Specsavers
FA Trophy (R1)
3:00pm - SaturdaySat 13th DecemberDec 2014
The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Att: 693

Woking
Woking
2 - 0

Eastleigh
Eastleigh

Cards get on Trophy trail

Brian Caffarey
4:55pm, Thu 11th Dec 2014
Woking v Eastleigh
FA Trophy 1st Round
3pm on Saturday 13 December 2014

The Cards have a brief break from league action on Saturday when they take on the Spitfires in the first round of the FA Trophy competition. Woking haven’t had much joy in cup competitions in recent years, so a decent run in the Trophy would be welcome. The winners of this tie will take home £5k in prize money. Come on down to Kingfield and cheer on Garry Hill’s side in what should be a hard-fought encounter.

Remember that a road closure near the ground may lead to delays if you’re travelling by car: see the news item of 12 November for more details. Please also bear in mind that new car parking arrangements are in place at the Leisure Centre: see the news item on 30 November.

WOKING

The Cards go into this game on the back of two disappointing results away from home, following 2-1 defeats at Macclesfield and, on Tuesday evening, against Forest Green Rovers. While Woking deserved at least a point at Macclesfield, they played poorly at the New Lawn in a game which Garry Hill and Steve Thompson will feel they could have won. They will be distinctly unhappy to have come away with no points from these two games.

Scott Rendell was missing on Tuesday night, still suffering from an ankle injury. But the Cards really need a few other players to step up to the plate if they are to make progress in the Trophy and sustain their play-off challenge.

EASTLEIGH

As expected, the Spitfires, with strong financial backing, have made an impact in the Vanarama Conference in their first season since their promotion from the Conference South. Their squad has plenty of ‘big name’ players, including a whole host of well-known non-League strikers in Stuart Fleetwood, once of Charlton Athletic and Luton Town; ex-Card Craig McAllister; Yemi Odubade; Ben Strevens, who has starred for Dagenham and Redbridge and Crawley Town; and ex-Don Jack Midson, renewing his Oxford United partnership with James Constable. In goal the Spitfires have Ross Flitney, previously with Barnet amongst other clubs, and the midfielders include Jai Reason and ex-captain of Aldershot Town, Craig Stanley.

Defender Dean Beckwith will be suspended for this game.

Eastleigh currently sit in 11th position in the table with 36 points from 22 games, three fewer games than Woking. On Wednesday night they lost 3-2 at Alfreton, with Reason and McAllister getting the goals. In the FA Cup the Spitfires beat Kidderminster away and Lincoln City at home before falling to Southport away last weekend, missing out on an away tie at Championship leaders Derby County.

ADMISSION

Adults: £15
Over 65s and Students with a valid NUS card: £10
U16s: £3

Season ticket holders are reminded that this is an ‘all pay’ game.

Why not treat yourself to VIP hospitality, including a three-course meal, in the Geoff Chapple Lounge? Contact Amy Fern on amy.fern@wokingfc.co.uk or 07967 606361.

If a replay is required it will take place on Tuesday 16 December.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Saturday’s programme includes a look at the FA Trophy competition and Woking’s recent record, a preview of other Trophy ties and a profile of former Woking striker Craig McAllister, plus all the usual match reports, previews and Club news. If you can’t get to the game, you can order a copy from the Club Shop on shop@wokingfc.co.uk

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 1 Eastleigh 0
3 December 2011

A below-par Woking had to battle hard for the points against a combative Spitfires side who had ex-Card Jamie Slabber looking to make an impression against his former club. Woking’s ‘man of the match’ Alan Inns almost gave Woking an early lead but was denied by the woodwork.

Woking achieved the breakthrough just after half-time when Jack King and Ben Smith, making his debut on loan from Crawley, combined to set up Wayne Gray to score. The Cards’ defence had to soak up a lot of pressure, with Aaron Howe making a magnificent save from Tom Jordan in extra-time, before the final whistle.

The win put Woking six points clear at the top of the table.

Woking: Aaron Howe, Adam Newton, Ben Smith, Mark Ricketts, Alan Inns, Jay Davies (Giuseppe Sole 78), Paris Cowan-Hall (Elvis Hammond 80), Jack King, Moses Ademola (Josh Griffiths 90), Wayne Gray, Dale Binns

Unused Subs: Andy Little, Ola Sogbanmu

Eastleigh: Jack Dovey, Andy Forbes, Michael Green, Jamie Brown, Tom Jordan, Scott Rogers, Ali Fuseini (Andrew White 82), Danny Smith, Jamie Slabber, Chris Flood (Richard Gillespie 60), Graeme Montgomery (Jordace Holder-Spooner 64)

Unused Subs: Gareth Barfoot, Billy Tsovolos

Attendance: 1610

COMING UP

The Cards’ next home league game is on Saturday 20 December against Southport, when there will be FREE ENTRY for all kids. Make sure, too, that you’ve got 1pm on Sunday 28 December in the diary for the visit of Aldershot Town!

