Cards crave Cup run

Woking v Concord Rangers
The Emirates FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round
3pm on Saturday 14 October 2017

Anthony Limbrick clearly appreciates that, while it’s marvellous to see the side performing so well in the National League, a good FA Cup run (long overdue!) would be a huge boost to the Club, both in terms of profile and finances. The Cards have been handed a favourable draw on paper, being at home against a side struggling in the National League South, but he will be well aware how form can be turned upside down in cup games. He will be keen to ensure that no complacency sets in and that Woking make the draw for the First Round Proper. Come down to the Laithwaite Community Stadium on Saturday to cheer on the Cards in what we hope will be the start of a memorable FA Cup run in what has already proved an exciting season. Normal admission prices have been reduced.

WOKING

The Cards’ excellent recent form continued last Saturday, with the side notching their seventh win in their last nine games as they overcame a very capable Dagenham and Redbridge side to consolidate third place in the table. The team had to display once more all the resilience that has marked a number of recent performances, with some outstanding defensive work providing the platform for a magical winner from Regan Charles-Cook. It says something about the strength of the side that, while the sponsors voted Chez Isaac ‘man of the match’ – and understandably so – the Non-League Paper gave the accolade, equally deservedly, to Jordan Wynter, who has barely put a foot wrong as a midfielder playing centre back, while Anthony Limbrick was the ‘manager of the day’. A special mention must go, too, to Academy player Lazar Stojsavljevic, who could not really have been asked to make a more daunting first full appearance but who, nevertheless, performed very well against a top side.

The Cards will be missing the excellent Josh Staunton on Saturday, following his fifth booking against Dagenham. But, with Richard Orlu returning from injury, there is a ready-made replacement. It would be no surprise, too, to see Joey Jones’s name somewhere on the team sheet and perhaps an unforced change or two (but not too many, please!) in the starting eleven. Nathan Baxter, Regan Charles-Cook and Jamie Philpot would all need clearance from their respective parent clubs to play.

The winners of the tie will receive £12,500 in prize money and a place in the First Round Proper, which will be played on the weekend of 4/5 November.

CONCORD RANGERS

The Beachboys were formed in 1967 as a boys’ club in Canvey Island and got their name from Concord Beach, near their ground. The club has had a huge rise up the non-League pyramid since starting off in the Thundermile Boys’ Football League. They eventually reached the Essex Senior League, where they spent 17 seasons before Danny Cowley, who went on to manage Braintree Town and, now, Lincoln City, propelled them through three promotions to the Conference South, which they reached at the end of the 2012-13 season, beating Lowestoft Town in the play-off final. They finished 9th in their first season at that level. The following year they finished 7th and also reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, losing to Mansfield Town in a replay.

The present manager, Adam Flanagan, was appointed in May 2015. In the 2015-16 season they finished 10th in the Conference South, dropping to 18th last season.

The Beachboys started off this season fairly satisfactorily but then suffered six consecutive league defeats from the end of August. But the FA Cup seems to have inspired a revival and they have now gone four games undefeated. They beat Tunbridge Wells 4-0 at home in the Second Qualifying Round, following that with a draw at Hampton and Richmond Borough in the league. Next up, on 30 September, was a 3-0 home win over Dorking Wanderers in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. Last Saturday they drew 1-1 at home with Havant and Waterlooville in the league, captain Steve Cawley netting their goal.

The Beachboys now sit in 21st place in the league with nine points from 13 games. Away from home, they have drawn one league game and lost five, scoring four goals and conceding 12.

Concord’s squad contains several very experienced players plus a number of new signings this summer. In the first camp are defender Steve King with over 340 appearances for the club, striker Steve Cawley with some 200 appearances and 70 goals and well-travelled keeper, Louis Wells. Arrivals this summer included defender Jordan Brown, who had been on loan from Welling United last season; midfielder Ben Greenhaigh, returning for his third spell from Hemel Hempstead Town; Billy Roast, previously captain at Maldon and Tiptree and of Colchester’s U21 side; Kyron Farrell, a midfielder who had been on loan from Millwall to Braintree Town last season; Khola Da Costa, a pacy winger formerly with Hendon and Harlow; Jordan Cox, a striker returning after a loan spell from Braintree in the 2015-16 season and a successful stint last season as part of Maidenhead United’s promotion-winning squad; midfielder Harry Lee, originally with Leyton Orient but subsequently with Welling and Braintree; defender Lewis Knight, formerly with Leatherhead, Brentwood Town and Chatham Town; and Femi Akinwande, on loan at East Thurrock United last season from Colchester United.

ADMISSION PRICES

Season-ticket holders are reminded that this is an ‘all pay’ game. However, normal admission prices have been reduced:

Adults £15
Concessions (Over 65s and Students Under 19) £10
U16s £5

Woking season ticket holders have the chance to sample the delights of the Geoff Chapple Lounge for only £36. See the website for details.

If a replay is required, it will be on Tuesday evening at Concord Rangers’ ground, with a 7.45pm kick-off.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Don’t forget to grab a copy of ‘Cardinals’. Only £3 for interviews, previews, match reports, Academy updates and great photos. Saturday’s edition includes a look at Woking’s recent FA Cup history.

COMING UP

The Cards return to National League action on Saturday 21 October when they travel to Neil Smith’s in-form Bromley and then to second-placed Dover Athletic on Tuesday 24 October. The Cards Trust hopes to run a coach to both games: ring or email the Club Shop to book your seat or call in on Saturday. The next home league game is against Guiseley on Saturday 28 October.

Come on, you Cards!