Very different performance needed

Woking v Aldershot Town
Vanarama National League
1pm on Sunday 1 January 2017

Cards fans will be desperately hoping that Garry Hill’s side will produce a performance on New Year’s Day to banish at least some of the memory of the miserable capitulation at the EBB Stadium on Boxing Day: a performance which Garry himself described as ‘embarrassing’. While local pride is at stake, perhaps more importantly the Cards now sit perilously close to the relegation positions and, with a tough-looking programme stretching ahead of them in January and February, are in dire need of some points. Don’t forget that the game kicks off at 1pm.

WOKING

Garry will surely be looking to make some changes for this match but his options look pretty limited, given the number of occasions on which most of the potential replacements have failed to set the world alight in previous outings. An exception, if he is available, is Terell Thomas, whose mobility in central defence would surely be a plus. We will have to see, too, if Brandon Hall pays the price for his costly error for the Shots’ first goal, given that Michael Poke, originally the first choice keeper, has been waiting patiently for an opportunity to regain the jersey.

Other players who might figure this time round are Frankie Sutherland, Chike Kandi, Dennon Lewis, Max Kretzschmar (if fit) and Delano Sam-Yorke.

ALDERSHOT TOWN

The Shots went into the Boxing Day game on the back of some disappointing performances, apparently, but they looked a decent side in that match, with strong performances in particular from Anthony Straker and Kundai Benyu at the back, Jake Gallagher in midfield – always available to take and give a simple pass – and Scott Rendell, Idris Kanu and Bernard Mensah in attack.

ADMISSION PRICES

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

The game will be segregated, with away fans standing on the open Chris Lane Terrace or seated in part of the Leslie Gosden Stand.

Why not start 2017 in style by treating yourself to the tempting special offer in the Geoff Chapple Lounge? See the news item of 19 December for details.

LAST TIME OUT

Aldershot Town 4 Woking 0
Vanarama National League
26 December 2016

This must go down as one of the worst displays in Garry Hill’s six years in charge. Even before Brandon Hall dropped a catch in the 8th minute to gift Scott Rendell the first goal the defence looked wide open, failing to cut out crosses and with the central defenders too often finding themselves the wrong side of the player they were supposed to be marking. Heads seemed to drop and the Shots quickly rattled in a second goal through Shamir Fenelon. An unchallenged Rendell added a third before finishing off a fine move for the Shots’ fourth goal in added time before the break. It must have been the easiest hat-trick of his career.

Had the Shots been more ruthless they could well have added several more goals to make the scoreline even more embarrassing. To rub salt into the wounds, ex-Card Jake Cole, who had been a virtual bystander, saved Anthony Edgar’s penalty to deprive the Cards even of that minor consolation.

Aldershot Town: Jake Cole, Anthony Straker, Shamir Fenelon (Matt McLure 61), Scott Rendell (Jim Kellermann 77), Bernard Mensah, Cheye Alexander, Jake Gallagher, Dion Conroy, Idris Kanu, Kundai Benyu (Will Evans 83), Callum Reynolds

Unused sub: Mark Smith

Goals: Scott Rendell 8, 25 and 45; Shamir Fenelon 10

Woking: Brandon Hall, Jake Caprice, Ismail Yakubu (Terell Thomas 66), Brian Saah, Frazer Shaw, Joey Jones, Nathan Ralph (Anthony Edgar 60), Charlie Carter, Keiran Murtagh (Fabio Saraiva 60), Kane Ferdinand, Gozi Ugwu

Unused subs: Michael Poke, Delano Sam-Yorke

Attendance: 3456 (527 Woking fans)

COMING UP

In the league the Cards have away trips to Wrexham on 7 January and Torquay United on 14 January before entertaining Tranmere Rovers on 21 January. Their next home game, though, is on Tuesday 10 January when Leatherhead are the visitors in the Surrey Senior Cup.



Come on, you Cards!