FCP

7:45pm - TuesdayTue 21st JanuaryJan 2014
The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Att: 1124

Woking

0 - 1

Chester

Vital game for Cards on Tuesday

Brian Caffarey
8:16pm, Sun 19th Jan 2014

Woking v Chester
7.45pm on Tuesday 21 January 2014

Assuming the Kingfield pitch has recovered sufficiently, the Cards take on Chester on Tuesday evening in a very important game for both clubs. The visitors, in the relegation places, won at the weekend, no doubt buoyed by the appointment of Steve Burr as their new manager. The Cards, seven points clear, will be hoping to bounce back from a disappointing showing at Welling United. Come down and cheer on Garry Hillâ€™s side!

WOKING

Garry expressed his frustration after Saturdayâ€™s game at the contrast in performance, by the same starting eleven, between the fine win over Braintree Town the previous weekend and Saturdayâ€™s weak display at Park View Road. A contributory factor was no doubt that Welling, unlike Braintree surprisingly, did not allow the Cards to settle on the ball and gradually got hold of the midfield, almost completely nullifying any support for Gez Sole up front.

Woking will of course be without Keiran Murtagh on Tuesday as a result of his dismissal for two, wholly avoidable, yellow cards. Garry will be expecting the same sort of â€˜reactionâ€™ to Saturdayâ€™s defeat as Welling showed following their loss to Hyde.

The Cards, in 18th place, are seven points above Chester and will be very keen to ensure that that gap doesnâ€™t narrow as a result of Tuesdayâ€™s game.

CHESTER

Following the winding-up of the former Chester City FC in March 2010 a â€˜phoenixâ€™ club was formed, which has enjoyed phenomenal success, winning three successive promotions to start life this season in the Conference Premier. The club, managed throughout their ascent by Neil Young, amassed a record 107 points last season to lift the Conference North title.

Expectations were high for the present season, with over 1,000 season tickets sold, but the Blues have endured a difficult campaign so far, leading to Neil Youngâ€™s departure. The Blues have been very fortunate, however, to obtain the services of the hugely-experienced Steve Burr, who recently left Kidderminster Harriers. On Saturday, his first game in charge, Chester registered their fifth win of the season, beating Barnet 2-1 at home, taking them to 21st place in the table.

Itâ€™s surprising that the Blues have struggled since their squad contains some very experienced and capable players, including keeper John Danby, who was with Kidderminster Harriers for five seasons; Gareth Seddon, who was a Conference winner with Fleetwood Town and played for FC Halifax Town last season; striker Jamie Reed, a Conference play-off winner, this time with York City; midfielder Danny Harrison, with some 300 League appearances for Tranmere and Rotherham; and Jason Jarrett, another midfielder, with plenty of experience with Preston and Wigan. Wayne Rooneyâ€™s brother, John, is a recent addition.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults Â£15
Over 65s and students (with valid student card) Â£10
U16s Â£3

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Tuesdayâ€™s 56-page matchday programme includes an interview with Jack Marriott, who talks about his loan spell at Woking. Talking of loans, do you understand the difference between short-term, long-term, emergency and youth etc loans? No? Well, Damian Buxton attempts to unravel the mysteries of the Conference loan regulations. For the historically-minded, Richard Mason recalls a past Woking game which was described as â€˜worthy of Wembleyâ€™. Thereâ€™s an opposing view too from a Chester fan, Ashley Field, who just happens to be an Olympic silver medallist! And of course there are all the usual match reports, previews, news and great photos. If you canâ€™t get to the game, you can order a copy from the Club Shop on shop@wokingfc.co.uk

LAST TIME OUT

Chester 0 Woking 2
17 August 2013

The Cards registered their first win of the season despite playing the whole of the second half with only ten men following Josh Payneâ€™s dismissal just before half-time for an alleged head-butt.

Mark Ricketts and Freddie Ladapo replaced Joe McNerney and Gavin McCallum in the side which had lost in midweek to Braintree Town. A fairly even first half became feisty towards the interval, leading to Payneâ€™s dismissal. It looked as though the home side would take advantage as Seddon hit the post shortly after the break but ten-man Woking took the lead in the 58th minute through a fine strike by Gavin Williams, cutting in from the left flank.

Joe McNerney, on for Ladapo, made it 2-0 five minutes later with a header from a John Nutter free-kick.

Chester hit the woodwork again but rarely threatened to thwart Wokingâ€™s first win of the campaign.

Chester: John Danby, Lewis Turner, Joe Heath, George Horan (Jamie Reed 65), Paul Linwood, Danny Harrison, Nathan Turner, Jason Jarett (Craig Mahon 53), Gareth Seddon, Kevin McIntyre, Craig Lindfield (Alex Titchiner 60)

Unused subs: Ashley Williams, Lee Pugh

Woking: Aaron Howe, Adam Newton, John Nutter, Mark Ricketts, Brett Johnson, Lee Sawyer (George Frith 90), Jack Parkinson, Gavin Williams (Gavin McCallum 78), Kevin Betsy, Josh Payne, Freddie Ladapo (Joe McNerney 53)

Unused subs: Sam Beasant, Anthony McNamee

Cautions: Mark Ricketts (24), Lee Sawyer (37)

Sent-off: Josh Payne (43)

Goals: Gavin Williams (58), Joe McNerney (63)

NEXT UP

The Cards travel to Lincoln City next Saturday (25 January). Their next home league game is on Saturday 1 February when they take on Forest Green Rovers. Before then, though, they host Leatherhead in the Quarter-Final of the Surrey Senior Cup on Monday 27 January.

