Specsavers

Cards' improved form faces tough test

Brian Caffarey
8:13pm, Sun 17th Apr 2016
Woking v Grimsby Town
Vanarama National League
7.45pm on Tuesday 19 April 2016

Saturday brought a win at last for the Cards after a wait of over three months. Looking at it even more positively, the result meant that Garry Hill’s side have only been beaten once in their last five outings. They will need their improved form on Tuesday evening against a Grimsby side who will be going all out for three points to consolidate their play-off place. Come down to the Laithwaite Community Stadium to cheer on the Cards in their penultimate home game of the season!

WOKING

The Cards have a fantastic record against Forest Green Rovers, so it was perhaps not so surprising that their long wait for a win came at the New Lawn on Saturday in spite of Rovers’ lofty position in the league table. In contrast, our record against Grimsby Town is dire, so the historical odds will certainly need to be thrown to the winds on Tuesday if the Cards are to get anything out of this game. But Garry Hill will be very much hoping that Saturday’s win is a real turning point and that his side can finish the season on a high note.

GRIMSBY TOWN

Until recently the Mariners looked very comfortably set for another tilt at the play-offs after their disappointments in the last three years. But they’ve recently found themselves on the wrong end of results against play-off rivals, with Braintree Town securing a win at Blundell Park, while Eastleigh managed a draw. On top of that, the Mariners have recently suffered defeats at the hands of Cheltenham Town and Macclesfield Town, and on Saturday they could manage only a draw at Dover Athletic. As a result Grimsby now find themselves in fourth place, two points behind Dover but with a game in hand. They are two points ahead of Braintree in 5th, who’ve also played one more game, and three points ahead of Eastleigh, who’ve played the same number of games. So, while the odds favour Grimsby – who also have a far superior goal difference – they will not want to slip up against Woking on Tuesday night.

The Woking side will be familiar enough with the quality in the Mariners’ squad, in particular the goal threat presented by Padraig Amond, Omar Bogle, Nathan Arnold and Jon Paul Pittman. They have recently added 20 year-old Swindon striker, Jordan Stewart, on loan till the end of the season.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults - £18
Over 65s, Students with NUS card, forces personnel and MOD civilian staff with recognised ID - £13
U16s - £5

The game will be segregated, with Grimsby fans allocated the Chris Lane open terrace and part of the seating in the Leslie Gosden Stand.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Another packed, full colour, 64-page matchday programme includes an end-of-season interview with Club Chairman, Mike Smith; a profile of special Lounge guest, Colin Fielder; and a look at promotion and relegation prospects. In addition, there’s a summary of recent league results; and news from the Club Board and the Cards Trust, plus match previews, reports and the usual superb match action photos. Great value at only £3!

LAST TIME WE MET

Grimsby Town 2 Woking 0
FA Trophy Quarter-Final
27 February 2016

The Cards travelled up to Grimsby for the second time in a week but the outcome was just the same: defeat at the hands of a Mariners side which won comfortably enough. In the midweek league fixture Grimsby had eased through 3-1 after Gez Sole had equalised Jon-Paul Pittman’s first minute goal, only for Padraig Amond to find the net twice just before half-time.

Garry Hill had made no secret of how keen he was to take the Cards to Wembley in the Trophy but, after a reasonably bright opening, the Mariners scored with virtually their first attack, an unmarked Nathan Arnold netting after the ball had been allowed to cross the Cards’ area. A second goal from Arnold duly followed and that was effectively ‘game over’, with the Cards not actually managing a shot on target till the 89th minute in what was a very disappointing performance.

Grimsby Town: James McKeown, Richard Tait, Shaun Pearson, Josh Gowling, Craig Disley, Padraig Amond, Andy Monkhouse (Gregor Robertson 88), Jon Paul Pittman, Nathan Arnold, Jon Nolan, Evan Horwood

Unused subs: Omar Bogle, Craig Clay, Aristote Nsiala, Anthony Straker

Goals: Nathan Arnold, 10 and 35

Woking: Jake Cole, Cameron Norman, Joey Jones, Mark Ricketts (Joe Robinson 70), Chris Arthur, Bruno Andrade, Keiran Murtagh (Joe Quigley 54), Godfrey Poku (Matt Robinson 67), Matt Butcher, John Goddard, Giuseppe Sole

Unused subs: Jake Caprice, Nick Hamann

Attendance: 1675 (69 away fans)

COMING UP

The Cards travel to Lincoln City next Saturday (23 April) for their last away trip of the campaign. Call in at the Club Shop on Tuesday to book your place on the coach and take advantage of the specially reduced price for Cards Trust members! The Cards’ final game of the season is at home to Eastleigh on Saturday 30 April with a 5.30pm kick-off.

Come on, you Cards!

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