BSBP

7:45pm - TuesdayTue 16th AprilApr 2013
The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Att: 1570

Woking

0 - 1

Grimsby

Grimsby Town

Cards aim to impress again

Brian Caffarey
8:29pm, Sun 14th Apr 2013

Woking v Grimsby Town
7.45pm on Tuesday 16 April 2013

Weâ€™ve seen some wonderfully entertaining football at Kingfield this season â€“ and Saturdayâ€™s extraordinary 5-4 win over Macclesfield Town was certainly no exception! Come down to Kingfield on Tuesday evening for the final home game of the campaign and celebrate a terrific first season back in the Conference Premier. This could be your last chance to see the likes of Billy Knott and Jayden Stockley in the Cardinal red-and-white, so donâ€™t miss out!

WOKING

Wokingâ€™s first half performance against Macclesfield was magnificent: the interplay between Billy Knott, Kevin Betsy and Jayden Stockley in particular was sublime at times, backed up by some terrific midfield industry from Mark Ricketts, Lee Sawyer and Mike Cestor. 5-0 up at half-time, you wondered if Garry Hillâ€™s side could go on and obliterate their goal disadvantage in a single game but the second half was a different story!

Letâ€™s not dwell on that since it is easy enough to understand why the side took their foot off the pedal in the second half.

Garryâ€™s side have now crept up to 9th in the table but rivals Dartford are still one point and one place ahead in the battle to finish as the highest-placed part-time side. And Braintree Town are level on points with the Cards but with an inferior goal difference. So, there is still a lot to play for, quite apart from the desire to gain revenge for that 5-1 defeat at Blundell Park.

GRIMSBY TOWN

The Mariners have now definitely secured a play-off place, although they must be disappointed not to have been able to sustain their challenge for automatic promotion. At one stage they looked favourites to end the season as champions but a bad slump in form in March, which saw them lose four games in a row and then draw two games, ended those hopes. But they have recovered well in April, with impressive victories away from home at Stockport, Macclesfield and Dartford, plus a draw at Luton last Friday, tempered only by dropping two points at home to Southport just over a week ago.

Grimsby have a fine away record, winning nine games, drawing nine and losing only four, with 27 goals scored and only 19 conceded.

The Marinersâ€™ squad includes former Kingfield favourite Aswad Thomas, who is clearly highly rated by Grimsby fans too. Other players to watch include the clubâ€™s captain, midfielder Craig Disley, experienced strikers Liam Hearn and Ross Hannah and midfielders Frankie Artus and Andi Thanoj. Ex-AFC Wimbledon defender Sam Hattonâ€™s free-kicks will be remembered from the away encounter.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults Â£15
Over 65s/Students Â£10
U16s Â£5

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Tuesdayâ€™s packed programme features an end-of-season interview with Garry Hill, plus reviews of the season in words and pictures. A Grimsby Town fan reflects on their season and predicts a 3-1 win for the Mariners! And, of course, there are all the usual match reports, previews, splendid photos and news of the BSP and beyond. If you canâ€™t get to the game, you can order a copy from the Club Shop on shop@wokingfc.co.uk A great programme to remind you in years to come of a very successful season.

LAST TIME OUT

Grimsby Town 5 Woking 1
10 November 2012

This scoreline was rather harsh on a Woking side who played some fine football. But the Cards were mainly undone by two excellent free-kicks by ex-AFC Wimbledon defender Sam Hatton and by Lee Sawyerâ€™s sending-off in the 51st minute.

Woking started very brightly and took the lead in the second minute when former Mariner Dean Sinclair finished from a sharp cross from Gavin McCallum. But the first of Hattonâ€™s free-kicks in the 10th minute, going straight through the wall, levelled the scores and seemed to galvanise the home side. Craig Disley put Grimsby ahead with a well-worked goal in the 17th minute and then Ross Hannah made it 3-1 in the 33rd minute when he prodded home after Aaron Howe had made an excellent save from Jamie McKeownâ€™s free-kick.

Woking were still very much in the game but the crucial blow came with Lee Sawyerâ€™s second yellow card for a reckless lunge at Aswad Thomas. Even then the Cards continued to make a fight of it with Bradley Bubb hitting a post but Hattonâ€™s second wonder-strike of the game in the 75th minute made absolutely sure of a home victory, with Andy Cook netting a fifth on the stroke of full-time.

Woking: Aaron Howe, Adam Newton, Mike Cestor, Mark Ricketts (Jack Parkinson 80), Joe McNerney, Brett Johnson (Adam Doyle 80), Bradley Bubb (Loick Pires 80), Kevin Betsy, Lee Sawyer, Dean Sinclair, Gavin McCallum
Unused subs: Brett Williams, Sam Beasant

Cautions: Mike Cestor 10, Lee Sawyer 16, Bradley Bubb 78, Jack Parkinson 89

Sent Off: Lee Sawyer 51

Grimsby Town: James McKeown, Sam Hatton, Aswad Thomas, Shaun Pearson, Joe Colbeck (Derek Niven 17), Craig Disley, Andy Cook, Andi Thanoj, Nathan Pond, Ross Hannah (Dayle Southwell 69), Marcus Marshall

Unused subs: Ian Miller, Frankie Artus, Greg Pearson

Cautions: Shaun Pearson 52

Attendance: 3,418

NEXT GAME

The Cardsâ€™ final game of the season is away at Tamworth next Saturday, with a 5.15pm kick-off. The Lambs may well still be in a relegation fight then, so there could be a lot at stake.

Come on, you Cards!

P.S. Donâ€™t forget the Woking FC Beer Festival on 24-25 May.

