Cards look to make Trophy progress

Woking v Ebbsfleet United
Buildbase FA Trophy 1st Round Replay
7.45pm on Tuesday 13 December 2016

Come down to the Laithwaite Community Stadium on Tuesday evening to cheer on the Cards in this FA Trophy replay! Garry Hill’s side were unlucky not to finish the job at Ebbsfleet on Saturday, conceding a late equaliser after scoring an excellent goal through Chike Kandi and defending stoutly as the Fleet fought to get back into the game. Reduced admission prices apply, with U14s admitted free!

WOKING

There was not a great deal between the sides on Saturday but it was encouraging to see how well Woking’s back three in particular coped with a fair amount of, fairly direct, second half pressure, as the Cards looked to play on the counter-attack, until conceding that late goal from a very well-executed header. Joey Jones, unlucky to be credited with an own goal, was prominent, too, in front of the back five. Up front, Gozie Ugwu worked hard but was well shackled by the Fleet defence, with Kandi’s pace a greater threat on the day.

Charlie Carter will again be missing following his red card against Accrington Stanley. Keiran Murtagh was an unused substitute on Saturday. With a clutch of league games coming up, Garry Hill will not want to risk him on Tuesday night unless he is genuinely fit enough to play, although his presence in midfield would no doubt give the Cards greater bite and creativity.

EBBSFLEET UNITED

As Woking fans saw on Saturday – in the shape of Ebbsfleet’s almost-completed new stand – The Fleet are well backed financially and have a number of ‘big name’ players in their squad, especially in midfield and attack. The former Luton star Andy Drury, who was sold to Ipswich by the Hatters for £150k, has recently re-joined from Eastleigh and made his debut on Saturday. Among his midfield colleagues are dangerous wingback Anthony Cook, formerly with Bromley; Sam Deering, who has tasted success with Oxford United, Barnet and Cheltenham (over 150 League appearances) and Whitehawk; long-serving Dean Rance; and Sean Shields, a winger who was previously with Dagenham and Redbridge.

Up front the well-known names are Danny Kedwell, familiar from his time at Welling but who subsequently scored freely for Gillingham and who came on as an influential substitute on Saturday; Charlie Sheringham, who started up front; Aaron McLean, an ex-Shot who enjoyed huge success in the League with Peterborough; and ex-Card Bradley Bubb, who joined in the summer after scoring 24 goals for Oxford City last season. Brandon Hall made a crucial save from Bubb in the first half.

Young winger Jack Powell looked tricky and quick, although Jake Caprice generally managed to keep him in check. Substitute Stuart Lewis added some energy when he came on in the second half.

The Fleet, who are managed by Daryl McMahon, were pipped for promotion last year by Maidstone United in the Conference South play-off final. They presently sit in 3rd place in the National League South, trailing Maidenhead United and St Albans City. In their last league game they had a 3-1 away win at Oxford City, with goals coming from Charlie Sheringham, Sean Shields and Bradley Bubb.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £10
Over 65/Students with valid student card £5
U14s FREE

This is an ‘all pay’ game.

COMING UP

The Cards have a crucial league game next Saturday (17 December) when they take on Guiseley. This is a great opportunity for Garry Hill’s side to put some more distance between themselves and those sides, including Guiseley, currently in the bottom four places. The Club has reduced admission prices for this match too, so why not make the effort to come down to the Laithwaite Community Stadium to cheer on the side?


Come on, you Cards!