Cards seek FA Cup boost

Woking v Ebbsfleet United
FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round
3pm on Saturday 20 October 2012

A decent FA Cup run – or even just one game against a League club – can make a substantial difference to the finances of a non-League club like Woking, so Saturday’s tie against Ebbsfleet United, which guarantees the winner a place in the First Round Proper draw with League 1 and 2 clubs along with £12.5k prize money, is a very important occasion. So, come down to Kingfield if you possibly can and cheer the team on to some FA Cup glory! And, while you’re at it, how about arriving early to watch Spurs v Chelsea on the big screen in the Cardinals’ Bar, while supping some of the excellent beers on offer and perhaps treating yourself to some some Seafare fish and chips too! (Fleet fans are very welcome too: the game will not be segregated.)

WOKING

Garry Hill will be fervently hoping that his players have rid themselves of the complacency that saw them throw away three points last Saturday against Southport in what he described as the worst display since he and Steve Thompson took over the reins at Kingfield. It was deeply frustrating since it looked from the first 20 minutes or so that it was simply a case of how many goals the Cards could rack up against what appeared to be a very ordinary Sandgrounders side. Unfortunately, the Woking players seemed to reach the same conclusion, stopped working and – no doubt to Southport’s immense relief – invited them back into the game.

Joe McNerney’s dismissal towards the end of that match means that he will be unavailable on Saturday. Garry has a number of options for re-jigging his defence but Adam Doyle will presumably find himself called into the starting line-up. Adam Newton has missed the last couple of games through injury, whilst loanee Billy Knott continues to receive treatment for the injury he received on his debut against Cambridge United.

EBBSFLEET UNITED

Cards fans will no doubt give a warm welcome to Fleet captain, Paul Lorraine, who, not surprisingly, has become as popular at Stonebridge Road as he was during his time at Kingfield.

Fleet manager Liam Daish saw his two main strikers, Michael West and Calum Willock, head off for Crewe and Dover Athletic respectively in the summer. Former Card Liam Enver-Marum left for Stevenage on a short-term contract but, when things didn’t work out there, was very happy to return to Stonebridge Road. Another significant loss was that of Ricky Shakes.

Daish brought in Moses Ashikodi and Nathan Elder to replace West and Willock. Ashikodi, who, like Elder, has moved a good deal between clubs, scored 11 goals in 16 appearances for the Fleet in a loan spell back in 2010. Other arrivals in the summer included striker Phil Walsh from Dagenham and Redbridge, who can also play in defence, and experienced defender Patrick Ada, who has played for Exeter, Histon and Crewe amongst other clubs.

Two more Fleet players who have appeared in Woking shirts are capable midfielder Neil Barrett and young full-back Ryan Blake, who had a brief loan spell with us from Brentford.

A recent returnee to the Fleet squad is midfielder Ashley Carew but he is cup-tied so won’t be available for selection. Another recent signing is Louie Soares, the former Hayes and Yeading goalscoring midfielder, on loan from Grimsby Town. It is not known whether Grimsby have given permission for him to play for Fleet in the Cup.

Ebbsfleet have been struggling in the league this season, having won only two games so far, and now lie one from bottom of the table. Away from home, they have won one league game, drawn one and lost five.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £15
Over 65s/Students £10
U16s £5

Season ticket holders are reminded that this is an ‘all pay’ game. The gates will open at 12 noon.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Saturday’s 56-page programme sees the start of a great new series by Mark Doyle in which he traces, decade by decade, the history of the Club from the 1940s onwards. As always, Mark’s piece has evocative photos and illustrations to match, so don’t miss out! The programme also includes an interview with speedy Canadian winger Gavin McCallum, an ‘opposing fan’ view, a look at Woking’s recent FA Cup record, plus all the news from the BSP, match reports, previews, superb action photos and much more. If you can’t get to the game, you can order a copy from the Club Shop on shop@wokingfc.co.uk As announced in the last programme, the Club has been forced by rising costs to raise the price from £2.50 to £3 from this Saturday: the first increase in price for seven years.

LAST TIME OUT

Ebbsfleet United 2 Woking 2
25 September 2012

I suppose most clubs feel that they haven’t reaped the points which they ought to have done but that feeling seems to be particularly true of the current Woking side, which has played some excellent football at times but has, too frequently, not produced the results to match. It was a similar case at Ebbsfleet just under a month ago when the Cards, having fallen behind early to a fine goal from Joe Howe, found themselves 2-1 up and well in control at half-time following strikes from Jack Parkinson and Brett Johnson. But the Cards relaxed their grip, failed to take other presentable chances and ended up conceding an equaliser from Phil Walsh as the Fleet’s second-half momentum brought them a well-deserved draw.

NEXT GAME

The Cards travel to top-of-the-table Newport County on Saturday 27 October. We hope that the following Saturday (3 November) will see the Cards in the First Round Proper of the FA Cup but the next scheduled home league game is on Tuesday 6 November when Kidderminster Harriers are the visitors.

Come on, you Cards!


P.S. Please support the Cards Trust’s Race Night on Friday 26 October.