Final tough test for Cards

Woking v Luton Town
Pre-season friendly
3pm on Saturday 7 August 2010

The Cards’ final pre-season friendly game on Saturday afternoon will provide a suitably tough test of the side’s readiness for the new campaign. The visitors, starting their second season in the Conference National, are the bookies’ favourites for promotion back to League 2, reflecting a strong finish to last season and some impressive summer signings. Graham Baker’s side won’t lack confidence, however, after a vibrant display against a young Blues’ side.

WOKING

The Cards will of course be without Ross Worner, whose transfer to Charlton Athletic was concluded this week. Cards fans will be sorry to see this excellent young keeper leave the Club but will wish him well now that he’s achieved his thoroughly deserved chance to begin his League career. On Wednesday night against a Chelsea XI, Lenny Pidgeley returned to the Club to take over in goal. In spite of his problems off the field, there is no doubt that Lenny, judging by his previous spell on loan and his performance on Wednesday, would be a terrific signing, although he would no doubt be looking to get back into the League as quickly as possible.

At the time of writing, we are still waiting to hear too whether Graham will pursue his interest in the two remaining triallists, Toby Little and Daryn Hennessy.

LUTON TOWN

The Hatters found life in the BSP last season not quite as much of a ‘doddle’ as some commentators had assumed, although it was no great surprise, in the light of recent experience, to find a relegated League club struggling to bounce straight back up. But the side finished strongly and Manager Richard Money has brought in some highly-regarded players this summer to improve his squad. They include defender Dan Gleeson and midfielder Adam Murray, both from Cambridge United; Andy Drury, surprisingly switching from Stevenage Borough; keeper Kevin Pilkington from Notts County; and winger/striker Dan Walker from Bedford Town. When you add the likes of ex-Kidderminster striker Matthew Barnes-Homer, the experienced Kevin Gallen, striker Tom Craddock, star midfielders Claude Gnapka and Keith Keane, it’s easy to see why the Hatters are strongly fancied to beat off challenges from Steve Evans’s Crawley Town and others and land the BSP title.

The Hatters have won their last three pre-season games, including most recently a 4-1 defeat of a Newcastle United X1 which included two strikes from Barnes-Homer.


ADMISSION

£8 adults, £4 concessions, and U16s will be admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.


Come on, you Cards!


P.S. Make sure you’ve got the Cards’ first league encounter firmly in your diary: 3pm on Saturday 14 August v Dover Athletic