Come on, you Cards!

P.S. Don’t forget to book your tickets for the evening with Geoff Chapple and Tim Buzaglo this Friday 12 December: see the news item of 26 November for more details. And remember Silent Night on Wednesday 17 December: see the news item of 9 December for full details.

Woking back on Wembley Way

Ben Mitchell
11:08pm, Sat 13th Dec 2014
Woking 2 Eastleigh 0
FA Trophy 1st Round
13th December 2014


Woking got back to winning ways by overcoming an Eastleigh side who themselves have been struggling in the league in the last few weeks. The Cards have previously won the FA Trophy 3 times, last reaching the final back in 2006, and ensured their place in the second round with a strong 2-0 victory at Kingfield. Jack Marriott and Josh Payne scored goals on either side of the half-time break to see their side into Monday night's draw.

Woking tried to make the most of their initial pressure, with long lofted balls into strikers Dean Morgan and Jack Marriott, whose pace troubled the Eastleigh defence throughout the game.

Marriott's first chance of the game came when Kevin Betsy picked up a free ball in the centre of the park, playing a through ball which split the centre back pair. Bursting into the box, Marriott saw his first time shot slide agonisingly wide of the goal.

Woking continued to increase the pressure on their opponents, John Nutter hounding Eastleigh's Dan Spence and winning a corner. The Spitfires cleared their lines from the resulting corner, releasing Yemi Odubade on the half-way line. The striker twisted and turned his way past Mike Cestor and was one-on-one with Ross Worner but having lifted the ball over the Woking keeper he was unlucky to see his effort bounce off the crossbar.

It was Marriott who proved the decisive difference between the sides on the half-hour mark. He burst down the wing, evading his marker to cross the ball low and hard to the edge of the box. Betsy stepped over the ball, leaving it for Josh Payne to curl his effort into the top corner of the net.

Despite Woking taking the lead, it was the visitors who looked dangerous with set pieces. One such chance came towards the end of the first half, with Eastleigh captain Will Evans ghosting in behind the defence, only to see his free header narrowly glide over the bar. Another effort came close in more dramatic style as Jack Midson steadied himself, before launching into an overhead kick, which left everyone in red and white mere spectators as the ball crashed against the woodwork.

Half-time: Woking 1 Eastleigh 0

Worner was seldom called upon throughout the game but had to be alert twice in quick succession on the hour mark, first saving a shot at point blank range, then parrying a headed effort getting down low to his left. The rebound was tapped in by Odubade, but he was adjudged to be offside.

The game was all but finished off in the final quarter, when Marriott showed the Eastleigh defence a clean set of heels, catching up with a pin-point pass from Joey Jones, to tuck the ball calmly under the keeper and into the back off the net.

Marriott continued to be a threat as he ran himself into the ground for the Woking cause. But Payne, scorer of the opening goal, was also orchestrator of most of the team's opportunities and received the sponsors' vote for 'man of the match'.

Although not Woking's best display of the season, a win is a win and if they keep notching them up, who knows, maybe a trip to Wembley beckons. We will know our second round opponents when the draw is made on Monday.

However, it will be back to league action next Saturday when the Cards take on struggling Southport at Kingfield.

Woking: Ross Warner, Adam Newton (Keiran Murtagh), Mike Cestor, Joe McNerney, James Clarke (Chris Arthur), Josh Payne, Kevin Betsy (Giuseppe Sole), John Nutter, Jack Marriott, Joey Jones, Dean Morgan

Unused Substitutes: Theo Lewis, Andy Little

Goals: Payne 30, Marriott 72

Yellow Cards: Mike Cestor, Joey Jones

Eastleigh: Ross Flitney, Dan Spence, Jamie Collins (Ben Strevens), Chris Todd, Yemi Odubade, Craig Stanley, Jai Reason, Craig McAllister, Jack Midson (Michael Green), Will Evans, Hussein Heidari

Unused Substitutes: James Constable, Stuart Fleetwood, Josh Helm

Yellow Cards: Spence, Odubade

Attendance: 693

Man of the Match: Josh Payne
WOKING LINEUP
30Ross Worner
6James Clarke
15John Nutter
5Joe McNerney
3Mike Cestor
7Josh Payne
21Joey Jones
2Adam Newton
11Kevin Betsy
24Dean Morgan
16Jack Marriott
BENCH
31Andy Little
32Chris Arthur
14Theo Lewis
8Keiran Murtagh
10Giuseppe Sole
Eastleigh LINEUP

Woking 2 - 0 Eastleigh (Scott Rendell Interview)

Woking 2 - 0 Eastleigh (FA Trophy) (Josh Payne Interview)

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