Boz's Fruit & Veg

Cards hoping November will bring change in fortunes

Glen Harrington
4:52pm, Fri 1st Nov 2019
Stockport County vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Saturday 2nd November 2019


The Cards will hope to put two difficult months behind them as they travel to Stockport County this weekend – looking to finally put an end to a 13-game winless run in all competitions.

Woking were given a lesson in clinical finishing by Notts County on Tuesday evening as Alan Dowson’s side suffered what was comfortably their heaviest defeat of the season. In fact, it was only the second time all season that the Cards have been beaten by more than one goal, and whilst there were flashes of promise from the hosts, it’s hard to escape the fact that they were soundly beaten by a team who had been below them in the league table ahead of kick-off. The Cards have now dropped out of the play-off places for the first time since early August, in eighth place, although a much-needed win could propel them back into the top seven before a two-week break from league action.

Like Woking, Stockport were promoted from the sixth tier of English football last season, although they went one better by winning the National League North rather than going through the play-offs. A close-fought title battle with Chorley saw County eventually emerge as champions by a single point. Managed by club legend and former player Jim Gannon, Stockport’s promotion saw the start of a potential revival for the Hatters, who were playing in the Football League as recently as 2011 and were a Championship-level club less than 20 years ago. They’ve had a mixed start to life back in the National League with seven wins, four draws and seven defeats seeing them accumulate 25 points so far, putting them in 17th place – although the still extremely close nature of the league table means that they’re actually only three points behind Woking, whilst they also have a game in hand.

As ever, the team would really appreciate your support this weekend, so please make the journey if you can and help the boys record that long overdue victory.

Woking Team News

Dowse made two changes against Notts County as Jack Cook and Kane Ferdinand returned in place of Nathan Collier and Max Kretzschmar. It will be interesting to see whether the Woking boss makes further changes for this game or instead opts to give the players the chance to redeem themselves. More defensive-minded alternatives include midfielders Shaun Donnellan and Godfrey Poku, or more attacking options could see Toby Edser or Paul Hodges handed a start.

Stockport County Team News

The Hatters are currently on a four-match unbeaten run in the league. Last time out they held leaders Bromley to a 2-2 draw away from home. Their team for that game included regular goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe, who has been with Stockport since 2016; in defence was Sam Minihan, another player with over 100 league appearances for the club since joining from Worcester, Ash Palmer, who has previously played at this level for Guiseley, plus Jordan Keane, teenage centre-back Festus Arthur and new signing Tyler Garratt, who has played Championship football with Bolton Wanderers.

In midfield was Adam Thomas, Sam Walker, Elliot Osborne, who was previously with Fleetwood Town but joined County from Southport, and Tom Walker, a recent loanee arrival from Salford City, who like Garratt has Championship football experience with Bolton. The striker was Frank Mulhern. One man to look out for from the bench is the experienced Adam Hammill, a product of Liverpool’s academy system, who has since had spells with Barnsley, Wolves, Huddersfield and St Mirren before arriving at County on loan from Scunthorpe United earlier this year.

Last Time Out

Stockport County 2-4 Woking – FA Cup (5th November 2016)


It’s been almost three years to the day since these two sides last met – in what was Garry Hill’s final season in charge of Woking. The Cards fell behind in this one to Jimmy Ball’s early goal, before Joey Jones and Gozie Ugwu goals saw the visitors turn the game around. Ball equalised on the stroke of halftime to make it 2-2 before Ugwu and a late Fabio Saraiva strike settled the game in favour of the Cards. Despite the goals Woking keeper Brandon Hall was nominated as Man of the Match. The Cards would go on to face Accrington Stanley in round two, losing 3-0.

Our last league meetings with Stockport came in the 2012/13 season with Woking winning 2-1 away and 1-0 at home. Loick Pires and Adam Doyle scored the winning goals in the respective fixtures.

On the Day

Edgeley Park can be found on Hardcastle Road; the postcode is SK3 9DD – a drive of around four hours from the Laithwaite Community Stadium. Stockport Railway Station is located half a mile away from the ground. About a ten-minute walk. There is no supporters’ coach running for this game.

Tickets can be bought in advance, online, or at the ground on the day. Prices are £18 for adults, £12 for students, £12 for those 65+, £12 for fans with a disability, £5 for those aged 6-17 and free for those under the age of five.

Next Up

With the Cards already having been eliminated from the FA Cup we have a two week break currently scheduled before our next fixture – which comes at home to FC Halifax Town.

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