Cards travel to league leaders

Kidderminster Harriers v Woking
7.45pm on Tuesday 26 March 2013

Weather permitting, the Cards travel to Kidderminster tomorrow (Tuesday) evening for a very tough encounter against top-of-the-table Harriers. Garry’s side then have to follow this up on Thursday with a game at Nuneaton, postponed from Saturday.

WOKING

Garry Hill should have the luxury of having both Billy Knott and Lee Sawyer available for selection in midfield, the latter having completed his two-match ban following his yellow card at Macclesfield.

The Cards sit in 11th place, with a win on Tuesday evening possibly lifting them as high as 8th place.

KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS

Steve Burr’s side lost their first five games and drew their next five before claiming their first three points. But their form since then has been sensational, with only three defeats in their last 20 league games, including nine wins out of their last ten games. These include victories away at promotion rivals Newport and Grimsby. On Saturday they won 3-1 at Southport with two late goals. They now head the table by three points, but Mansfield in second place have three games in hand.

Centre back Josh Gowling helped to shore up the Harriers’ defence following his signing in late August. Ryan Rowe and Anthony Malbon, both recruited from lower non-League sides after impressive goalscoring records, present a threat up front. They have been joined recently by Michael Gash, signed from Cambridge United. Steve Burr can also call on the vastly experienced Steve Guinan as well. Three other familiar names in the Harriers’ squad are former Burton Albion defender Ryan Austin, former Ebbsfleet midfielder Ricky Shakes and Kyle Storer, previously with Tamworth and Nuneaton.

GETTING THERE

Aggborough Stadium
Hoo Road
Kidderminster
Worcestershire
DY10 1NB

Official website: www.harriers.co.uk

By coach
The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 3.30pm. The cost is £16 for members and £21 for non-members. Ring or email the Club Shop (shop@wokingfc.co.uk) to book your place.

By car
Leave M5 at junction 4 (signposted A491 Stourbridge). After approximately 5 miles, turn left onto A456 and follow towards Kidderminster. At roundabout on Kidderminster Ring Road, take first exit (signposted A451 Stourport). At next roundabout, take first exit (signposted A448 Bromsgrove), then take first turning on right into Hoo Road for the ground. There is a car park (charge £5) behind the away section of the ground (the South Stand) and also at the Stadium Close car park (free).

By train
The ground is only a very short walk from Kidderminster Station. You would need to get a train up to Birmingham New Street, via Basingstoke or travelling from Euston, and then walk across to Birmingham Moor Street to pick up a train to Kidderminster. Look up www.trainline.com or www.nationalrail.co.uk for some options. You would not be able to get back to Woking the same evening, though.
Kidderminster’s website gives the following directions from the station: “Walk down Comberton Hill towards the town centre and take the left turning just before Motorway Tyres near the bottom of the hill. Walk up Hoo Road for approximately half a mile to the Aggborough Stadium.� But there is a shortcut if you take the first turning on the left after leaving the station entrance on Comberton Hill; this leads to the public car park in Stadium Close.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults: £14
Over 60s, Under 18s & Students: £8
Under 16s: £5
Under 8s: Free (standing or sitting)

£3 extra to sit for all but Under 8s.

Away supporters can stand in the South Stand or sit in Blocks L and M in the East Stand.

Aggborough is renowned for its hearty food, so arrive with a good appetite!

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 2 Kidderminster Harriers 2
6 November 2012

A terrific, attacking display from both sides produced some superb entertainment in an end-to-end encounter.

Garry Hill brought in Adam Doyle and Bradley Bubb for Mike Cestor and Loick Pires following a disappointing defeat at Gateshead. The Cards were quickly in their stride, taking a lead in the third minute, with Lee Sawyer converting after some good approach play by Kevin Betsy.

But the Harriers fought back quickly, with Nathan Blissett powering a header home to equalise in the 16th minute. Kidderminster began to look the more dangerous of the two sides and should have taken the lead in the 27th minute but for a fine Aaron Howe save from Lee Vaughan’s spot-kick. But Blissett struck again just before half-time, seizing on a rebound after another sharp save by Howe.

Garry brought on Dean Sinclair for Jack Parkinson at the break. Both sides continued to attack furiously but it was the Cards who grabbed the final goal, Bradley Bubb taking advantage of a slip by Josh Gowling and lifting the ball cleverly over the Harriers’ keeper.

Woking: Aaron Howe, Adam Newton, Joe McNerney, Brett Johnson, Adam Doyle (Mike Cestor 62), Mark Ricketts, Jack Parkinson (Dean Sinclair 46), Lee Sawyer, Kevin Betsy, Gavin McCallum, Bradley Bubb (Loick Pires 80)

Unused subs: Sam Beasant, Brett Williams

Goals: Lee Sawyer (3), Bradley Bubb (65)

Cautions: Kevin Betsy (29), Mark Ricketts (76)

Kidderminster Harriers: Nathan Vaughan, Lee Vaughan, Mickey Demetriou, Chey Dunkley, Josh Gowling, Kyle Storer, James Vincent, Keith Briggs (Callum Gittings 46), Ryan Rowe (Marvin Johnson 68), Anthony Malbon (Richard Peniket 79), Nathan Blissett

Unused subs: Daniel Lewis, Danny Pilkington

Goals: Nathan Blissett (16, 42)

Cautions: Chey Dunkley (20), Kyle Storer (33)

Attendance: 1,168

NEXT GAME

As already noted, the Cards travel to Nuneaton on Thursday evening for their hastily-rearranged game against Nuneaton Town. The next home fixture is this coming Saturday (30 March) against Hereford United. With only four more home games to go till the end of the season, make sure this date is in your diary!

Come on, you Cards!