Woking fall victim to Grimsby smash and grab

Frankie Hullett
12:50pm, Wed 17th Apr 2013

Woking 0 Grimsby Town 1
Blue Square Bet Premier
16th April 2013

Lenell John-Lewis scored the only goal of the game as Woking were unable to make their dominance pay against a strong Grimsby Town side at Kingfield last night.

Woking created countless opportunities in front of goal but the heroics of Grimsby number one Greg Fleming was enough to make the away side the first league team to come away from Kingfield with a clean sheet all season.

The Cards started much the stronger side in the opening minutes and within 90 seconds, Billy Knott (pictured) fashioned an easy chance with a cut-back to Lee Sawyer who somehow scuffed it wide from 8 yards out.

Ten minutes into the game and Woking could have had a penalty. A long pump forward bounced all the way through to Gavin McCallum who knocked it past the keeper and was completely taken out but the flag was up for offside, preventing a penalty and a possible straight red card.

The Cardsâ€™ were doing all of the early running and soon after McCallum laid it off in the box for Knott to hit it first time, but he failed to test Fleming too much with his weaker foot.

It took twenty-five minutes for the visitors to create their first chance, as Marcus Marshall attempted a cross from the left - it took a wicked deflection which took it straight into the path of Andi Thanoj who should have scored from 9 yards out, but he passed it straight into the grateful arms of Aaron Howe.

Three minutes later Howe had to be alert again, when the ball dropped to John-Lewis. He hit a thunderous volley from a narrow angle which Howe had to meet with a strong arm up high to keep the scores level.

Howe was on the ball again just two minutes later. Some brilliant feet in the box from ex Matlock striker Ross Hannah helped him slip past Mark Ricketts but Howe was out to his feet quickly to make a smart block.
 Knott and McCallum both came close from range just before the break as they tried curling efforts which both dropped just wide of the left-hand post.

Half-time: Woking 0 Grimsby Town 0

The opening exchanges of the second half were physical and both sides found themselves cancelling each other out with both defences on top.

The second half finally opened up in the sixty-ninth minute with Knott on the edge of the box making room for a shot which was so unlucky to crash off the post with Fleming left helpless.

Not long after the deadlock was finally broken by the visitors when Jamie Devitt put in a wicked cross to find Lewis unmarked at the far post to head his first ever league goal for Grimsby and put them ahead against the run of play.

Wokingâ€™s response was impressive, and immediately from the kick off Fleming had to be alert to tip over a Ricketts header that was destined for the net.

One minute later and Knott clipped a wonderful ball into the box for Jack Parkinson to glance it past Fleming into the net, but again the flag was raised for a dubious offside.

Woking started to push more and more and gaps were left at the back. Howe had to make a superb save from a looping header by Ian Miller, then Dayle Southwell would have had an easy one on one if not for an extremely heavy first touch.

As the board to indicate four additional minutes was lifted The Cards put ball after ball into the box, and Fleming had to be on top form to make five stoppage time saves.

First a header from Brett Williams was tipped wide. Then from the resulting corner Joe McNerneysâ€™ header was blocked by Fleming, the rebound fell to Kevin Betsy whose shot was quickly blocked out by Fleming again.

From the resulting corner Fleming had to be alive again to keep another header out and then defenders were on hand to clear the rebound off the line.

Betsy won a free kick on the right wing and Sawyer was all alone on the edge of the box for a simple set piece routine which he struck with venom and Fleming yet again made another outstanding save.

Knott whipped another dangerous corner in which Fleming came for and this time missed, but again Grimsby defenders were on hand to clear it off the line and clear it away to allow the referee to blow for full time.

Woking will wonder how they were unable to breach the Grimsby Town back line as the visitors leave Kingfield with a hard earned three points, but the Cardsâ€™ can feel proud of a performance which saw them dominate for large periods of the game against one of the leagueâ€™s top sides.

Woking: Aaron Howe, Adam Newton, Mark Ricketts (Joe McNerney 86), Lee Sawyer, Jack Parkinson, Billy Knott, Kevin Betsy, Brett Johnson, Jayden Stockley (Brett Williams 86), John Nutter

Unused subs: Mike Cestor, Elvijs Putnin, George Frith

Cautions: Billy Knott 55

MOTM: Billy Knott

Grimsby Town: Greg Fleming, Sam Hatton, Derek Niven, Jamie Devitt (Frankie Artus 77), Simon Ford (Ian Miller 29), Bradley Wood, Andi Thanoj, Ross Hannah (Dayle Southwell), Marcus Marshall, Lenell John-Lewis, Tom Naylor

Unused subs: Aswad Thomas, Cleveland Taylor

Cautions: Jamie Devitt 45, Marcus Marshal 59, Bradley Wood 90+2

Attendance: 1,570

WOKING LINEUP
1	Aaron Howe
2	Adam Newton
26	John Nutter
8	Jack Parkinson
16	Brett Johnson
4	Mark Ricketts ('86)
15	Lee Sawyer
24	Billy Knott
11	Kevin Betsy
19	Gavin McCallum
25	Jayden Stockley ('86)
BENCH
18	Elvijs Putnins
3	Mike Cestor
5	Joe McNerney ('86)
22	George Frith
14	Brett Williams ('86)

Grimsby Town LINEUP
1	Greg Fleming
2	Sam Hatton
4	Derek Niven
15	Jamie Devitt
16	Simon Ford
19	Bradley Wood
21	Andi Thanoj
25	Ross Hannah
26	Marcus Marshall
28	John-Lewis Lenell
29	Tom Naylor
BENCH
3	Aswad Thomas
6	Ian Miller
11	Frankie Artus
20	Dayle Southwell
31	Cleveland Taylor