Cards look to slay Dragons again

Brian Caffarey
7:44pm, Thu 6th Nov 2014

Wrexham v Woking
FA Cup 1st Round
2pm on Sunday 9 November 2014

The Cards travel to Wrexham on Sunday in a tough, but winnable, FA Cup 1st Round tie. Garry Hillâ€™s side will be buoyed by the knowledge that they have already won at the Racecourse Ground this season but they will know that the Red Dragons will certainly not underestimate them this time around. Neither side has been on top form recently but both showed defensive strengths in their respective goalless draws in league games last weekend. The tie, which is being televised live on S4C, ought to be closely contested, with the winners bagging Â£18,000 in prize money.

WOKING

The Cards gained a useful point at Braintree Town last weekend, coping better in defence than they had done in the narrow 2-1 victory over Boreham Wood in the previous FA Cup game and in the very disappointing 3-1 defeat at home by AFC Telford the week before that. Grimsbyâ€™s midweek win has seen Garry Hillâ€™s side slip to 6th place in the table but with a game in hand on nearly all the clubs around them.

On Tuesday night a strong Cards side suffered a surprising and embarrassing 3-0 defeat at home to Ashford Town (Middx) in the Surrey Senior Cup. One can only surmise that the playersâ€™ minds must have been on the forthcoming Cup tie. But, if they play as poorly again, Wokingâ€™s name will certainly not be in the hat for Monday nightâ€™s 2nd Round draw!

Subject to any new injury concerns, Garry should have a full squad to choose from apart from long-term absentee Mark Ricketts and cup-tied keeper Ross Worner. Although Aaron Howe returned from a lengthy injury lay-off to take his place in goal on Tuesday night, it seems much more likely that Jake Cole, who played well against Boreham Wood, will start.

WREXHAM

The Dragons finished in a lowly 17th place last season â€“ a hugely disappointing outcome for a club of Wrexhamâ€™s stature.

Kevin Wilkin, the former Nuneaton manager, who joined Wrexham in January this year, returned to his former club in the summer to prise from them star striker Louis Moult and pacy left-winger Wes York. His other big signing up front was Connor Jennings, who shone on loan at Macclesfield last season, scoring 18 goals before injury forced his return to Scunthorpe. A loan spell at Grimsby Town followed but when he was released by Scunthorpe in the summer it was Wrexham who managed to secure his signature. Moult and Jennings join Andy Bishop in vying for striking places.

Two significant signings in defence were those of Blaine Hudson, who enjoyed a successful season-long loan at Welling United last season from parent club Cambridge United, and Manny Smith, with bags of League experience with Notts County and Walsall. Hudson, at 6â€™4â€�, is a particular threat at set pieces. York and Neil Ashton provide pace on the flanks, with Elliot Durrell prominent in midfield.

Wrexham currently sit in 11th place with 28 points from 18 games. Their recent form has been patchy, with only one win in their last six league and FA Cup games: a 5-2 win at home against Macclesfield in an FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round replay, with the Silkmen being reduced to ten men shortly after half-time. In the league at home, Wrexham have beaten Nuneaton, Welling, Eastleigh and Kidderminster, drawn against Macclesfield and Halifax and lost to Gateshead, Woking and Grimsby.

GETTING THERE

The Glyndwr University Racecourse Ground
Mold Road
Wrexham
Wales
LL11 2AH

Official website: www.wrexhamafc.co.uk

By coach

The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 8.30am. The cost is Â£24 for Trust members and Â£29 for non-members. Ring the Club Shop (01483 772470) or email shop@wokingfc.co.uk to book your place.

By car

Take the M54 from the M6 (Junction 10A Northbound). Follow the M54 to the end of the motorway and join the A5 towards Shrewsbury. Continue on the A5 past Shrewsbury and Oswestry and then join the A483 towards Wrexham. Stay on the A483 as you reach Wrexham (this is the Wrexham by-pass). Exit at the 'Mold' junction and then follow the signs for 'Town Centre'. The Racecourse will come quickly into view. There is parking at Glyndwr University, for a small fee, next to the ground or at Maesgwyn Hall opposite the University.

By train

Wrexham General station is next to the ground. The 08.15 from Euston would get you to Wrexham at 11.47 via changes at Crewe and Chester. The 08.45 would arrive at 12.38, also via changes at Crewe and Chester (including a 50-minute wait at the latter). The 08.50 would get you to Chester at 12.55 via a single change at Birmingham International.

