Specsavers
BSBP
5:15pm - SaturdaySat 20th AprilApr 2013
| Att: 1509

Tamworth
Tamworth
2 - 1

Woking
Woking

Cards hope to finish on a high note

Brian Caffarey
2:07pm, Thu 18th Apr 2013
Tamworth v Woking
5.15pm on Saturday 20 April 2013

The Cards’ final game of the season sees them travel to relegation-threatened Tamworth, so this should be anything but a tame ‘end of season’ stroll in the park. In any event, as Cards fans are well aware by now, Garry Hill doesn’t believe in anything less than 100% effort from his players, so let’s hope we can end a very successful season with another three points. N.B. Kick-off is at 5.15pm.

WOKING

The Cards were incredibly unlucky not to get even a point out of their last home fixture against Grimsby Town on Tuesday night. They played some superb football at times and no one who was present will understand how the Mariners’ goal survived intact as Garry’s players bombarded it in a hectic finale.

Woking lie in 10th place in the table but Luton will leapfrog them if they win or draw against Ebbsfleet this (Thursday) evening. Unfortunately, Garry won’t be able to realise his target of being the top part-time side since Dartford, who’ve also done extremely well this season, now lie four points ahead of the Cards and Braintree Town too, who are one point ahead, could also finish higher in the table. Macclesfield and Cambridge could also move ahead of the Cards depending on Saturday’s results.

TAMWORTH

The Lambs need a win on Saturday if they are to be absolutely sure of avoiding the drop. At present they sit one place above the bottom four with 52 points, with Stockport County two points behind. Both teams have a goal difference of -15, so if Tamworth were to draw and Stockport win, County would move above Tamworth. But Gateshead on 52 points (goal difference -5) and Lincoln City on 53 points (goal difference -11) are also still in danger. To make matters even more interesting, Stockport are away at Kidderminster Harriers, who have to win to have any chance of automatic promotion.

At home Tamworth have won eight games, drawn four and lost 10, scoring only 23 goals and conceding 26. The Lambs have had a very uneven season, riding high in the table early on before fading badly as 2012 ended. There was a bit of a recovery in the New Year but as other teams around them played their games in hand they found themselves back in a relegation dogfight once more. Last Saturday they lost 2-1 at Lincoln City and on Tuesday they gained a point in a 1-1 draw at Ebbsfleet United.

Adam Cunnington is the Lambs’ main ‘danger man’. Two well-known names in the Tamworth squad are Lee Hendrie and Darren Byfield.

GETTING THERE

The Lamb Ground
Kettlebrook
Tamworth
Staffordshire
B77 1AA

By coach

The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 12.30pm. The cost is £16 for members and £21 for non-members. There are very few places left, so ring or email the Club Shop (shop@wokingfc.co.uk) soon if you want to make sure of a seat.

By car
Leave the M42 at Junction 10 and take the A5 towards Tamworth. Follow the A5 bypass into the town and take the signs for the town centre. Follow the signs towards the Snow Dome and Glascote/Amington. After passing the Snow Dome on your left, you should see the ground on your right. There is a fair-sized car park at the ground, and also street parking.

By train
The 14.46 from Euston gets to Tamworth at 16.09. Trains back are slower and involve a change. The 19.19, with a change at Rugby, arrives at Euston at 21.45, whilst the 19.33, changing at Birmingham New Street, gets in at 21.56.

The ground is about a 15-minute walk from the station. Leave the station and walk along the approach road to the roundabout. Turn left. Cross the road leading under the railway bridge. Leaving Jewson's on your right, walk along Offa Drive. Continue past Aldi to a roundabout. Turn left, leaving Bolebridge Garage on your left. Cross the river bridge with the railway viaduct on your left. (You will be able to see the floodlights ahead of you from here.) Follow the footpath to the left into Amington Road. Cross Amington Road, keeping the railway viaduct on your left. When you reach the roadside railings cross the road but don't go under the arches. Once across the road, head up Kettlebrook Road and the entrance to The Lamb is 50 yards ahead on your right.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults: £12 / £14
Over 65s & Under 17s: £7 / £9
Under 15s: £3 / £5
Under 5s: Free / £3

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 2 Tamworth 3
29 September 2012

This was a very disappointing result, ending the Cards’ four-match unbeaten run. Jay Davies came in as a straight swap for the suspended Lee Sawyer and maybe as a result the Cards’ midfield seemed to find it difficult to put together its usual passing game.

The Lambs scored with virtually their first meaningful attack, Tommy White converting a knock-down from a corner. The lead was doubled in the 22nd minute when Adam Cunnington latched onto what looked like an innocuous through ball and powered home.

Just before half-time Woking were denied a penalty following a clear handball in the area but could have found themselves three goals adrift if Tamworth had made the most of an excellent chance.

It was a different Woking side in the second half, playing with fluency and urgency. Loick Pires came on for Jay Davies and immediately set up a goal for Kevin Betsy. The Cards looked odds-on to pull another goal back but were struck a killer-blow when George Baldock scored from a swift counter-attack.

Woking continued to have the better of the play but were only able to reduce the arrears in injury time when Mike Cestor bundled the ball in from a Joe McNerney free-kick.

