Lovetts
3:00pm - SaturdaySat 15th FebruaryFeb 2020
Meadow Lane Stadium | Att: 5074

Notts County
Notts County
1 - 1

Woking
Woking

The Cards prepare to battle the elements at Meadow Lane

Glen Harrington
12:00am, Thu 13th Feb 2020
Notts County vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Saturday 15th February 2020


The Cards return to league action on Saturday afternoon, travelling to promotion-chasing Notts County for what promises to be a challenging outing for more than one reason.

It’s been two weeks since Woking’s last National League fixture, an underwhelming 2-0 loss at Eastleigh, and with such a poor away record over the last few months the prospect of a trip to the Meadow Lane could not really have come at a worse time for Alan Dowson’s side, who also face the prospect of heavy rain, strong winds and disrupted travel throughout the day as Storm Dennis sweeps across the country. The Cards have struggled for some time to build on their hugely positive home form, which has seen them lose just once in the league since facing Notts County back in October. In fact, following defeats to Ebbsfleet and Eastleigh, they have now failed to win on the road since beating Maidenhead in mid-November, losing seven straight games in all competitions. Nonetheless, the Cards will hope to thrive in their role of underdogs, as they have many times this season, including the last time they faced a team chasing promotion, Yeovil Town, with Shaun Donnellan’s goal enough to see off the Glovers late last month.

County, a League One team as recently as 2015, have steadily adapted to life in non-league football after being relegated to the National League for the first time at the end of last season.
After recovering from a relatively slow start they currently sit in eighth place, with 50 points from their 32 games, one point adrift of the top seven, and with two games in hand on the two teams directly above them – Solihull Moors and Bromley. Neil Ardley’s side have done reasonably well since the turn of the year, winning four, drawing two and losing one of their last seven matches in all competitions, although two of those wins have come in the FA Trophy. They are unbeaten at home since a 3-0 loss to league leaders Barrow in mid-November. Their last league game saw them beat Chesterfield by the same scoreline with a second-half brace from Kyle Wootton and a goal from Enzio Boldewijn.

This will be a new ground for many and an opportunity for the Cards to test themselves against one of the biggest names in the National League – so please come along if you can and cheer on the boys!

Woking Team News

Dowse has rotated his squad across the last two games, a 3-0 friendly win against Hanworth Villa last weekend, plus Tuesday evening’s 1-0 defeat in the Surrey Senior Cup to Dorking Wanderers. The boss should have a full compliment to pick from on Saturday with several key decisions to be made.

At the back, only goalkeeper Craig Ross and captain Josh Casey’s places look secure, with a choice to be made between Donnellan and Jack Cook at right-back, with two of Manny Parry, Moussa Diarra and Ben Gerring lining up in the middle. In midfield, new loan signing Ben Dempsey could make his league debut after joining from Charlton Athletic, most likely alongside either Kane Ferdinand or Jayden Harris, with Godfrey Poku returning in the anchor role. Further forward, Josh Neufville has been a regular starter of late at the top of the midfield, with Jake Hyde, Dave Tarpey, Alex Wall and Jamar Loza jostling for two positions up front.

Notts County Team News

Against Chesterfield, the Magpies started with Ross Fitzsimons in goal, although the keeper has subsequently moved on loan to the Spireites, so new signing Joe McDonnell, a recent addition from AFC Wimbledon, could be between the posts. In defence was Connell Rawlinson, a Welsh league champion with TNS who was with Port Vale last season, Dion Kelly-Evans, who has Football League experience with Coventry City, Alex Lacey, who was signed in the summer from Gillingham, and Richard Brindley, part of the Bromley setup last term.

In midfield was the experienced Jim O’Brien, best known for his spells with Motherwell, Barnsley and Coventry, Mitch Rose, brother of England international Danny, who was last with Grimsby Town, and Cal Roberts, a promising young wide player previously with Newcastle United and recently signed from Blyth Spartans. The forward line consisted of Boldewijn, who had two successful years with our near-neighbours Crawley Town before joining County last season, Wootton, who recently turned his loan deal from Scunthorpe United into a permanent one, and Wes Thomas, a summer addition from Grimsby.