Coming back, youâ€™d have to make a very quick (probably early) exit to catch the 16.00 train, which gets into Euston at 19.04 via changes at Crewe and Chester. A better bet looks to be the 17.06, which arrives at Euston at 19.45 via a single change at Chester.

Remember, itâ€™s a 2pm kick-off!

ADMISSION PRICES

Â£15.00 - Adults
Â£10.00 - Over 62s / Under 21s
Â£3.00 - Over 80s / Under 16s

Woking supporters will be seated in the upper Yale Stand, with turnstiles 1-4 being open from 12.45pm.

If a replay is required it will take place at 7.45pm on Wednesday 19 November at Kingfield.

LAST TIME OUT

Wrexham 1 Woking 2
30 August 2014

An assured display from away-day experts Woking saw Garry Hill's unbeaten side climb to fourth in the table at the expense of fellow high-fliers Wrexham.

At one stage it looked like the Surrey visitors had fallen to a second equaliser, but sub Andy Bishop's strike was ruled out and Kevin Wilkin's frustrated home side got no closer from there.

The Cards went ahead against the run of play in the first half, but on the strength of their second-half display they fully deserved their fine victory.

In the end, league top-scorer Scott Rendell's superb early volley and an assured second-half winner from Dean Morgan after Louis Moult's leveller proved enough, but Hill's Cards had to battle.

Wrexham: Dan Bachmann, Neil Ashton (c), Manny Smith, Blaine Hudson, Joe Clarke, Elliott Durrell (Andy Bishop 76), Louis Moult, Rob Evans, Wes York (Theo Bailey-Jones 76), Ross White (Mark Carrington 83), Connor Jennings.

Subs not used: Andy Coughlin, Anthony Stephens.

Goal: Moult 38

Woking: Aaron Howe, Adam Newton (Theo Lewis 35), Mark Ricketts (c), Joe McNerney, James Clarke, Josh Payne, Keiran Murtagh (Joey Jones 78), Scott Rendell, Giuseppe Sole (John Goddard 84), Dean Morgan, Chris Arthur.

Subs not used: Mike Cestor, Andy Little.

Goals: Rendell 24, Morgan 66

Attendance: 3,154

NEXT GAME

The Cardsâ€™ next game sees another encounter with Wrexham, this time at Kingfield in the league. However, because the Cup game is being played on Sunday, the match has been put back a day to Wednesday 12 November.

Come on, you Cards!

Cards knocked out of FA Cup

Ben Mitchell
6:55pm, Mon 10th Nov 2014

Wrexham 3 Woking 0 
FA Cup 1st Round 
Sunday 9th November 2014   

The last few weeks have seen Woking struggle to find the form that they showed at the start of the campaign. Potentially, a good cup run may have been just the catalyst they needed to reignite their season. Instead, the Cards were denied by a fired-up Wrexham team unwilling to give up their place in the second round draw. 

The sound of the lone bugler was a fitting tribute at the Racecourse Stadium, with a respectful hush maintained throughout the minuteâ€™s silence. However, it was not long until the Wrexham fans were in full voice. 

Jake Cole saved a 19th minute penalty from Neil Ashton, but could do nothing to stop him tucking home the rebound to put the Welsh side in front. 

Just after the half-hour mark a defensive miscommunication allowed Wrexhamâ€™s Andy Bishop to break away down the left hand side, before picking out a sliding Wes York to stretch the hosts' lead. 

York soon returned the favour, crossing low into the six-yard box for Bishop to slot home the third goal just before the break. 

Wokingâ€™s second-half improvements were in vain, with headers from Scott Rendell and Joe McNerney going narrowly wide and Mike Cestor and Kevin Betsy trying to stretch the Dragons on the break. 

The game started in high gear with both teams leaving themselves open to counterattacks. Jack Marriott and Chris Arthur looked to expose the opposition early on with fast breaks down the wings. 

But, as fast as Woking attacked they were instantly back in defence, as Wrexhamâ€™s Ashton and Elliott Durrell were consistently playing dangerous balls in and around Wokingâ€™s box. 

This early intensity resulted in a number of strong challenges from both sides, which led to both McNerney and Josh Payne receiving yellow cards. 

Woking had a chance to open the scoring when Betsy skilfully rounded Wrexhamâ€™s Ashton and flirted with the touchline before driving a dangerous ball across the face of goal. 

