Cards look for another away win

Dartford v Woking
7.45pm on Tuesday 3 March 2015

The Cards will be looking on Tuesday evening to build on their excellent 2-0 away win at Lincoln City at the weekend. Garry Hill has made it clear that he’s targeting a strong finish to the season from his side but they can expect to find the Darts, fighting hard against relegation, a tougher nut to crack than the Imps.

WOKING

The Cards’ two-week break from competitive action seemed to whet their appetite hugely for the contest at Sincil Bank, where they dominated the Imps. A more attacking line-up, with both Kevin Betsy and Yemi Odubade starting, clearly paid dividends on the day and the Cards would have won by a bigger margin but for some ‘man of the match’ goalkeeping from Lincoln’s Paul Farman.

The Cards’ win lifted them one place to 8th in the table but they are still nine points behind fifth-placed Forest Green Rovers, though with two games in hand. On the face of it, Eastleigh, FC Halifax and Gateshead – all with more games in hand – look better placed to mount a play-off challenge. But if the Cards could manage another win on Tuesday, it would certainly make Saturday’s home game against Grimsby Town an even more interesting contest, especially bearing in mind that Forest Green Rovers, FC Halifax and Gateshead have still to visit Kingfield.

DARTFORD

Having been reprieved from relegation last season by Salisbury City’s demotion, the Darts, under the very experienced Tony Burman, might have been expected to have fared better this time round but it’s proved a struggle once more from the outset. Dartford had to wait six games before registering their first win, at home over AFC Telford. They have subsequently registered two more home wins, over Dover and Welling, but have also drawn seven games at Princes Park, losing six.

Four successive league defeats in January looked ominous but the Darts then gained a creditable 2-2 draw at home to Bristol Rovers, followed by a 3-2 away win over Telford and, at the weekend, a 1-1 draw at Aldershot.

There are many familiar names in the Darts’ squad, including the Bradbrook brothers, Ryan Hayes, Harry Crawford, Lee Burns, Lee Noble and Andy Pugh. Two departures recently were those of Mat Mitchel-King and ex-Card Adam Green. Christian Doidge and Tom Dallison, a 6’4� central defender, are on loan from Dagenham and Redbridge and Brighton and Hove Albion respectively. Nathan Green, a left-sided midfielder/defender signed from Dagenham and Redbridge.

Dartford now lie one place off the bottom of the table but have games in hand over the clubs around them, including faltering Welling United, who presently sit just above the relegation zone, five points ahead of the Darts but having played two games more.

GETTING THERE

Princes Park
Grassbanks
Darenth Road
Dartford
Kent DA1 1RT

www.dartfordfconline.com

By coach
The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 5pm. The cost is £12 for members and £15 for non-members. Phone (01483 772470) or email (shop@wokingfc.co.uk) the Club Shop to book your place.

By car
Take the M25 eastbound. Exit at J2 (towards A2(E)/Canterbury/M2/Dartford). Then at roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the ramp to Dartford/A225. At the Princes Road interchange roundabout take the 1st exit onto Princes Road/A296, heading towards Dartford/Crayford/A225. Continue to follow Princes Road, then turn left at Darenth Road traffic lights and second left into Grassbanks. Journey time is around 60 minutes according to the AA.

By train
You’ll need to head up to London to Waterloo East. There are frequent trains to Dartford from Platform A with a journey time of roughly 40 minutes.

The Dartford FC website gives the following directions for getting from the station to the ground. Exit station straight ahead towards the Orchard Theatre/Shopping Centre. Do NOT cross the bridge but take the steps/ramp down to the bus stops. Then take the Fastrack B service towards Bluewater/Gravesend and alight at the Princes Park stop. Buses run every 10-15 minutes.

It’s a 10-15 minute walk from Dartford town centre largely alongside the Fastrack busway.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults: £16
Over 65s: £8
13-17: £5
5-12: £2
Under 5s: Free

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 1 Dartford 1
12 August 2014

The Cards went into their first home game of the season on the back of a promising 3-1 away win at Alfreton Town on the opening day of the campaign. Garry Hill made two changes, with Mark Ricketts returning from suspension to replace Joey Jones and Mike Cestor coming in at left-back instead of the injured John Nutter.

Woking had much the better of the first half but failed to convert a number of decent chances, whilst Aaron Howe had to be alert to foil Tom Bradbrook. The Darts took a shock lead shortly after the break, with Rory McAuley heading home and then the Cards struggled to respond, eventually being saved at the last gasp as substitute Gez Sole nodded home a Dean Morgan cross in injury time.

Woking : Aaron Howe, Adam Newton (Reece Beckles 82), Mike Cestor, Mark Ricketts, Joe McNerney, Josh Payne, Keiran Murtagh (Joey Jones 75), Scott Rendell, Theo Lewis (Giuseppe Sole 76), John Goddard, Dean Morgan

Unused Subs: James Clarke, Jake Cole

Bookings: Theo Lewis (62), Josh Payne (66)

Goal: Giuseppe Sole (90+3)

Dartford: Jason Brown, Mat Mitchel-King, Adam Green, Luke Daley, Max Cornhill, Rory McAuley, Elliot Bradbrook, Tom Bradbrook, Andy Rich, Lee Burns (Nathan Collier 76), Peter Sweeney

Unused Subs: Ryan Hayes, Danny Harris, Harry Crawford, Deren Ibrahim

Bookings: Lee Burns (73)

Goal: Rory McAuley (48)

Attendance: 1538

NEXT GAME

The Cards have a very attractive home game against Grimsby Town next Saturday (7 March). The Mariners are sure to bring a big following for what should be a great contest.


Come on, you Cards!

P.S. Don’t forget to get your tickets for the Cards Trust Race Night on Friday 6 March and Mike Cestor’s Fundraising Evening on Thursday 12 March.