Last Time Out

Woking 0-4 Notts County – National League (26th October 2019)


The Cards’ joint-heaviest defeat of the season. The visitors were in a clinical mood at the Laithwaite Community Stadium as they put their hosts to the sword with two goals in each half. Boldewijn and Thomas scored two apiece and whilst Woking showed flashes of promise they couldn’t muster a consolation. Josh Casey was man-of-the-match.

On the Day

For those travelling directly, the ground is located on Meadow Lane, postcode NG2 3HJ – approximately two-and-a-half hours from the Laithwaite Community Stadium – although supporters should allow plenty of time for the likely poor weather conditions. The ground is 10 minutes' walk from Nottingham train station.

There is a supporters’ coach running for the game which leaves from the Laithwaite Community Stadium at 10.00am. Please arrive by 9.45am. The price for members is £25 for adults and £20 for under-16s, and £30/£25 for non-members. Those looking to attend should contact Adam Bowyer (adam.bowyer@cardstrust.co.uk) or call the club shop for more information.

Ticket prices are £20 for adults, £14 for seniors (65+) and those aged 18-21, £7 for under-18s, £5 for under-16s, £1 for under-12s and free for under-7s.

Next Up

Woking have two upcoming home matches, against Stockport County next Saturday (22nd February) and against Maidenhead United seven days later, with our next away trip at FC Halifax Town at the start of March.

Cards battle Storm Dennis to end horrific away run

William Bewsey
12:00am, Sat 15th Feb 2020
Notts County 1 Woking 1
Vanarama National League
15th February 2020

The Cards travelled to Meadow Lane on a stormy day (only three games were on across the league) with their hosts in fine form and sitting 7th, whereas Woking had lost their last 7 games on the road. Alan Dowson decided that changes were needed, six to be exact following defeat to Eastleigh two weeks prior. Godfrey Poku, Shaun Donnellan and Josh Neufville were on the bench, Jake Hyde missing out with a calf injury, whereas Jayden Harris and Manny Parry were not in the 16. Alex Wall, Max Kretzschmar, Ben Gerring, Jack Cook, Dave Tarpey and new signing Ben Dempsey from Charlton were put into the squad, and these changes had some Cards fans puzzled, as Poku in particular had been a regular in the past couple of months.

344 Woking fans made their way through the conditions to Nottinghamshire, and they were making themselves heard even before kick off. The game began with Woking pushing positively and winning set pieces, a trait which would be displayed throughout. However, six minutes in, Kyle Wooton played a lovely ball through to Kristian Dennis, whose shot was well saved by the feet of Craig Ross. Notts were passing the ball well, and a lovely passing move saw Dennis receive the ball on the edge of the box, and his curling shot went just past the far post of Craig Ross.

Woking continued to press, and to show Notts that they were not going to roll over. Ben Gerring got himself in the book after bringing down Jim O’Brien. Shortly after, a cross by Josh Casey caught the wind and bounced off the crossbar, almost landing at the feet of several Woking players at the back post. A couple of deflected strikes followed from the Notts players, as Woking were successfully frustrating their opponents - who were finding it hard to push forwards - and the 4,700 Notts fans. Woking had to stay alert though, as Dion Kelly-Evans delivered a good cross which was nodded down by Cal Roberts, but just as it looked like the ball would fall to Dennis in a good position, Ben Gerring managed to get his foot to the ball, a crucial interception.

On 42 minutes, a Woking corner was whipped in by Kretzschmar, and a free header for Jack Cook went over the bar, a chance which should’ve gone on target. Josh Casey brought down Roberts outside the box with one minute of added time to play, but luckily for Woking, nothing came of the opportunity, and a solid first half from Woking came to an end.

Half-time: Notts County 0 Woking 0

The second half began with sustained Woking pressure, and on 50 minutes, Woking had their big moment. A wonderful fizzed in ball from Dempsey was met by the head of Max Kretzschmar, and the ball nestled in the bottom corner via the far post, and sparked wild scenes in the Woking end. Dempsey was involved in the next action as he was fouled by Kyle Wooton, who joined Casey and Gerring in the book.