Come on, you Cards!

Cards slip to second straight defeat

Glen Harrington
10:55am, Wed 22nd Jan 2014

Woking 0 Chester 1
 The Skrill Premier
 21st January 2014

A solitary strike from Jamie Menagh proved to be the difference, as Chester edged past the Cards and condemned them to a second straight league defeat.

It was a disappointing performance from a Woking side which, taking into account Keiran Murtaghâ€™s suspension, highlighted their urgent need to bring in some new loan players â€“ a view echoed by manager Garry Hill after the game.

The visitors battled well throughout the match and deservedly earned new manager Steve Burr his second win in as many games, a result that edges the Blues out of the relegation zone.

They grabbed their goal mid-way through the first-half when Menagh curled his shot round Adam Newton, past the outstretched glove of Mason Springthorpe (pictured) and into the bottom corner, before defending doggedly in the second period to earn their success.
New signing Springthorpe was one of only two changes for the hosts, following Saturdayâ€™s 3-0 defeat at Welling. The 19-year-old goalkeeper replaced Sam Beasant, who dropped to the bench.

Meanwhile, Brett Johnson came in for the suspended Murtagh. This meant a reshuffle for Garry Hillâ€™s side, with Johnson partnering Joe McNerney at centre-back, Mike Cestor moving over to left wing and John Goddard joining Josh Payne in central midfield.
The game started as it would continue for much of the evening â€“ as a tight, tense midfield battle, with Woking perhaps edging possession, but with the visitors looking dangerous on the counter attack.

Unfortunately, the home sideâ€™s highlight of the night â€“ in an attacking sense â€“ came after just a quarter of an hour, when Kevin Betsy looked to have burst clear down the right hand side, only to be hauled down as he closed in on goal. Despite loud appeals from the Woking players, there was nothing given by the referee.

Chester got their goal just before the half-hour mark. A long ball out of defence found Menagh on the left hand side. Newton allowed him to advance on him quickly and take the ball into the penalty area. The winger found himself a yard of space and curled the ball brilliantly into the corner of the goal, clipping the post on its way in to leave the Cards' young goalkeeper no chance.

The visitors might have added to their lead when Jamie Reed saw his low cross just about cut out by Springthorpe, with Craig Lindfield waiting anxiously for the rebound.
Moments later, and Reed found himself free in the Woking penalty area with the ball at his feet, only for him to stumble and allow the Cards' defence to recover and clear. Lindfield also went close in first-half stoppage time, sliding to meet a deflected free-kick, but only managing to cushion an effort up and over the crossbar.

Half-time: Woking 0 Chester 1

Chester again might have doubled their lead moments after the re-start. A bizarre attempt at a back-pass from Newton left his goalkeeper stranded, and the ball almost dropped into the Woking goal before luckily drifting out for a corner. From the resulting set piece, a goalmouth scramble ensued, with the Cards fortunate to hack the ball clear.
George Horan then saw his close-range header saved, before McNerney cleared spectacularly off the line, with Springthorpe stranded on the edge of his own penalty area.

The Cards introduced Reece Beckles, Anthony McNamee and Niall Wright from the substitutes bench, sacrificing Goddard, John Nutter and Johnson, but were still able to create little in an attacking sense â€“ Payneâ€™s long range effort, and McNerneyâ€™s header, both wide of the Chester goal, the closest the home side came.

Chester were in no mood to offer the Cards any time or space in possession, and fought for everything from start to finish, emphasised by their five yellow cards. Woking did their best to launch something of an offensive onslaught during five minutes of stoppage time, but the barrage came too late and the visitors held out.

Woking now suddenly find themselves just five points clear of safety, and six wins in eight has become three defeats in four. Tonightâ€™s opponents Chester are just four points behind them after back-to-back victories, emphasising the unpredictable nature of this division.

The Cards travel to Lincoln City next Saturday, a side only above the Cards on goal difference, knowing that a victory and three points would be more than useful in their quest to remain in this league for another year.

Woking: Mason Springthorpe, Adam Newton, John Nutter (Anthony McNamee 68), Joe McNerney, Brett Johnson (Niall Wright 77), Mark Ricketts, Josh Payne, John Goddard (Reece Beckles 59), Mike Cestor, Kevin Betsy, Giuseppe Sole.

Unused Subs: Sam Beasant, George Frith.

Booked: Cestor 34, McNerney 90

Chester: John Danby, Lewis Turner, George Horan, Ross Killock, Kevin McIntyre, Jamie Menagh (Joe Heath 86), Jason Jarrett, George Miller, Craig Linfield, John Rooney, Jamie Reed (Tom Peers 90).

Unused Subs: Martin Fearon, Michael Kay, Craig Mahon.

Goal: Menagh 29.

Booked: Horan 18, Menagh 41, Killock 65, Rooney 70, Danby 90

Sponsor's MOTM: Mason Springthorpe â€“ Settled into the game after a couple of nervous moments early on and did well to prevent his new side falling further behind.

Attendance: 1,124

 

WOKING LINEUP
21	Mason Springthorpe
2	Adam Newton
3	John Nutter
5	Joe McNerney
6	Brett Johnson
4	Mark Ricketts
20	Josh Payne
22	John Goddard
11	Kevin Betsy
15	Mike Cestor
10	Giuseppe Sole
BENCH
18	Sam Beasant
16	George Frith
17	Niall Wright
14	Anthony McNamee
34	Reece Beckles