Historic meeting with near neighbours

Guildford City v Woking
Specsavers Surrey Senior Cup Semi-Final
7.45pm on Wednesday 15 March 2017

The Cards make the short trip to Guildford on Wednesday evening to contest the semi-final of the Surrey Senior Cup with Guildford City, the first time the two clubs have met for 51 years! Garry Hill will no doubt put out a strong side, as in previous rounds, so make the short trip to The Spectrum if you can to cheer on the side.

WOKING

The Cards’ 0-0 home draw with Boreham Wood on Saturday saw them slip back into the relegation places as a result of Torquay United’s superior goal difference. Both Torquay and Maidstone United, two points ahead, have a game in hand.

Wednesday evening’s game will come as comparative light relief from the struggles in the National League. Garry will no doubt focus on giving starts to those first-team players who have not had as much game time as others, so Brandon Hall, Nathan Ralph, Max Kretzschmar, Charlie Carter, Dennon Lewis, Chike Kandi, Frazer Shaw, Zak Ansah and new loan signing, Ben Morris, will no doubt come into the reckoning.

Woking have won this competition on 12 occasions, most recently in 2013-14 when they beat Metropolitan Police 6-0 in the final. Last season they lost in the semi-finals to Merstham, who had Fabio Saraiva and Charlie Penny in their side.

In the previous rounds of this year’s competition the Cards beat Walton Casuals 4-0, Leatherhead 2-0 and Knaphill 4-1, all at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.

The other semi-final, between Dorking Wanderers and Merstham, is being played on 21 March.

GUILDFORD CITY

The excellent Guildford City website www.guildfordcityfc.co.uk has this to say about the historical background to Wednesday’s game:

“It is 51 years since Guildford City faced their local rivals Woking FC in a competitive match on the playing field. By dint of the fact that Guildford City played their football in the professional Southern League, whilst Woking played in the amateur Isthmian League, clashes didn’t occur too often. The two sides first played each other in September 1921 when City (then monikered United) won 2-1 in the FA Cup. The last meeting between the two sides was on 2 October 1965 when Guildford romped to a 6-0 victory over the Cards in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup. This was the season that City made it through to the second round proper of the competition where they lost to Queens Park Rangers.
Today there are four divisions separating the two sides with Woking now established in the National League. Guildford City play their football in the Premier Division of the Cherry Red Combined Counties League and have enjoyed a mixed league season thus far. It is though in cup football that City have enjoyed their best moments. In the FA Cup in September Guildford eventually went out to Isthmian Premier Division leaders Bognor Regis Town in a game where the CCL side impressed everybody present with their performance. In the Surrey Senior Cup City have battled past three fellow CCL clubs to reach the semi-final stage for the first time in their history. The club have been rewarded with a dream match against our illustrious near neighbours.�

City lie in 14th place in the Combined Counties League, having won 13, drawn 6 and lost 18 league games, scoring 69 goals and conceding 76. On Saturday they lost 3-2 at home to Camberley Town.

In reaching the semi-final of the Surrey Senior Cup, Guildford City have beaten Horley at home (on penalties), Epsom and Ewell away and Raynes Park Vale at home.

GETTING THERE

Guildford City FC
The Spectrum
Parkway
Guildford
GU1 1UP

By car

Exit A3 at ‘Leisure Centre’ exit, turn left, then immediately left past Premier Inn hotel (Beefeater). Spectrum is on brow of hill on left.

There is free parking at The Spectrum and there is a licensed bar and refreshment facilities inside the ground.

By train

There are trains from Woking to Guildford at 18.16 (18.25), 18.43 (18.54), 18.58 (19.06) and 19.14 (19.22). There are trains back at 22.20, 22.39, 22.55 and 23.39. The 100 bus service runs every 12 minutes or so to The Spectrum from the Friary Bus Station in the town centre, taking less than 10 minutes to get there. Alternatively, take a taxi from the station.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £7
Concessions £4
U16s £1

COMING UP

The Cards have a very tough trip to in-form Gateshead on Saturday (18 March), followed by another away game, at Braintree Town, the following Tuesday evening (21 March). Woking’s next home game is a crucial ‘six-point’ encounter with Maidstone United on Saturday 25 March.

Make a note now that entry to the Cards’ home game against Macclesfield Town at 3pm on Good Friday (14 April) will be free for U16s and only £10 for adults.

Come on, you Cards!