Cards looking to boost play-off prospects against Halifax

FC Halifax Town vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Saturday 7th March 2020

Woking travel to fellow play-off chasers FC Halifax Town on Saturday as the Cards look to back-up their win over Maidenhead United last weekend with a first away victory since November.

The Cards made it three league games without defeat against the Magpies as second-half goals from new signing Matt Jarvis and defender Moussa Diarra gave Alan Dowson’s side a deserved three points. Former one-time England international Jarvis was particularly impressive during his 30-minute cameo, also providing the assist for the second goal, whilst causing the Maidenhead defence constant problems down the left-hand side. It will be interesting to see if he’s considered fit enough to start on Saturday. The result took Woking back up to 11th in the league table, with 52 points, two points adrift of the play-off places and six behind third-place Halifax, who also have a game in hand.

It’s been a remarkable season for Halifax, who looked doomed to a relegation battle after previous manager Jamie Fullarton, who guided the Shaymen to safety in 2019, departed on the eve of the campaign. However, his successor, Pete Wild, has enjoyed an excellent year thus far and the former Oldham Athletic boss looks well placed to finish the year in the play-off places. Their recent form is impressive, with five wins out of the last six league matches, with the only blip a 1-0 loss away to Torquay United. Their last home loss in the league was against Notts County back in December. Last time out they won 1-0 at home to Sutton United.

This is an important game for the Cards as we look to finish the season strongly so please make the trip if you can and cheer on the team.

Woking Team News

Dowse should have a full-strength team to pick from against Halifax and has plenty of options to choose from all over the pitch.

The back five look settled, with Jack Cook, Josh Casey, Ben Gerring and Moussa Diarra playing in front of Craig Ross; in midfield, Kane Ferdinand, Ben Dempsey and Max Kretzschmar have been the preferred choice in recent weeks, although Godfrey Poku and Shaun Donnellan offer potential alternatives. The most intriguing choice will come up front where Dowse must select three out of six – with Jarvis, Jamar Loza, Dave Tarpey, Josh Neufville, Jake Hyde and Alex Wall jostling for position.

FC Halifax Town Team News

Against Sutton, the Shaymen started with Sam Johnson in goal. The former Port Vale man is in his third full year with the club after two previous loan spells. In defence was the vastly experienced Nathan Clarke, best known for a decade plus spell with Huddersfield Town, Matthew Brown, with the club since moving from Chester in 2015, Niall Maher, previously with Bolton Wanderers and Bury, along with former Woking captain Josh Staunton, who joined Halifax from the Cards at the start of last season.

In midfield was Danny Williams, formerly with Accrington Stanley and with experience from the Scottish pyramid playing for Inverness and Dundee, Jeff King, a summer addition from St Mirren, and Charlie Cooper, signed earlier this season from Forest Green Rovers. The front three were Tobi Sho-Silva, who has also played at this level for Bromley and Dover Athletic, Jack Redshaw, part of Salford City’s back-to-back promotion winning team, alongside Salford-loanee Devante Rodney, who has six goals in his last seven games (which includes one match for Stockport).

Last Time Out

Woking 0-0 FC Halifax Town – National League (16th November 2019)

These two teams cancelled each other out at the Laithwaite Community Stadium back in November, although it will have been the visitors who emerged the happier after playing more than half an hour with ten men following Nathan Clarke’s straight red card. Woking’s last visit to the Shay also ended goalless in November 2017 with our last win over Halifax coming back in November 2015, when a Dan Holman brace and a John Goddard goal gave the Cards a 3-0 win away from home.

On the Day

For those travelling directly, the ground is located on Shaw Hill, postcode HX1 2YT – approximately four hours from the Laithwaite Community Stadium. Halifax Railway Station is only a five-minute walk away from the Shay Stadium. The station is on the Trans Pennine route between Leeds & Manchester. On exiting the station approach turn left onto Church Street. Unfortunately, there is no supporters’ coach running for the game.

Ticket prices are £20 for adults, £17 for concessions (65+ and students), £9 for those aged between 12 and 17, £5 for under-12s and £3 for under-7s.

Next Up

Woking have back-to-back home matches next week, starting with the rearranged match against Barnet on Tuesday evening, before we entertain Dagenham & Redbridge next Saturday.