Woking: Aaron Howe, Adam Newton, Adam Doyle (Mike Cestor '77), Joe McNerney, Brett Johnson, Mark Ricketts, Jack Parkinson, Jay Davies (Loick Pires '55), Bradley Bubb (Brett Williams '77), Kevin Betsy, Gavin McCallum

Unused Subs: Sam Beasant, Dean Sinclair

Goals: Kevin Betsy ('57), Mike Cestor ('90+4)

Booked: Kevin Betsy ('50), Brett Johnson ('80), Brett Williams ('87)

Tamworth: Tony Breedon, Tom Marshall, Duane Courtney, John Dempster, George Baldock, Lloyd Kerry, Peter Till (Connor Gudger '81), Scott Barrow (Marcus Kelly '75), Adam Cunnington (Charlie Collins '89), Tommy Wright, Greg Taylor

Unused Subs: Sam Oji, Dale Belford

Goals: Tommy Wright ('7), Adam Cunnington ('22), George Baldock ('63)

Booked: George Baldock ('66), Greg Taylor ('72)

Attendance: 1467


Come on, you Cards!

P.S. Make sure you’ve got the Woking FC Beer Festival in your diary: 24-25 May.

Woking’s season ends in Tamworth defeat

Frankie Hullett
5:06pm, Sun 21st Apr 2013
Tamworth 2 Woking 1
Blue Square Bet Premier
20th April 2013


Goals from Tom Marshall and Adam Cunnington were enough to make sure that Jayden Stockley’s opener wasn’t enough for Woking to relegate Tamworth to the sixth tier of English football on the final day of the season. Results elsewhere meant that Tamworth would have survived regardless of the result at The Lamb but Tamworth got the goals to put all worries beyond doubt.

Stockley (pictured) headed Woking into the lead mid-way through the first half but Marshall’s long-range curler and Cunnington’s penalty turned the game on its head to give Tamworth the three points.

The opening ten minutes of the game were about as scrappy as they come, as neither team were able to force a shot on goal. Tamworth’s attacking mentality was clear from the outset. They were looking to get the ball into the box at every opportunity, and that’s just what they did.

Woking were dealing with the physical presence of Cunnington and defending well in the opening stages. Kevin Betsy created some space for Billy Knott but his first and second shot were both blocked.

Woking took the lead in the twenty-first minute when Knott’s corner was flicked away from his own keeper by Michael Wylde, and Stockley leapt highest to head it into an empty net.

Tamworth’s game plan didn’t change much after the goal and they continued to pump the ball forward and pile men into the box at every opportunity.

This strategy brought the equaliser when another long ball forward dropped to Marshall on the edge of the box. He was allowed room to turn, picked out a curling right-footed effort into the bottom corner and out of Aaron Howe’s reach.

A long throw from specialist Duane Courtney created a chance for Tamworth to take the lead when it was flicked on towards Wylde. He flicked it again towards the top corner and an outstretched arm from Howe managed to tip it wide with a great save.

Half-time: Tamworth 1 Woking 1

Tamworth completed the turnaround twenty minutes into the second half. It stemmed from another long ball as Cunnington flicked it right towards Lee Hendrie, who knocked it past Mike Cestor and was bundled over for a soft penalty.

Tamworth’s top scorer Cunnington stepped up for the spot kick and made no mistake as be smashed it to the right of Howe, who guessed right but had no chance with the strike.

Tamworth made the final encounters of the game scrappy but Woking had chances to put the ball in the box. Betsy found space on both wings numerous times but was unable to create any clear-cut chances for Woking.

Woking had one last chance to steal a point when Mark Ricketts tried a quick free-kick. He put through substitute George Frith, who had a great chance to score but lacked composure and blasted it over the bar.

That was as good as it got for Woking in the second half and as the final whistle went to end Woking’s first season back in the Conference, the Cards can reflect on an excellent campaign and hope to push on next season.

Woking: Aaron Howe, Adam Newton, Mike Cestor, Mark Ricketts, Lee Sawyer (Brett Williams 45), Jack Parkinson, Billy Knott (George Frith 45), Kevin Betsy, Gavin McCallum, Jayden Stockley

Unused subs: Brett Johnson, Elvijs Putnins, John Nutter

Cautions: Mike Cester 90+3

Tamworth: Tony Breeden, Richard Tait, Marcus Kelly, Michael Wylde, Tom Marshall, Adam Cunnington (Tommy Wright 88), Lee Hendrie, Darren Byfield (Kyle Perry 82), Duane Courtney, Connor Gudger, Peter Till

Unused subs: Lloyd Kerry, Danny Lloyd, Liam Mitchell

Cautions: Adam Cunnington 61, Tony Breeden 80, Duane Courtney 89

Attendance: 1,509


MOTM: Jayden Stockley: Worked hard up front and deserved his goal.
Tamworth LINEUP
WOKING LINEUP
1Aaron Howe
2Adam Newton
3Mike Cestor
5Joe McNerney
8Jack Parkinson
4Mark Ricketts
15Lee Sawyer ('45)
24Billy Knott ('45)
11Kevin Betsy
19Gavin McCallum
25Jayden Stockley
BENCH
18Elvijs Putnins
26John Nutter
16Brett Johnson
22George Frith ('45)
14Brett Williams ('45)

Tamworth 2 - 1 Woking (Garry Hill Interview)

Tamworth 2 - 1 Woking (Mike Smith Interview)

Mark Ricketts Interview

David Holmes
10:03pm, Sat 20th Apr 2013
Mark Ricketts spoke to David Holmes after the game at Tamworth.

Mark Ricketts:







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