Lovetts
FA Trophy (R2)
3:00pm - SaturdaySat 10th JanuaryJan 2015
RAW Charging Stadium | Att: 652

Oxford City
Oxford City
2 - 2

Woking
Woking

Cards target Trophy win

Brian Caffarey
6:02pm, Thu 8th Jan 2015
Oxford City v Woking
FA Trophy 2nd Round
3pm on Saturday 10 January 2015

Garry Hill has made no secret of the fact that he’s keen to take the Cards to Wembley to contest an FA Trophy Final. An away tie to Conference North side Oxford City is not to be viewed lightly – City have been in very good form recently – but it’s a game that Garry Hill’s side ought to be capable of winning if they put in a good performance. Make the trip if you can – and, if you can’t, why not listen online?

WOKING

The Cards secured a very creditable draw at Gateshead on Wednesday night to remain in 6th place in the Vanarama Conference table, although Eastleigh will have the chance to leapfrog them again this weekend when the Spitfires, beaten by the Cards in the last round of the Trophy, take the opportunity to play one of their games in hand.

Garry Hill’s side were also buoyed during the week by the news that Jack Marriott’s loan had been extended till the end of the season and that Chris Arthur had signed a contract after leaving AFC Wimbledon. Further good news followed on Wednesday evening in the form of the sight of Mark Ricketts on the substitutes’ bench following his long recuperation from an injury originally sustained in early September. Cards fans will be hoping that it won’t be long before Scott Rendell returns from his lingering injury.

Garry will no doubt field his strongest possible side for this encounter, bearing in mind that the Cards don’t have another league game till the following Saturday.

The winners of Saturday’s tie will pocket £6k in prize money.

OXFORD CITY

City lie 8th in the Conference North, one point below the play-off places, and are clearly a team to be reckoned with on current form, being beaten only once in their last eight league and cup games: a 4-0 defeat away at Leamington on Boxing Day, which was avenged by a 3-1 win on New Year’s Day at City’s ground. The ‘danger man’ is undoubtedly Adi Yussuf, second top scorer in the Conference North with 15 goals. He also netted two in City’s 3-0 defeat away at Wimborne in the First Round of the Trophy, following City’s 6-1 defeat of Lewes in the Third Qualifying Round. Yussuf is a 22 year-old Tanzanian who came up through Leicester City’s youth set-up before having spells at Tamworth, Burton Albion and Lincoln City amongst other clubs.

Oxford City have recently strengthened their strike force with the signing of Greg Pearson, perhaps best known for his productive spell with Burton Albion.

The two sides last met competitively as long ago as the 1987-88 season in the Isthmian League Division One. Woking won both games: 3-0 at home on Boxing Day and 4-2 away on 9 April 1988. Chris Youlton scored two goals in the latter fixture.

GETTING THERE

Oxford City FC and Community Arena
Marsh Lane
Marston
Oxford
OX3 0NQ

Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/oxfordcityfc

By coach

The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 12.30pm. The cost is £15 for members, £18 for non-members and £10 for an U16 accompanied by an adult. The advice earlier today was that there were very few places left: ring the Club Shop or email shop@wokingfc.co.uk to check availability if you have not already booked and want to travel on the coach.

By car

Leave the M40 at Junction 8 and take the A40 towards Oxford. Follow the A40 for seven miles and then leave and take the slip road signposted Marston and Hospital. At the top of the slip road turn left towards City Centre and Marston. You are now on Marsh Lane: the entrance to the stadium is just down on the left. There is a fair-sized car park at the ground which is free.

By train

The advice re train travel given on www.footballgroundguide.com is as follows: Oxford Railway Station is over three miles away from the stadium, so it is really too far to walk. So best to jump in a taxi up to the ground. Nigel Long adds: Alternatively, you can catch the number 14A bus (which is hourly, daytime only) direct from the station to the ground (Stop: Marston, adjacent Horseman Close). Alternatively, there is a more frequent bus service number 14 daytime and evening services from the station or the city centre to Cherwell Drive, which is a 10 minute walk from the ground. (Stop: Marston, adjacent Ewin Close). See the Stagecoach website for timetable information. You can also buy a 'PlusBus' ticket which allows an adult unlimited bus travel in Oxford for one day. This costs £4 per adult or £2 per child.

There are various routes from Woking to Oxford, including via Basingstoke or Guildford to Reading and then to Oxford. Look up times and prices on www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.thetrainline.com

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults - £11
OAPs/Registered Disabled - £6
Students - £3
U16s – Free

If a replay is needed, it will take place on Tuesday evening at Kingfield.

ONLINE COMMENTARY

If you can’t get to the game BBC Radio Surrey will be providing an online commentary at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/13629210 Live Event 13

COMING UP

The Cards’ next game on Saturday 17 January, at home to Bristol Rovers, should attract one of the biggest crowds of the season as Bristol Rovers, no doubt with a huge following, visit Kingfield. Make sure the date is in your diary!


Come on, you Cards!




Oxford force the Cards to play again

Ben Mitchell
8:55am, Sun 11th Jan 2015
Oxford City 2 Woking 2
FA Trophy 2nd Round
10th January 2015


Woking looked once again to the cup to try and rekindle their form, having not won in the league in their last five games. The Cards travelled to an Oxford City side who are currently sitting 8th in Conference North, just one point below the play-off places, having only lost once in their last eight games.

