The Cards Hoping to Boost Play-Off Hopes

Grimsby Town v Woking
7.45pm on Tuesday 8 April 2014

The Cards face a challenging trip to play-off bound Grimsby Town tomorrow night, with Garry Hill’s side looking to prove they have top five credentials of their own.

Woking’s trip to Grimsby marks the first of three challenging games inside six days, with second-place Cambridge and sixth-place Alfreton still to come. With a seven point gap still between the Cards and an unlikely play-off place, maximum points is really the only option.

After being harshly beaten by a goal deep, deep into stoppage time when the sides met at Kingfield earlier in the season, the Cards will be even more eager to come away with a positive result this time around.

WOKING

It has been a wonderful few weeks for the Cards, who have gone from battling relegation to play-off outsiders thanks to six straight league victories. Realistically, Garry Hill’s team are now just two points short of last season’s tally of 62 – so surpassing that and their twelfth place finish of the previous campaign will remain the new number one priority, now that safety has been mathematically confirmed.

Even by winning all of their remaining six games, the Cards cannot guarantee a play-off place, and for now that remains an ambitious dream. But with some fantastic results away from home in the last couple of months – at Luton, Gateshead and Barnet amongst other – this is a Woking team that will be full of confidence as they travel to Blundell Park.

Despite seemingly picking up a knock against Forest Green, Adam Newton was fit to play against Hereford at the weekend – breaking his 126-game scoring duck for the club in the process. With no fresh injury worries, the Cards are likely to stick with the team that has been so successful for them recently, although the likes of Joey Jones, Mike Cestor and Giuseppe Sole will no doubt be eager to get involved, should Hill and Steve Thompson wish to freshen things up.

GRIMSBY TOWN

The Mariners, who lost in the play-offs last year to Newport County, have always looked a good bet for a second successive play-off place. They now sit in third place, nine points ahead of the Cards, and with a couple of games in hand on most of the teams around them, they will be confident of securing a top five finish. Recent form has been more than satisfactory, with three straight 1-0 victories over Hereford, Wrexham and Kidderminster – all away from home. They were beaten last time they played at home, losing 2-1 to Luton.

The Mariners’ squad is strong, and includes influential captain Craig Disley, striker Ross Hannah, ex-Card Aswad Thomas, ex-Don Sam Hatton and huge defender Clayton McDonald. However, striker Liam Hearn has recently left the club following a cruciate injury suffered earlier this season.

GETTING THERE

Blundell Park
Cleethorpes
Lincolnshire
DN35 7PY

Official website: www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk

By coach
The Cards Trust minibus leaves Kingfield at 2pm. The cost is £22 for members and £29 for non-members. Ring the Club Shop or email shop@wokingfc.co.uk to book your place.

By car
Follow the signs for Grimsby on the M180. Continue on this road when it becomes the A180. This road runs right past the ground, which is next to the McDonalds Drive-thru.

By train
Nearest station: Cleethorpes. It’s not possible to get a train back to London after the game. On the way there, the best train would be the 16.03 from Kings Cross which, with a change at Doncaster, would get you to Cleethorpes station at 19.00.

The station is just over 1 mile away from the stadium. Walking would take about 20 minutes. Public transport is available.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults: £18
Over 65s & Students: £12
Under 14s: £6 (unaccompanied) £4 (accompanied)
Away fans sit in the Osmond Stand in the south side of the ground. Entry to this stand is in Constitutional Avenue, turnstiles 7-10.

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 1 Grimsby Town 2
2 November 2013
The Cards were unlucky not to get a point out of this game, matching their high-flying opponents for most of the match. Their cause wasn’t helped by a disastrous start, Ross Hannah heading home for the visitors from a corner in the first minute. Half an hour later the score was levelled when Scott Rendell dummied a long ball from Josh Payne, putting Kevin Betsy through, who finished neatly under the Mariners’ onrushing keeper. Both Payne and Betsy went close for the Cards in a good spell leading up till half-time.
Play was fairly evenly shared in the second half, with debutant loanee Charles Banya impressing on several occasions. But the Cards suffered a cruel blow in injury time, with the ball falling kindly to Craig Disley on the edge of the area. He slammed it into the roof of the net, giving Sam Beasant no chance.
Woking: Sam Beasant, Adam Newton, John Nutter, Jack Parkinson, Joe McNerney, Mark Ricketts, Josh Payne, Charles Banya, Giuseppe Sole (John Goddard 46), Kevin Betsy, Scott Rendell.

Unused Subs: Aaron Howe, Anthony McNamee, Mike Cestor, Reece Beckles.

Goal: Betsy 28.

Booked: None.

Grimsby Town: James McKeown, Sam Hatton, Scott Kerr, Shaun Pearson, Aswad Thomas, Clayton McDonald, Craig Disley, Joe Colbeck, Ritchie Jones, Andy Cook (Liam Hearn 26), Ross Hannah (Caine Winfarrah 88).

Unused Subs: Paul Bignot, Andi Thanoj, Paul Walker.

Goals: Hannah 1, Disley 90.

Booked: Hatton 32.

Attendance: 1,432

NEXT GAME

The Cards have two home games coming up quickly against top sides. On Thursday 10 April they are at home to Cambridge United and on Saturday 12 April they entertain Alfreton Town in the penultimate home game of the season.


Come on, you Cards!