WOKING v CAMBRIDGE UNITED
7.45pm on Monday 30 March 2009
REDUCED ADMISSION PRICES!
This is a tough one when you?re in a relegation fight! In-form Cambridge United, second in the table and still chasing the Brewers for the automatic promotion spot, come to Kingfield on Monday evening for this televised game. The Club has reduced admission prices for this match (and Wednesday?s home game against Kidderminster Harriers), so please come down and cheer the Cards on in this vital encounter. The Heat Honeyz dance troupe will be present too to add to the fun!
WOKING
Phil Gilchrist will be wanting his side to banish memories of their disappointing display at Aggborough just over a week ago and to recapture the improved form which they showed in their last three home games, against Burton Albion, Barrow and Wrexham.
When I spoke to Phil on Thursday evening he was expecting Bradley Quamina to be definitely available for selection for this game, along with Colin Miles, although he hinted that Colin might be on the bench. He wasn?t sure, though, about Micah Hyde (Achilles) and Alex Rhodes (hamstring). The remainder of the Kingfield injured sound as though they are on the mend but won?t be ready in time for this game. Phil was still waiting for the results of scans on Tom Hutchinson and it rather sounded as though we?d be unlikely to see Delano Sam-Yorke in action again this season as a result of his shin splint problems.
CAMBRIDGE UNITED
The U?s are in great form, unbeaten in their last 11 games. There is quality right through their side from experienced ex-Stevenage keeper Danny Potter in goal, a back four of the familiar Wayne Hatswell, Phil Bolland, Dan Gleeson and Anthony Tonkin, a central midfield of Paul Carden and young Ipswich loanee Jai Reason ? good enough to keep Jon Challinor on the bench in recent games ? Courtney Pitt providing pace on the wing and in-form strikers Scott Rendell, Chris Holroyd and Danny Crow, with the likes of Lee Phillips and Daryl McMahon to come off the bench.
The U?s lie in 2nd place with 73 points from 39 games, 11 points behind Burton Albion. There are only 9 points separating them from Kettering Town in 8th spot, with several clubs having games in hand, so they will have every incentive to go for a win at Kingfield. If there are grounds for hope for the Cards it is that Gary Brabin?s side have not looked quite as formidable away from home, with 7 wins, 8 draws and 4 defeats so far, scoring 25 goals and conceding 20. It?s still a huge task facing Woking on Monday evening, though.
Recent Form
(WWWWDD)
Barrow 0 Cambridge United 2
Cambridge United 4 Northwich Victoria 1
Cambridge United 2 Mansfield 1
Cambridge 2 Burton Albion 0
Histon 1 Cambridge United 1
Cambridge United 1 Crawley Town 1
Previous Encounters
07-08 Cambridge 1-0 Woking
Woking 0-0 Cambridge
06-07 Woking 0-1 Cambridge
Cambridge 3-0 Woking
05-06 Woking 0-1 Cambridge
Cambridge 0-2 Woking
(McAllister, Murray)
This season
Cambridge United 4-1 Woking
Woking were comprehensively beaten by the U?s, who had suffered a five-goal thrashing days earlier. Cambridge opened the scoring in the third minute when Danny Crow smashed the ball past Simon Eastwood and into the net from a seemingly offside position. Despite having plenty of the play in the rest of the half, the Cards were made to pay for not taking their chances when some clever passing around the Woking area opened the way for Crow, who chipped Cambridge into a 2-0 lead.
A feeble punch from Simon Eastwood handed Cambridge their third around the hour, before another goalkeeping error by the on-loan shot-stopper gifted them their final goal shortly before the end. Giuseppe Sole did grab a consolation for the Cards in injury time, however: his final goal before his switch to Ebbsfleet.
ADMISSION PRICES
Admission prices to any part of the ground are:
Adults ?10
Concessions ?5
U16s ?2
MATCHDAY PROGRAMME
See yesterday?s news item for details of our very readable matchday programme on Monday.
Come on, you Cards!