Kevin Betsy (pictured) gave Woking the lead on 16 minutes before turning provider to set up substitute John Goddard, who headed the visitors into a two-goal lead just before the hour. However, Oxford fought back when Greg Pearson netted his first goal for the club from the penalty spot and Declan Benjamin powered his header home, four minutes later, to ensure both sides' names go into the hat on Monday night.

Woking dominated the first half with most of the possession and territory.

Joey Jones showed great composure and vision early on, bossing the midfield area, picking out several cutting passes to create dangerous opportunities. The pace of Betsy and Chris Arthur really troubled Oxford down the flanks and it wasn't long until the first clear-cut chance came.

Arthur chased down a loose ball in the centre of the park, putting pressure on City's Ander Del Alamo, forcing a throw-in. The pitch was clearly weathered, patchy in places, with the odd divot dotted around. Add that to the blustery conditions and you could perhaps forgive the Oxford 'keeper, Salva De La Cruz, for fluffing his clearing kick. But, it fell kindly to Betsy, who beat three men to cut inside the box and hammer home the first goal of the game.

City's danger man was Adi Yussuf, who has already scored 15 goals in the league as well as netting two goals in the First Round of the Trophy. The 22 year-old Tanzanian came closest for the home side, ghosting between Joe McNerney and James Clarke, but saw his shot smothered by Cole.

Jack Marriott was an ever-present threat for Woking. His runs consistently penetrated the Oxford defence but his closest attempt on goal flew narrowly over the woodwork. His performance this afternoon capped off a good week for the forward, which saw his loan spell with the Cards extended until the end of the season.

Half-time: Oxford City 0 - 1 Woking

The first quarter of the second half brought little in the way of chances for either side, and just before the hour mark Garry Hill brought on the first of the day's impact substitutes. Goddard made an instant impression on the game when he was brought on, and within 60 seconds had doubled the Cards' lead.

Cole released a long clearance kick, bouncing well into the hosts' half. Betsy got on the end of it, looked up and floated a high cross for Goddard, who thundered into the box to head the ball into the back of the net.

Woking seemed to be playing as though they felt that they had the tie all sewn up, yet there was a feeling that the game might not be over as the visitors missed a few opportunities to extend their lead.

City then made an inspired substitution of their own, bringing on Greg Pearson, who spearheaded the hosts' fight-back.

He began by collecting a through ball which saw him glide to the edge of the box, where Adam Newton made a challenge. Despite cries of 'dive' from pockets of Woking supporters, referee Wayne Barrett did not hesitate in pointing to the spot. There was little Cole could do to stop the penalty kick as Pearson coolly slotted the ball into the net, sending the Woking keeper the wrong way.

Less than five minutes later and the Cards' defence seemed to switch off when a simple run down the left-hand side from City's captain Darren Pond produced a cross which hung over the 6-yard box for someone to get on the end of. Oxford defender Declan Benjamin rose the highest and drove a forceful header down into the bottom of the goal for the equaliser.

Woking continued to pile pressure on the Nomads' goal, but to no avail. The final quarter saw efforts from Sole, Marriott and Betsy all cleared as the Conference North side ground out the final moments to earn themselves a replay.

The two sides will fight for the right to play in the 3rd round on Tuesday, 13th January at Kingfield, before the Cards host Bristol Rovers in their next Conference game on Saturday 17th January.

Oxford City: 1 Salva De La Cruz, 2 Declan Benjamin, 3 Jose Lapoujade, 4 Ander Del Alamo, 5 Mamadou Fofana (12 Greg Pearson), 6 Alejandro Santiago, 7 Felipe Barcelos, 8 Darren Pond, 9 Adi Yussuf, 10 Lewis Wilson (14 Shepherd Murombedzi), 11 Tom Winters

Unused Substitutes: 15 Marlon Jackson, 16 Bidemi Afolabi, 17 Darren Mullings

Goals: Pearson 71, Benjamin 75

Woking: 23 Jake Cole, 2 Adam Newton, 5 Joe McNerney, 6 James Clarke, 7 Josh Payne, 8 Keiran Murtagh (22 John Goddard), 11 Kevin Betsy, 16 Jack Marriott, 21 Joey Jones, 24 Dean Morgan (10 Giuseppe Sole), 32 Chris Arthur

Unused Substitutes: 4 Mark Ricketts, 15 John Nutter, 31 Andy Little

Goals: Betsy 16, Goddard 53

Booked: McNerney

Attendance: 652

My Man of the Match: Kevin Betsy
Oxford City LINEUP
WOKING LINEUP
23Jake Cole
2Adam Newton
32Chris Arthur
6James Clarke
5Joe McNerney
21Joey Jones
7Josh Payne
8Keiran Murtagh
11Kevin Betsy
16Jack Marriott
24Dean Morgan
BENCH
31Andy Little
15John Nutter
4Mark Ricketts
22John Goddard
10Giuseppe Sole

Oxford City 2 - 2 Woking (Garry Hill Interview)

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