Cards need to focus on another home win

Woking v Bromley
Vanarama National League
7.45pm on Tuesday 29 November 2016

The Cards gave themselves a huge boost on Saturday with their 3-0 win over high-flying Gateshead. Another three points on Tuesday evening against Neil Smith’s Bromley outfit would be the icing on the cake. But the Ravens have been going very well since they defeated Woking at Hayes Lane nearly two months ago and can be expected to provide even tougher opposition than the Heed did. Come down to the Laithwaite Community Stadium on Tuesday to cheer on the side to another win!

WOKING

After the disappointment of the midweek defeat at Dover Athletic, following the fine win at Maidstone United the previous Saturday, fortune swung in the Cards’ favour again on Saturday as they vanquished in-form Gateshead by a surprisingly emphatic 3-0 scoreline. They were helped by a couple of defensive errors of the kind to which Woking themselves have been all too prone but nothing can take credit away from a superb hat-trick by the hard-working Gozie Ugwu, who has now notched eight goals in the last five league and FA Cup games.

The defence came under a good deal of pressure in the second half but showed a lot of resilience. It was a concern to see Keiran Murtagh leave the field injured and, if he is not fit for Tuesday, the likes of Dennon Lewis, Fabio Saraiva, Charlie Carter, Frankie Sutherland and Anthony Edgar will have to step up to the plate. Dennon in particular surely has more to offer than we’ve seen so far.

The Cards will certainly be eager to turn the tables on Neil Smith’s side on Tuesday evening after the desperately disappointing defeat at Bromley (see below). All thoughts of the FA Cup tie need to be banished: there needs to be a total focus on securing three more points from another home game.

BROMLEY

The Ravens had a rather erratic first season in the National League, losing manager Mark Goldberg along the way, but finished in a respectable 14th place with 60 points, one point and two places below Woking. Woking legend, Neil Smith, then assistant manager, was appointed interim manager on Goldberg’s departure and became substantive manager in early April.

There are a good many players still at the club from last season, including former Cards Joe Anderson and Adam Cunnington, but Moses Emmanuel (formerly Ademola) left to join Dover Athletic. Other familiar names include striker Alex Wall; keeper Alan Julian; commanding central defender Rob Swaine; and midfielders Lee Minshull and Bradley Goldberg.

New signings in the summer included highly experienced wide man Dave Martin; dangerous winger/striker Blair Turgott, who made 35 appearances for Leyton Orient last season and who figured, along with Jack Holland, in England C’s recent win in Estonia; striker Tobi Sho-Silva, previously with Charlton Athletic; winger George Porter, with Welling United last season; and former Crystal Palace U21 captain, midfielder Connor Dymond.

A recent signing is 6’6� striker Michael Ngoo, formerly with Liverpool and Kilmarnock, while defender Joe Howe has been released.

Top scorer is Turgott with seven league goals.

When the Cards played Bromley nearly two months ago a win would have enabled Garry Hill’s side to leapfrog Neil Smith’s outfit. But a defeat in that game and contrasting fortunes subsequently have seen the Ravens move into mid-table safety, while the Cards are still struggling to pull themselves away from the danger zone. The Ravens have been in excellent form, having won three and drawn two of their last five league games. On Saturday they beat York City 3-0 with goals from Holland, Porter and Cunnington.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £18
Over 65/Students with valid student card £13
U16s £5

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Don’t forget that Tuesday’s matchday programme will contain a voucher giving priority for the purchase of tickets if the Cards make it through to the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup.

LAST TIME OUT

Bromley 2 Woking 1
Vanarama National League
4 October 2016

This was a hugely disappointing performance and result, especially after a stirring comeback by the Cards to earn a point against Eastleigh. Playing against another struggling side, the Cards started very brightly, taking an early lead through a Fabio Saraiva ‘piledriver’, but then fell away badly. It was no surprise when Blair Turgott equalised before half-time, with the Woking defence failing to deal with a straightforward counter-attack and cross.

As a scrappy second half drew to a conclusion it looked as though the Cards would at least leave with a point but, in the last minute of normal time, more poor defending from a cross enabled Lee Minshull to fire home after Michael Poke had only been able to parry the initial effort.

Bromley: Alan Julian, Joe Howe, Daniel Johnson, Rob Swaine, Joe Anderson ©, Jordan Higgs (Connor Dymond 83), Reece Prestedge (Lee Minshull 64), Blair Turgott, Bradley Goldberg (Daniel Ajakaiye 83), Adam Cunnington, Oluwatobi Sho-Silva

Subs not used: Jack Holland, Michak Stanic-Stewart

Goals: Turgott (34), Minshull (90)

Woking (4-4-2): Michael Poke, Connor Essam, Joey Jones, Brian Saah, Nathan Ralph, Frankie Sutherland (Charlie Carter 62), Fabio Saraiva, Dennon Lewis, Keiran Murtagh ©, Delano Sam-Yorke (Anthony Edgar 73), Matt Tubbs (Luke Kandi 67)

Subs not used: Brandon Hall, Ismail Yakubu

Goal: Saraiva (3)

Referee: David Rock

Attendance: 808

COMING UP

At 2pm on Sunday 4 December 2016 the Cards take on Accrington Stanley in the Second Round of the Emirates FA Cup. Admission is only £10 for adults/concessions, with free admission for U16s, so here’s hoping for a big crowd and a great atmosphere!

Come on, you Cards!