New Year’s Day Derby Match

Woking v Aldershot Town
Vanarama National League
1pm on Monday 1 January 2018

Anthony Limbrick will be very keen to build on the encouraging draw at Eastleigh on Saturday, which stemmed a run of four successive league defeats. The result was all the more commendable since the Cards found themselves down to ten men early in the second half. Make your way to the Laithwaite Community Stadium for what should be a fiercely-contested afternoon as the Cards seek to avenge their Boxing Day defeat. Don’t forget it’s a 1pm kick-off.

WOKING

After the disappointing defeat at Aldershot Town on Boxing Day the Cards showed a lot of character to earn a point at Eastleigh. Things looked ominous when Chez Isaac was sent off in the 54th minute and, even more so, when the Spitfires took the lead ten minutes later. But substitute Charlie Carter evened things up in the 70th minute, and then earned a penalty, which Inih Effiong converted, to go 2-1 in front in the 83rd minute. Unfortunately, Anthony’s young side couldn’t hold on, with Eastleigh grabbing an equaliser on the stroke of full-time.

As expected, Jordan Wynter was missing after sustaining a thigh injury on Boxing Day, along with Nathan Ralph. Anthony brought in the returning Matt Young, as well as Richard Orlu, Joey Jones, Fabio Saraiva and Jamie Philpot into the starting line-up, with Effiong, Jason Banton and Carter dropping to the substitutes’ bench.

Chez Isaac will of course miss the game against Aldershot as well as the home games against Maidstone United and Tranmere Rovers.

The Cards remain in 13th position with 34 from 26 games.

ALDERSHOT TOWN

The Shots can point to more continuity in their squad than most National League sides. Amongst those remaining from last season are ex-Cards keeper Joe Cole and striker Scott Rendell, along with two other players who briefly figured for the club: defender Nick Arnold and midfielder Manny Oyileke. They were joined in the summer by another ‘old boy’, Chris Arthur, who had been released by Crawley Town, but he has recently left to join Leatherhead.

Other familiar names from last season are keeper Mark Smith, now on loan at Eastbourne Borough; defenders Will Evans, Cheye Alexander and Callum Reynolds; influential midfielders Jake Gallagher and Jim Kellerman; and strikers Shamir Fenelon, Bernard Mensah and Matt McLure.

New arrivals in the summer included defenders Kodi Lyons-Foster, previously with Spurs and Aston Villa academies and Bristol City, and George Fowler, on loan from Ipswich Town; midfielders James Rowe, previously with Cheltenham Town but with spells at Forest Green Rovers and Tranmere, and Fabien Robert, on loan from Forest Green Rovers but with experience at Doncaster Rovers and Swindon Town; and strikers Shaun Okojie, who notched 40 goals for Corinthian Casuals last season and who is now on loan at Eastbourne Borough, and Bobby-Joe Taylor, signed from Maidstone United, where he gained England C honours.

Keeper Lewis Ward joined the club on loan from Reading following Joe Cole’s injury, which led to a two-month absence.

On Saturday the Shots grabbed a very late goal to salvage a somewhat fortunate point against Maidstone United in a 1-1 draw at the Rec. Gary Waddock commented that their performance was well below that on Boxing Day. They remain in second spot in the table.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £18
Over 65s £13
Disabled (Including carer) £13
Students (U19) £5
U16s £5

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

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Don’t forget to grab a copy of ‘Cardinals’. Only £3 for interviews, previews, match reports, Academy updates and great photos.

LAST SEASON

Woking 1 Aldershot Town 2
Vanarama National League
1 January 2017

The minimum requirement for Woking FC management and fans alike a year ago, following the Boxing Day fiasco at the Rec, was a committed, gutsy performance. That was certainly provided but football can be a cruel game when you are ‘down’ – and Woking had to swallow a very bitter pill in added time as the Shots scrambled a winner to deprive Garry Hill’s side of a thoroughly deserved point. Having quickly equalised Scott Rendell’s headed opener in the 63rd minute – Max Kretzschmar lifting the ball deftly over Jake Cole two minutes later – the Cards looked the more likely winners as an absorbing contest came to a close. Anthony Edgar had a gilt-edged chance in the 89th minute to claim all three points but fluffed his lines – immediately followed by a cruel blow as Jake Gallagher poked the ball home in a melee at the far post.

The defeat left the Cards in the relegation places again but, in retrospect, this wholehearted performance was the beginning of an upturn in form which, in the following weeks, saw narrow, unfortunate defeats to some top sides but crucial wins over the likes of Torquay United, Eastleigh and Solihull Moors – with the Cards eventually escaping the drop.

Woking: Michael Poke, Dennon Lewis, Joey Jones, Terell Thomas, Brian Saah, Nathan Ralph, Kane Ferdinand, Keiran Murtagh, Fabio Saraiva (Anthony Edgar 71), Max Kretzschmar (Frankie Sutherland 75), Gozie Ugwu

Unused substitutes: Brandon Hall, Jake Caprice, Chike Kandi

Goal: Max Kretzschmar 65

Aldershot Town: Jake Cole, Anthony Straker, Shamir Fenelon (Matt McLure 70), Scott Rendell, Bernard Mensah, Cheye Alexander, Jake Gallagher, Dion Conroy, Idris Kanu (Will Evans 90), Kundai Benyu (Jim Kellermann 77), Callum Reynolds

Unused sub: Mark Smith

Goals: Scott Rendell 63, Gallagher 90

Attendance: 3224 (including 1117 away fans)

COMING UP

The Cards have two more very interesting home games coming up. Maidstone United are the visitors this coming Saturday (6 January), followed by Tranmere Rovers a week later (13 January). (The latter game was originally due to be played on 2 December and was initially re-scheduled for 9 January.)


Come on, you Cards!