Cards prepare for tough trips

Bromley v Woking
Vanarama National League
3pm on Saturday 21 October 2017

The Cards’ recent upturn in form away from home will be greatly tested by their next two away games, starting with this trip to Neil Smith’s in-form Bromley side, who sit in seventh place in the table. Anthony Limbrick’s team laboured to get past a very stubborn Concord Rangers side in the Emirates FA Cup and will have to be on good form to return home with anything from Saturday’s trip. Make the short journey to Hayes Lane if you can to cheer on the Cards!

WOKING

It took extra time on Tuesday evening for the Cards to defeat the Beachboys in Canvey Island. The side got off to a great start, with Regan Charles-Cook grabbing an early goal, but were then pegged back by the Beachboys. Thereafter, it was a very tense affair, with chances for both sides. Fortunately for Cards fans, Charlie Carter forced the winning goal in the second period of extra time to secure a home tie against Bury.

Tuesday evening saw the return from injury of Joey Jones, who came on as a substitute to play an influential role. With Josh Staunton also expected to be fit on Saturday, Anthony Limbrick will have some selection headaches.

BROMLEY

The Ravens are now in their third season at this level. They finished in 14th place in their first season, with Neil Smith taking over as interim manager after the dismissal of Mark Goldberg. Smith’s position was then made substantive and last season he guided them to a very respectable 10th place finish. With new investment going into Hayes Lane in the shape of a new stand and a state-of-the-art 3G pitch, plus a thriving Academy, the Club started this season in an optimistic mood.

There was the usual substantial turnover of players in the summer. Among those leaving were keeper Ross Flitney, midfielder Lee Minshull, strikers Blair Turgott (moving to Stevenage) and Tobi Sho-Silva (who joined Dover), plus of course Jordan Wynter, joining Woking.

Arrivals included keeper David Gregory, who had spent eleven seasons at Crystal Palace, including a loan spell at Leyton Orient; left-back Tyrone Sterling, one of a number of departures from Dover, but who had previously played for Dartford and Cray Wanderers; young defender Ben Wynter, released by Crystal Palace; Academy defender Kristian Campbell, who has been on a short-term loan at Bognor Regis Town; another Academy product, midfielder Aiden Enver; Frankie Sutherland, who spent some time with Woking last season; Frankie Raymond, who made nearly 50 appearances for Dagenham and Redbridge in midfield; ex-Shot Adam Mekki, a winger signing from Tranmere Rovers; striker Brett Williams, arriving from Torquay United but who will need no introduction for Woking fans; wingers Luke Wanadio and Iffy Allen, joining from Dartford and Wrexham respectively; and Josh Rees, with Chelmsford City last season.

Among those remaining from last season are midfielder George Porter, winger/striker Louis Dennis and highly-experienced defenders Alan Dunne (400 appearances for Millwall) and Jack Holland (200 appearances for the Ravens).

Bromley started the season at a gallop with three wins and two draws in their opening five games, including a 6-1 hammering of Leyton Orient. They hit the buffers then with a 5-1 loss to Dagenham and Redbridge, followed by defeats by Sutton and Wrexham. Their last six league games have seen wins at home over Torquay, Solihull and a defeat by Tranmere, whilst away they have lost to FC Halifax and, most recently, had good wins over Maidstone and Gateshead. Last Saturday they drew 0-0 at Dover in the Emirates FA Cup. On Tuesday evening they had an impressive 3-0 win in the replay. Starting with defender Jack Holland up front in the absence of a recognised striker, they nevertheless rattled in three goals in the second half through Josh Rees, Adam Mekki and substitute Louis Dennis. They travel to Rochdale in the First Round Proper.

The Ravens currently sit in 7th place in the table, with 24 points from 15 games, four points and four places below the Cards. At home they have won four league games, drawn one and lost two, scoring 12 goals and conceding four.

GETTING THERE

Bromley FC
H2T Group Stadium
Hayes Lane
Bromley
BR2 9EF

Tel: 020 8460 5291
Official website: www.bromleyfc.tv

By coach

The Cards Trust is not running a coach to this game but some seats are available on the Club coach, which is leaving at 11.00am. Ring (01483 772470) or email (shop@wokingfc.co.uk) the Club Shop to check the position.