But it was in the 19th minute, when a spell of Wrexham pressure culminated in the opening goal. A looping cross into the box saw Cestor tussling with Bishop for the ball. The Wrexham striker went to ground and was judged, by referee Simon Bennett, to have been fouled in the process. Bishop missed his last penalty for the club, which came in the previous round of the FA Cup when he was on a hat trick, so Ashton stepped up with confidence. Cole was equal to the strike, however, diving low to his right to keep the ball out. Unfortunately, there was little he could do except helplessly sprawl in front of a thankful Ashton as he gratefully took his second chance to open the scoring. 

Woking then had a long period of pressure where they began to pepper the Wrexham box from an array of free kicks, corners and wide play. But it was Wrexham who continued to look dangerous on the counterattack, particularly with Johnny Hunt running free. 

The Cards were still in the game at 1-0 down and looked to keep the tempo up and press on. Woking were then awarded a free kick and looked to take it quickly. Clarke played the ball to Joey Jones, but a miscommunication between the pair left both players unsure if the free kick had been taken. As a result, the home team was able to launch yet another break and this they did with devastating effect as Bishop crossed sharply into the path of a sliding York to score Wrexhamâ€™s second on 36 minutes. 
With a few moments left until half-time, Woking desperately tried to take something into the changing rooms. Betsy ran onto a well-timed header from Rendell on the half-way line, before shifting the ball wide to Arthur who crossed the ball deep into the box, but it was claimed by Wrexhamâ€™s keeper Andy Coughlin. 

It was in fact Wrexham who saw the game off before the interval with York picking up the ball in a wide position. He looked up and crossed low into the Woking area where Clarke found himself on the wrong side of Bishop, who turned the ball confidently past Cole and into the net.

Half-time: Wrexham 3 Woking 0 

Woking started the second half brightly with the best chance seeing Cestor ride a heavy challenge to cross the ball into Rendell, who saw his header go narrowly wide. 

McNerney led from the front trying to increase the pressure on the opposition. He began hounding attackers in front of him, stealing the ball and playing some searching crosses into dangerous areas. 

Substitute John Goddard also had some promising moments, as did Oliver Taylor, who came close to scoring, but couldnâ€™t manage to get on the end of a Rendell cross in the dying moments of the game. 

Despite having plenty of possession during the second period, however, the visitors never really looked as though they would mount a concerted challenge to get back into the match and Wrexham ran out worthy winners on the day, much to the disappointment of the travelling fans and those watching the match (if not understanding the Welsh commentary!) live on S4C.

There will be an early opportunity for the Cards to turn the tables on Wrexham when they look to do a league double on their Welsh opponents whom they host in the return league fixture at Kingfield this coming Wednesday (November 12th).   

Wrexham: Andy Coughlin, Mark Carrington, Neil Ashton, Manny Smith, Blaine Hudson, Joe Clarke, Elliott Durrell (Dean Keates 85), Andy Bishop (Louis Moult 81), Wes York (Connor Jennings 71), Johnny Hunt, James Pearson 

Unused Substitutes: Louis Gray, Steve Tomassen, Rob Evans, Ross White

Goals: Ashton 19, York 36, Bishop 43

Caution: Clarke 45 

Woking: Jake Cole, Mike Cestor, Joe McNerney, James Clarke (Adam Newton 54), Josh Payne, Scott Rendell (Oliver Taylor 68), Kevin Betsy, Theo Lewis, Jack Marriott,Â Â Joey Jones (John Goddard 63), Chris Arthur 

Unused Substitutes: Aaron Howe, Giuseppe Sole, John Nutter, Andy Little

Cautions: Rendell 18, McNerney 18, Payne 23 

Attendance: 2,253

My MotM: Mike Cestor

Wrexham LINEUP

WOKING LINEUP
23	Jake Cole
21	Joey Jones ('63)
3	Mike Cestor
5	Joe McNerney
6	James Clarke ('54)
7	Josh Payne
14	Theo Lewis
11	Kevin Betsy
32	Chris Arthur
9	Scott Rendell ('68)
16	Jack Marriott
BENCH
1	Aaron Howe
31	Andy Little
2	Adam Newton ('54)
15	John Nutter
22	John Goddard ('63)
25	Ollie Taylor ('68)
10	Giuseppe Sole