Alex Wall forced the Notts keeper McDonnell into a save as Woking ramped up the pressure, before Mitch Rose joined the book following a poor challenge on Kretzschmar. Roberts forced Ross into a good save, as he whipped a ball into the box, which caught the wind and Ross had to push it behind for a corner. Jack Cook found himself in space on the edge of the County box, and drove his shot wide of goal, before Dave Tarpey was inches away from diverting Jamar Loza’s cross into the net. Loza could have had a penalty shortly after, when he was bundled over by Richard Brindley, but the referee waved it away.

Notts wasted a golden chance shortly after, as Enzio Boldewijn, who bagged a brace when the teams met at Kingfield in October, drove forward, and forced Ross into a save, but the ball fell to the feet of Roberts, who skied the ball from seven yards out, a sitter for Notts. However, pressure from Notts eventually created an equaliser. Roberts crossed low to Wootton, who set the ball to Dennis for an easy finish. Roberts found Rose on the edge of the box, and his shot was deflected wide by his own player, Notts starting to search for a winner.

Woking had an opening when Wall found space inside the box, and his shot from a tight angle forced a stop from McDonnell, who pushed the ball agonisingly wide of the far post. Jack Cook had a free header from the resulting corner, but headed wide. Notts had a penalty shout when Roberts went to ground following a challenge by Moussa Diarra, but the ref waved it away. The game ended without any other real chances, and the Cards had ended their poor run of form away from home, as the officials were booed off by the home fans.

The travelling Woking fans showed their appreciation for what had been a proper team performance, every player committed to the cause, something which has become common in Dowson’s teams at Woking. The players who had been given a chance were excellent, in particular Max Kretzschmar who never stopped going in midfield, and got himself on the scoresheet too.

Woking: 1 Craig Ross, 2 Jack Cook, 3 Josh Casey ©, 5 Ben Gerring, 6 Moussa Diarra, 7 Dave Tarpey (Shaun Donnellan 80’), 8 Kane Ferdinand, 10 Max Kretzschmar, 18 Ben Dempsey, 22 Jamar Loza, 27 Alex Wall (Josh Neufville 80)

Unused subs: 1 Sam Howes, 11 Paul Hodges, 14 Godfrey Poku

Goals: Kretzschmar 50’

Bookings: Ben Gerring 15’, Josh Casey 44’

Notts County Joe McDonnell, Connell Rawlinson, Pierce Bird, Richard Brindley, Dion Kelly-Evans, Jim O’Brien, Mitch Rose, Enzio Boldewijn, Kristian Dennis, Kyle Wootton, Cal Roberts

Goals: Dennis 71’

Bookings: Wootton 54’, Rose 56’

Referee: Samuel Barrott

Attendance: 5074 (344 Woking fans)

Man of the Match: Although Ben Dempsey put in a brilliant performance on debut, Max Kretzschmar took his chance and put in a brilliant battling performance, along with the goal, which will give Dowson a selection dilemma in midfield for next week.
Notts County LINEUP
40Joe McDonnell
13Connell Rawlinson
20Richard Brindley
16Dion Kelly-Evans
19Pierce Bird
4Mitch Rose
6Jim OBrien
37Cal Roberts
11Enzio Boldewijn
9Kristian Dennis
14Kyle Wootton
BENCH
30Jake Kean
33Joel Bagan
22Tom Crawford
23Sam Osborne
32Sean Shields
WOKING LINEUP
13Craig Ross
2Jack Cook
3Josh Casey
5Ben Gerring
6Moussa Diarra
18Ben Dempsey
8Kane Ferdinand
10Max Kretzschmar
22Jamar Loza
7Dave Tarpey ('80)
27Alex Wall ('80)
BENCH
1Sam Howes
16Shaun Donnellan ('80)
14Godfrey Poku
11Paul Hodges
20Josh Neufville ('80)

Notts County 1 - 1 Woking | Dowse Interview

Notts County 1 - 1 Woking | Josh Neufville Interview

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