By car

Exit junction 4 of the M25 onto the A21. After 4 miles fork left onto A232/Croydon Road, then right onto B265/Baston Road. After 1.5 miles the ground is on the right after a mini-roundabout.

By train

Make your way to Clapham Junction and change onto a London Victoria train, usually on platforms 12 or 14. There are frequent trains from Victoria to Bromley South from platforms 1 to 7. The quickest take 16 minutes e.g. 13.37 (13.53), 13.52 (14.08), 14.07 (14.23). There are fast trains back at 17.05, 17.20, 17.35 and 17.50.

Walking from the station to the ground takes about 15 minutes. Turn left out of the station and then right shortly afterwards into Westmoreland Road, at the traffic lights by the T-junction near the Police Station and the Churchill building. Turn left just after the church into Hayes Road. Take care to follow the road when it bears round to the left rather than ending up in Cameron Road. At the end of Hayes Road turn right into Hayes Lane, having first crossed Hayes Lane using the traffic island near the mini-roundabout. The drive to the ground is about 200m on your left.

ADMISSION PRICES AND INFORMATION FOR AWAY SUPPORTERS

Admission prices are as follows:

• Adult: £15.00
• Concessions (Over 65’s & Students** over 21): £10.00
• Armed Forces, NHS/Emergency Services & Football League Season Ticket Holders*: £10
• Under 16’s & Students** aged 16-21 yrs: £5.00
• Under 16’s go FREE when accompanied by a full paying adult

*Employers ID / Valid in date Football League Season Ticket required on entry
**Valid Student ID required on entry


The Bromley FC website has the following information for away supporters:

“Full segregation will be in place for this match which means away fans will enter the stadium via the away turnstiles where it will be PAY ON THE GATE!
Elderly or disabled visiting supporters requiring seating should contact the Club on 020 8460 5291, option 5.
Visiting supporters; please note you will have access to an outside bar. Hot food and drink will be available from the food outlet within the Away section.�

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 2 Bromley 1
Vanarama National League
29 November 2016

Despite Bromley coming into the game off the back of a five-game unbeaten run, Woking edged this close-fought encounter throughout, and deservedly snatched victory ten minutes from time after Fabio Saraiva brilliantly picked out the top right-hand corner from more than 25 yards out.

Gozie Ugwu had earlier given Woking a first-half lead, scoring his seventh goal in four games with a fine header from Frazer Shaw’s cross, only for Bromley’s leading scorer Blair Turgott to cancel out the opener from the penalty spot just two minutes later.

Both teams fought hard to find a winner in a game of few clear chances, but ultimately it needed a moment of magic from Saraiva to settle the match, and earn the Cards a little bit of revenge for the cruel late defeat they had suffered away at Bromley earlier in the season.
Woking: Brandon Hall, Jake Caprice, Frazer Shaw, Terell Thomas, Brian Saah (c), Frankie Sutherland, Charlie Carter, Fabio Saraiva (Ismail Yakubu 88), Chike Kandi (Anthony Edgar 67), Delano Sam-Yorke, Gozie Ugwu. 

Subs not used: George Brown, Aaron Smith-Joseph, Michael Poke

Goals: Gozie Ugwu 31, Fabio Saraiva 81

Bromley: Alan Julian, Dan Johnson, Joe Anderson, Ben Chorley, Jack Holland, Lee Minshull (Louis Dennis 84), Connor Dymond, Blair Turgott, Dave Martin (Jordan Higgs 76), Tobi Sho-Silva, George Porter (Adam Cunnington 56). 

Subs not used: Jordan Wynter, Reece Prestedge

Goal: Blair Turgott 34

Attendance: 1,057

COMING UP

The Cards have another very tough away trip on Tuesday, 24 October, when they travel to Dover Athletic, who are currently sitting in second place in the table. (The Cards Trust is planning to run a coach to this match.) The Cards’ next home game is on Saturday 28 October, when Guiseley are the visitors. The Cards will then be at home to Bury in the First Round of the Emirates FA Cup on the weekend of 4/5 November.


Come on, you Cards!