Cards looking to extend incredible winning run

Woking vs Barrow
Vanarama National League
Saturday 31st August 2019

The Cards will target six successive league victories for the first time in well over five years on Saturday as they entertain Barrow at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.

Woking, already on their best run since the five straight wins accumulated in late August and early September 2014, will now look to draw level with the feat they achieved five months earlier when victories over the likes of Luton Town, Forest Green Rovers and Wrexham saw Garry Hill’s side pick up 18 points in a row between March and April of that year. Of course, add in the fact that Alan Dowson’s newly promoted team are well and truly defying the odds to be riding atop the infant league table, and you have an even more remarkable story. Despite that, few at Kingfield will be getting carried away, particularly with such a long season ahead, and it will be another tough test this weekend in the shape of Barrow, who won home and away against the Cards when they last met during the 2017/18 season.

Despite finishing in seventh place in 2017, narrowly missing out on the play-off places, the Bluebirds endured a miserable campaign the following year. In fact, it was only their six points against Woking which spared them from relegation, as they finished one point and one place ahead of the Cards. More turmoil followed as owner Paul Casson announced that he would be stepping down in October 2018 and the Cumbria-side found themselves amongst the early favourites for relegation. However, they bounced back last season, finishing in a hugely respectable tenth place under new manager Ian Evatt. So far this season they have accumulated seven points, with two wins, one draw and four defeats; although that doesn’t tell the whole story – they’ve led in all but one game this season, including each of the last four, despite picking up just four points. They also have one of the league’s top goalscorers in the shape of Scott Quigley who has scored four goals in his last five games.

Now is the perfect time to come and watch the high-flying Cards as they continue to spring surprise after surprise on the National League. Do come along on Saturday if you can and see if the boys can do it once again!

Woking Team News

Dowse named the same team twice over the Bank Holiday weekend. In fact, he’s only made one change over the course of the last four games, with Jake Hyde coming in up front for Ibrahim Meite and rewarding his manager with four goals in just 172 minutes of football. No doubt it will be tempting to stick with the same winning formula – particularly given the flexibility the team has been able to demonstrate in rotating between different formations: 5-3-2, 4-3-3 and 4-4-2.

However, there are plenty of options for the Woking boss. Moussa Diarra is expected to be fit and could play some part against his former club. Paul Hodges, fresh from his match-winning assist on Monday, will be eyeing a first start. Whilst new signing Jake Gray, who has spent the bulk of his career in the Football League, including two seasons as a regular with previous club Yeovil Town, will be hoping to make an impression in midfield.

Barrow Team News

The Bluebirds took a very early lead against Halifax in their last game, scoring after just two minutes through Lewis Hardcastle, but two second-half goals sent the Shaymen home with all three points. For that game, Barrow lined up with Joel Dixon in goal; the defence included Patrick Brough, a summer signing from Scottish club Falkirk, Sam Hird, who played more than 350 Football League games across spells with Doncaster Rovers and Chesterfield, Josh Granite, and Bradley Barry, another ex-Chesterfield player who had a loan spell with Dover Athletic last season.

In midfield were the experienced Jason Taylor, who has previously spent time at Stockport County, Rotherham United and Cheltenham Town amongst others, John Rooney, younger brother of Wayne, who once scored a memorable goal against the Cards for Chester and has since played for Wrexham and Guiseley, and goalscorer Hardcastle, who was released by Blackburn Rovers last summer. The front three were Olly Dyson, currently on loan from Huddersfield Town, Dior Angus, a summer addition from Port Vale, and star striker Quigley who joined from Blackpool. One man to look out for from the bench is forward Byron Harrison, now in his second spell with the club, who scored 22 goals for the club during their successful 2016/17 season.

Last Time Out

Woking 1-2 Barrow – National League (23 December 2017)

This was anything but an early Christmas present for the Cards, as Anthony Limbrick’s side were bullied by a formidable Barrow team of strong and physical players, that proved far too much for their hosts to handle. Moussa Diarra, little more than a year away from joining Woking, opened the scoring after less than two minutes. Charlie Carter hauled the Cards level only for Jimmy Dunne to scored what proved to be the winner just before the half hour mark. On loan goalkeeper Jojo Wollacott, now plying his trade in the Football League with Forest Green, was voted Man-of-the-Match.

Admission Prices

• Adults £18
• Over 65s £13
• Disabled (Including carer) £13
• Students (Under 19) £5
• U16s £5

Tickets are available on the turnstiles or in advance online. Remember, our matchday programme will also be on sale for £3. Don’t forget to grab your copy on the way in! You’ll then be able to visit the club shop for more great offers.

Next Up

The Cards are at home again on Tuesday evening when we welcome last season’s promotion rivals Torquay United. The Gulls have also enjoyed a great start this season and it should be yet another entertaining game between the two teams.