The Cards Look to Continue Late Charge

Hereford United v Woking
3pm on Saturday 5 April 2014

The Cards travel to relegation-threatened Hereford United on Saturday, having already beaten the Bulls by a three-goal margin twice this season – once at Kingfield in the league and once at Edgar Street in the FA Trophy.

Five successive league victories have earned Garry Hill the Skrill Premier Manager-of-the-Month award for March, and as a result his team now sit in a season-high twelfth place. He will be hoping to mastermind another success on Saturday as he aims to better the Cards twelfth place finish of last season.

WOKING

While the eight point gap to the play-off places looks a little beyond Woking with just seven games remaining, there is still plenty to play for. A congested mid-table means that the Cards are more than capable of securing a top ten finish – which would be a fantastic achievement considering their difficult start to the campaign. The Cards are just five points short of last season’s final tally of 62, and will be confident of closing that gap again this weekend.

Josh Payne will be available for selection, having served his two-match suspension, although there are doubts over Adam Newton, who limped off in the closing stages of Woking’s win over Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night.

With Payne a near certainty to slot straight back into his central midfield role, expect Joey Jones – who did a fine job in Payne’s absence – to drop back to right back, if Newton is indeed carrying a knock. Sam Beasant, who started the game against Rovers, will presumably keep his place in the continued absence of Aaron Howe.

HEREFORD UNITED

Hereford currently sit in 20th place is the Skrill premier table, one point above Aldershot Town and the first of the four relegation places.

The Bulls have struggled on and off the pitch this season, with financial problems frequently making the headlines. Although if the club is forced to go into administration the ten-point penalty will apply next season, not this season, according to a report in the Non-League paper.

After a promising start to the season, with three wins, two draws and only one defeat in August, their form dipped in September/October, with only two wins in 12 league and cup games. Results picked up in November, December and January but February and March were disastrous, with eight defeats and three draws in eleven league games, with their latest loss coming at home to Grimsby last weekend

The club parted company with manager Martin Foyle and his assistant Andy Porter a couple of weeks ago, with Foyle failing to win another game after picking up the January Manager-of-the-Month award. Pete Beadle is now in charge until the end of the season.

Familiar names include striker Michael Rankine, midfielder Rob Purdie and defender Chris Bush, who had a short loan spell with Woking in 2010. The loss of star player Josh O’Keefe has proved vital, with the Bulls yet to win a game since his departure to Kidderminster in January.

GETTING THERE

Edgar Street Athletic Ground
Blackfriars Street
Hereford
HR4 9JU

Official website: www.herefordunited.co.uk

By coach
The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 10.30am. The cost is £17 for Trust members and £22 for non-members. To book a seat on the coach please ring (01483 772470) the Club Shop or email shop@wokingfc.co.uk

By car
Exit the M4 at junction 15, head north on the A419, keep straight on to the A417. Remain on the A417, cross under the M5 and then join the A40. At the Wilton Roundabout join the A49, signposted Hereford. At Hereford remain on the A49, at the 1st roundabout take the 2nd exit, which is the A49 north, over the River Wye. Having crossed the river, go through two sets of traffic lights, remaining in the left-hand lane and following the signs to Leominster. At the next roundabout remain in the left-hand lane and take the 1st exit again sign-posted Leominster and on the A49. The football ground is then 150 yards on your right.

By train
It’s a complicated train journey from Woking to Hereford, involving at least two changes, usually via Basingstoke and Reading. Look up www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.thetrainline.com if you are thinking of making the journey.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £17 seated and £12 terrace; Concessions (60+ and 15-20) £14 seated and £10 terrace; U15s £5 seated and £3 terrace.

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 3 Hereford United 0
3 February 2014

The Cards completed their second 3-0 win over the Bulls this season, having eliminated them from the FA Trophy by the same score at Edgar Street, with another commanding display. The win was inspired by the returning strike duo of Jack Marriott and Scott Rendell, although the ‘man of the match’ award deservedly went to Josh Payne, showing superb form in midfield.

The Bulls came into the game unbeaten since Boxing Day but showed little in the first half as Woking gradually took control. A goal seemed only a matter of time and it duly arrived on 24 minutes as Marriott glanced home a perfect cross from John Nutter. Two minutes later the lead was doubled as all four midfielders worked the ball around the box before Keiran Murtagh found the bottom corner. But for some excellent work from Hereford keeper Daniel Lloyd-Weston the game could have been over by half-time as the Cards carved out several more good chances.

The Bulls came into the game after the break and had one or two chances to reduce the deficit before the Cards responded with another fine goal, Payne exchanging passes with Rendell before crashing the ball high into the net.

Woking: Sam Beasant, Adam Newton (Joey Jones 75), John Nutter, Joe McNerney, Brett Johnson, Kevin Betsy, Keiran Murtagh, Josh Payne (Reece Beckles 90), John Goddard, Jack Marriott (Giuseppe Sole 85), Scott Rendell.

Unused Subs: Aaron Howe, Anthony McNamee.

Goals: Marriott 24, Murtagh 26, Payne 88.

Booked: Johnson 80

Hereford United: Daniel Lloyd-Weston, Dominic Collins (Daniel Leadbitter 62), Luke Graham, Rod McDonald, Chris Bush, Jonathan Brown, Frankie Artus (Dan Walker 55), Kingsley James, Jamie Edge, Michael Rankine, Chris Sharp (Sam Smith 62).

Unused Subs: Rhys Evans, Rob Purdie.

Booked: Graham 90

Attendance: 1,131

NEXT GAME

The Cards have a long journey to Grimsby on Tuesday evening (8 April). Their next home game is on Thursday 10 April when they take on Cambridge United, followed by another home game on Saturday 12 April when Alfreton Town are the visitors.

Come on, you Cards!