Salisbury City v Woking

Salisbury City v Woking
3pm on Monday 27 August 2007

Two unbeaten sides go head to head on Monday as the Cards travel to Salisbury City for the second of their Bank Holiday fixtures. It?s not a bad run down to Salisbury, so why not go and have a look round the lovely town and cathedral before making your way to Old Sarum for the game? It?s Salisbury?s first season at this level, of course ? and they have made an excellent start with two wins and two draws ? but we met last December in a game Woking fans would rather forget: a dismal 3-1 thrashing in the FA Trophy in one of the worst performances I can remember in Glenn Cockerill?s reign. Let?s hope for better things this time!

WOKING

The Cards have now won one and drawn three of their opening four games. That?s a better start than some fans had feared but it?s a little worrying that we are creating so few openings and that, especially with Liam Marum injured and apparently out for some while, we have so few attacking options. The defence has been magnificent so far but the strain on Tom Hutchinson and his colleagues will surely tell if they have to withstand in each game as much pressure as they have had to absorb in the opening fixtures. The problem is too that, to state the obvious, you get only one point for a draw, so unless you pick up a few wins you can be unbeaten but still be in trouble. Salisbury away, judging by their home form so far (two wins), won?t be as easy as the trip to Stafford away ? the scene of the Cards? sole victory to date ? but nevertheless Frank Gray must be hoping that his side can grab at least one point, and possibly three, on their travels. Matt Pattison?s return from suspension will give Frank another option in midfield and it would be good news too if Matt Gray, fit enough only for the bench on Saturday, could play a part. It will be interesting to see if Frank has had time to draft in another keeper to replace the injured Nick Gindre or whether he will start with young Ross Worner, who made an assured debut on Saturday after being pitched in after twenty minutes? play. Either way, Frank will presumably need a replacement keeper on the bench unless one of the outfield players fancies their chances between the posts.

SALISBURY CITY

Nick Holmes has kept faith with many of the players who secured City?s promotion from the Conference South last season, moving a number of them onto full-time contracts, and must have been particularly relieved to have held onto 23 year-old Matt Tubbs, their prolific striker. Among the new faces are Craig Richards, a 20 year-old ex-Southampton defender; Ollie Barnes, a 19 year-old defender from Bristol Rovers; the experienced Darrell Clarke, a midfielder who has played over 100 games for Hartlepool; Liam Feeney, a midfielder from Hayes; keeper James Bittner, who of course had a spell with us last season before losing his place to Nick Gindre; and midfielder Andrew Sandell, who?s joined the Whites on a month?s loan from Bristol Rovers and who seems to be making quite an impact. Holmes has also signed several youth team players, including Jamie Barron, Chris Weedon and Nick Eastham. On the way out is veteran striker Paul Sales, who is rejoining Eastleigh United for an undisclosed fee.

SEASON SO FAR

The Whites got their season under way with an opening 0-0 draw at fellow promotees Droylsden but might have hoped to have done better, given that the Bloods had a player sent off after five minutes. But they made the most of home advantage on the following Tuesday, running out 2-1 winners over Ebbsfleet United. They went behind to an early penalty but Robbie Matthews equalised just before half-time and Matt Tubbs ? who else! ? scored the winner six minutes after the break. City romped home as 4-1 winners over Crawley Town last Saturday. Matt Tubbs opened the scoring on the half-hour mark with a penalty. Ten-man Crawley then conceded further goals from Robbie Matthews, Andrew Sandell and Liam Feeney. On Saturday the Whites gained a point at Farsley Celtic. Salisbury dominated the first half but it was Farsley who opened the scoring. Andrew Sandell equalised before half-time. Farsley regained the lead midway through the second half but Aaron Cook rescued a point for Salisbury with three minutes left on the clock.

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

I hesitate to mention again last season?s dreadful defeat at the hands of Nick Holmes?s side in the FA Trophy. Against the run of play, we took the lead in fortunate fashion through Craig McAllister but the Whites ran out easy winners in the second half, with Matt Tubbs notching two of his side?s three goals.

DIRECTIONS

Salisbury City moved in 1997 to a purpose-built stadium at Old Sarum:

Raymond McEnhill Stadium
Partridge Way
Old Sarum
Salisbury SP4 6PU

GETTING THERE

By Coach

The Supporters? Club coach leaves Kingfield at 12 noon. The cost is ?12 for members and ?16 for non-members. Book today by calling in at the Club Shop.

By Car

It?s about 70 miles from Woking to the ground and, according to the AA Route Planner, the journey should take about 1 hour 20 minutes.

Follow the A322 and M3, leaving the motorway at junction 8 to join the A303. Leave the A303 at the Countess Roundabout / Amesbury Junction and carry on through the town onto the A345. Continue towards Salisbury, past the turn-off to Boscombe Down on the left, up the hill and through the traffic lights at High Post (a hotel and nightclub are on your right) and carry on down to the Beehive junction roundabout. There is a large white sign, clearly marked 'football ground' in brown writing at the bottom. Turn left, through the first small roundabout and then left into Partridge Way.

By Train

It?s an hour on the train from Woking to Salisbury. The 12.46 service gets in at 13.42 and the 13.16 arrives at 14.18. I think you?d have to get a taxi from the station to the ground.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults ?10
Concessions ?7
16-21 year-olds ?5
Children under 16 free
Transfer to main stand ?2

Come on, you Cards!