Tamworth v Woking
5.30pm on Saturday 26 April 2014

Once again the Cards’ final league game of the season sees them travel to Tamworth. Last year the Lambs just avoided relegation but their fate is already sealed this season and they will be returning to the Conference North. But they are not going quietly, having beaten Hereford and Dartford in their last two games. Another good away performance will be needed from Garry Hill’s side if they are to achieve his target of bettering last season’s 12th place finish.

WOKING

The Cards will have had a few days to recover from the disappointment of losing at home to the Shots. Although the side suffered from missing several key players, they were unfortunate to lose to a dubious penalty and a deflection.

It seems likely that Garry will have to call on the same resources for Saturday’s game, with Mark Ricketts still suspended and Keiran Murtagh, Joey Jones and Aaron Howe all expected to be missing too.

The Cards currently sit in 12th place in the table. A win could take them as high as 9th, whilst defeat could see them sink to 14th.

TAMWORTH

The Lambs are a full-time side but have struggled in this league, having escaped relegation on the final day of the last two seasons, finally succumbing this time round. They had a reasonable first half of the season but their form deteriorated sharply from late January onwards: after beating Hyde 3-0 away on the 25th of that month they won only one of their following 16 league games. But they have finished the season strongly with a home win over Hereford and an away win at Dartford.

Manager Dale Belford rang the changes in the summer, with only seven of last season’s squad being retained. Among the arrivals were former Woking favourite Justin Richards. Another arrival was Cameron Belford, the manager’s son, who appeared some 80 times in goal for Bury before being released in the summer and whose busy season has resulted in his nomination for ‘Goalkeeper of the Year’ at the National Game Awards. The best-known name in the Lambs’ squad is that of Darren Byfield, the one-time Aston Villa player and Jamaican international. Byfield was on the bench in recent games, with the main striking role falling to Richard Peniket following the recall of the on-loan Matt Godden to Scunthorpe United.

GETTING THERE

The Lamb Ground
Kettlebrook
Tamworth
Staffordshire
B77 1AA

By coach
The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 1.30pm. The cost is £16 for members and £21 for non-members. Ring (01483 772470) 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 16.08, with the 15.46 arriving an hour later. Trains back are slower and involve a change. The 19.34, with a change at Birmingham New Street, arrives at Euston at 21.56, whilst the 20.14, changing at Northampton, gets in at 22.15.

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 2
14 September 2013

The Cards went into this game having suffered four successive defeats but boosted by the loan signing of Scott Rendell, who quickly showed his worth. The pitch held surface water and the rain continued for most of the game. A fast start saw the Cards dominate the first 20 minutes or so, with Rendell having two early efforts on goal. But it was the Lambs who took a surprise lead, Richard Baker rifling home a loose ball.

The Cards were initially bogged down in the second half but equalised in the 67th minute when Lee Sawyer’s shot deflected off Rendell. Ten minutes later Woking took the lead when Gavin Williams notched his fourth penalty of the season after Duane Courtney had clambered all over Gez Sole.

But some calamitous defending just before the final whistle prevented the Cards claiming three much-needed points, Richard Peniket slotting home after the Woking defence had fatally dithered.

Woking: Aaron Howe, Adam Newton, Mark Ricketts, Joe McNerney, Jack Parkinson, Gavin Williams, Kevin Betsy, Mike Cestor, Josh Payne(Giuseppe Sole 67), Scott Rendell

Unused subs: John Nutter, Anthony McNamee, Gavin McCallum, Sam Beasant

Booked: Mike Cestor

Tamworth: Cameron Belford, Jack Evans (Duane Courtney 48), Ben Richards-Everton, Kerry Lloyd (Jordan Rose 68), Richard Baker, Richard Peniket, Tony Capaldi, Wayne Thomas, Ryan Lloyd (Andy Todd 72), Lateef Elford-Alliyu, Mark Wright

Unused subs: Darron Byfield, James Wren

Booked: Jack Evans, Richard Peniket, Andy Todd, Cameron Belford, Duane Courtney

Sponsor’s MOTM: Gavin Williams

Attendance: 1264

NEXT UP

Don’t forget that the Cards are at home to the Met Police in the final of the Surrey Senior Cup at 7.45pm on Wednesday 30 April.


Come on, you Cards!

P.S. Make sure you’ve got the Woking FC Beer Festival in your diary: 20-21 June.