards Trust coach when youâ€™re at the York game?

Donâ€™t forget that the Cards play Merstham in the Final of the Surrey Senior Cup at the Laithwaite Community Stadium on Wednesday 3 May (kick-off 7.45pm).

Come on, you Cards!

Woking show grit for draw to move closer to safety

Haydn Cobb
12:00am, Sat 22nd Apr 2017

Woking 1 York City 1
Vanarama National League
22nd April 2017

Woking have moved to the cusp of safety from relegation in the Vanarama National League by holding on to a draw against York City after Gozie Ugwuâ€™s penalty was cancelled out by a Jon Parkin goal.

The draw sees Woking stay three points above the drop zone, while the visitors fell into the relegation spots, with one game to go. The Cards will only need a point in their final league game away to Dagenham and Redbridge to keep the fight in their own hands while if any of Torquay, Guiseley and York City fail to win on the final day Woking will also remain in the National League.

Mathematically, Woking can only be relegated on the final day if Torquay, Guiseley and York all win and the Cards lose.

Woking almost secured their safety against York City when Ugwuâ€™s penalty on 67 minutes put the home team ahead but Parkin’s reply eight minutes later saw the two teams share the points. The Cards rallied against a late City onslaught, with only a win helping the away sideâ€™s hopes of survival, and the point sees Woking move to 52 points and safety in their hands.

From the huge boost of the late victory away at Chester on Easter Monday, Garry Hill made one change to his starting line-up with Connor Hall being rewarded for his goal in place of Fabio Saraiva.

In front of a healthy and vocal home crowd Woking started brightly and after two minutes a through ball caught the York defence napping which sent Ugwu clear but his shot was saved by Scott Loach before the rebound was smothered away from danger.

As expected the away side looked to test Woking with a barrage of crosses aimed predominantly at the robust Parkin but the Cards stood firm in the opening stages while looking for quick breakaways using the pace of Jake Caprice and Nathan Ralph on either flank.

On the half-hour mark Woking had an excellent chance to take the lead after smart work by Delano Sam-Yorke gave Ralph space to cross from the left which Kane Ferdinand met superbly but his glancing header narrowly missed the sprawling Hall and went the wrong side of the far post.

Almost immediately Woking were reminded how the game was being played on a knife-edge in regards to the battle against relegation, as Vadaine Oliver was released for a one-on-one but goalkeeper Michael Poke bravely blocked the effort and the loose ball was cleared by Terell Thomas.

Both sides posed questions without much end product to leave the first 45 minutes goalless.

Half-time: Woking 0 York City 0

Woking were jolted into life in the second half by two York City chances, with Parkinâ€™s long-range free kick forcing an excellent save from Poke before the resulting corner was headed goalward by Amari Morgan-Smith with the ball darting wide of the far post.

Hillâ€™s men responded sternly with Ferdinand getting inches away from a Caprice cross into the six-yard box before the Woking midfielder had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Craig Hicks despite being taken out by a flailing York City leg.

The Cards continued to find opportunities with Ugwu fashioning a long-range effort which went straight at the goalkeeper and a scramble from a Murtagh corner which was snuffed out by the Minstermen defence.

Wokingâ€™s pressure paid off with Sam-Yorke charging through the York City defence before being pulled to the ground by Sean Newton for a stonewall penalty.

For the third time in three games Ugwu kept his cool from 12 yards to slot the ball into the middle of the net with goalkeeper Loach diving away to his left.

An inspired Sam-Yorke almost gave Woking a two-goal lead when he tore through the City backline again but his shot was met by a strong save from goalkeeper Loach.

With York City needing a goal to kick-start their survival charge, manager Gary Mills substituted on Sam Muggleton who posed a new threat from his long throws.

A long throw by Muggleton from the left flank bobbled between Parkin and Thomas but fell kindly to the York City forward whose snapshot found the bottom left corner for an equaliser on the 75th minute.

The away sideâ€™s only form of potent attack was coming through Muggletonâ€™s long throws or deep crosses which gave the Woking defence a resolute test for the final 15 minutes.

From the barrage of long balls Oliver saw a powerful shot saved well by Poke just before injury time as York City began to throw more bodies forward. But Woking stood resolute to keep hold of a point to edge closer to safety with one game league to play away to Dagenham and Redbridge.

Woking: Michael Poke; Nathan Ralph, Joey Jones, Terrell Thomas, Brian Saah, Jake Caprice (Dennon Lewis 90); Connor Hall (Jamie Lucas 70), Keiran Murtagh, Kane Ferdinand; Gozie Ugwu, Sam Delano-Yorke

Unused subs: Brandon Hall, Fabio Saraiva, Max Kretzschmar

Goals: Ugwu (pen 67)

Bookings: Jones, Murtagh

York City: Scott Loach; Alex Whittle (Sam Muggleton 70), Hamza Bencherif, Sean Newton, Danny Parslow Danny Holmes; Asa Hall, Simon Heslop, Amari Morgan-Smith; Jon Parkin, Vadaine Oliver

Unused subs: Aidan Connolly, Luke Simpson, Adriano Moke, Shaun Rooney

Goals: Parkin (70)

Bookings: Muggleton, Hall

Referee: Craig Hicks

Attendance: 2702 (620 York City supporters)

Sponsorsâ€™ MOTM: Delano Sam-Yorke. Tireless running and combative throughout, his devasting burst past several York defenders was only ended by the foul that resulted in Gozieâ€™s penalty.

WOKING LINEUP
1	Michael Poke
2	Jake Caprice ('90)
11	Nathan Ralph
3	Terell Thomas
4	Joey Jones
5	Brian Saah
8	Keiran Murtagh
22	Kane Ferdinand
9	Gozie Ugwu
17	Delano Sam-Yorke
23	Connor Hall ('69)
BENCH
18	Brandon Hall
14	Fabio Saraiva
15	Max Kretzschmar
16	Dennon Lewis ('90)
25	Jamie Lucas ('69)