Lovetts

Cards back in league action

Brian Caffarey
10:24am, Thu 30th Oct 2014
Braintree Town v Woking
3pm on Saturday 1 November 2014

The Cards, sitting in third place, resume their league campaign on Saturday with a tough trip to Alan Devonshire’s Braintree Town, traditionally strong on their Cressing Road pitch. It’s the sort of game, though, that the Cards need to get something from if they are to sustain their play-off challenge. Make the trip if you can to cheer on Garry’s side.

WOKING

The Cards, unlike their opponents, have had a week’s break to freshen up after their narrow 2-1 victory over Boreham Wood in the FA Cup, a result which now sees them travel to Wrexham the following weekend in the First Round Proper of the competition.

While Mark Ricketts is clearly going to be missing for a while yet, Garry is otherwise spoiled for choice in the outfield positions, with Gez Sole, scorer of both goals, continuing to make a strong case for a starting role – but at whose expense? Against Boreham Wood last Saturday both Dean Morgan and Jack Marriott were on the bench.

Garry will also need to decide whether to bring back Ross Worner, cup-tied for the Boreham Wood game, or give another outing to Jake Cole, who performed well last Saturday and who will no doubt be in goal at Wrexham.

BRAINTREE TOWN

The Iron have not been in great form recently in the league, having failed to win in their last seven games. This followed a fairly promising start to the season in which they won six league games and lost four. They now sit in 16th place with 20 points from 17 games.

In the FA Cup last Saturday Braintree drew 0-0 at Weymouth but won the replay in midweek 5-3 after the score was 3-3 after 90 minutes. They will now host Chesterfield in the 1st Round Proper.

As usual, Braintree have been pretty strong at home, having won four league games, including victories over Bristol Rovers and Kidderminster Harriers, drawn two and lost two, scoring eleven goals and conceding six. However, their last home league game saw Southport register a shock 2-0 win.

Some good news for Woking is that Braintree will be missing the highly experienced Sean Marks up front. Marks was sent off against Barnet a couple of weeks ago and will be serving the last game of his three-match suspension. The Iron have found goals hard to come by prior to the Cup replay this week in which Simeon Akinola, signed from Harrow Borough earlier this season, and Dan Walker both scored two and Jordan Cox netted one. Inspirational skipper Kenny Davis was on the bench for the two games v Weymouth, having been injured in the warm-up at Barnet. Other familiar names in the Braintree squad include former Don Charlie Strutton, who had a loan spell at Cressing Road last season. Jack Marriott will be able to tell his Woking team mates about Devonshire’s recent loan signing: 6’5� 19 year-old central defender, Owar Sowunmi, from Ipswich Town.

GETTING THERE

The Amlin Stadium,
Clockhouse Way,
Braintree,
Essex
CM7 3RD

Website: www.braintreetownfc.org.uk

By coach

The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 12 noon. £15 members, £20 non-members. Ring (01483 772470) or email (shop@wokingfc.co.uk) to reserve your place.

By car

Leave the M25 at J27 and head north on the M11. Leave at J8A and head east on the A120 for 16 miles until you reach the Galleys Corner roundabout, recognisable by the large McDonalds logo. Take the first exit towards Braintree College. This is Cressing Road and the ground is hidden behind new flats (called Iron View, as the higher ones get a free view of the ground) on the left-hand side, 0.7 miles from the roundabout. Look out for the Orange Tree pub on the right-hand side and then take the next turning on the left into Clockhouse Way. There is a small road sign pointing the way on the right-hand side of the road.

By train

Trains take 55 minutes from Stratford (which can be reached via the Jubilee Line from Waterloo). The 12.55 gets in at 13.50. (If travelling from Liverpool Street, the same train leaves at 12.48). On return, the 18.00 gets into Stratford at 18.52 and then Liverpool Street at 19.01. Braintree Station is about a 15-minute walk from the ground, although there is a taxi rank outside the station.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults (seats) £16
Concessions £12
Adult (ground) £15
OAP (ground) £11
U16 (ground) £6
U11 (ground) £4


LAST TIME OUT

Braintree Town 2 Woking 0
13 August 2013

The Cards’ first away fixture of the season, following their opening 0-0 home draw against Lincoln City, proved a disappointment. In what was to become a fairly familiar story, the Cards, after a reasonably encouraging opening, in which Gavin McCallum spurned a good chance, conceded early on: indeed, they conceded twice before the 20-minute mark had been reached. First, Dan Holman slotted home in the 17th minute after the ball reached him through a tangle of legs from a corner and then, two minutes later, Sean Marks tapped the ball home after his first effort had come back off the bar following a cross.

The Cards were more in the game in the second half but this was partly because the Iron seemed content to sit back and soak up any pressure. To make matters worse, substitute Gez Sole was sent off a minute from the end after appearing to kick out at the Iron’s Kenny Davis.

Woking: Aaron Howe, Adam Newton, Brett Johnson, Jack Parkinson, John Nutter (Jordan Ivey-Ward 79), Josh Payne, Lee Sawyer, Gavin Williams, Kevin Betsy, Gavin McCallum (Anthony McNamee 64), Joe McNerney (Giuseppe Sole 64)

Unused subs: Sam Beasant, George Frith

Braintree Town: Nathan McDonald, Ryan Peters, Samuel Habergham, Matthew Paine, Dean Wells, Chez Isaacs (Dan Sparkes 80), Kenny Davis, Luke Daley, Alan Massey, James Mulley, Sean Marks (Liam Enver-Marum 90), Dan Holman

Unused subs: Newman Carney, Nicky Symons, Nick Hamann,

Attendance: 995

NEXT GAME

The Cards begin their defence of the Surrey Senior Cup on Tuesday evening when they take on Ashford Town (Middx). Woking travel to Wrexham in the 1st Round of the FA Cup next weekend. The two sides clash again a few days later when the Red Dragons visit Kingfield on Tuesday 11 November in the league.



Come on, you Cards!




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