3:00pm - SaturdaySat 13th FebruaryFeb 2016
The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Att: 1182

Woking

0 - 1

Guiseley AFC

Win needed for play-off push

Brian Caffarey
9:33am, Thu 11th Feb 2016

Woking v Guiseley AFC
Vanarama National League
3pm on Saturday 13 February 2016

The Cards badly need three points from this game if they are to sustain their challenge for a play-off place, which has not been helped by picking up only two points from their last three league games. Guiseley, however, have shown that they are far from easy opponents in their first season at this level. Come on down to the Laithwaite Community Stadium to cheer on Garry Hillâ€™s side!

The match is being sponsored by Woking-based Fernox, provider of market-leading treatments for cleaning and protecting central heating systems.

WOKING

Last weekend, against Oxford City, the Cards got through fairly comfortably to the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy â€“ only to find that they have been drawn away to Grimsby: a tough prospect, to put it mildly. While Steve Thompson has recently implied that he and Garry Hill have viewed the Trophy, rather than the play-offs, as their best bet this season, letâ€™s hope that the playersâ€™ minds are fully focused on Saturday on beating Guiseley. A play-off place is still possible, not least because of the inconsistent form of most of the Cardsâ€™ rivals â€“ Eastleigh in particular have been going through a bad spell â€“ but they canâ€™t afford to drop more points at home against teams like Guiseley, with the greatest respect to the Lions.

On Tuesday night a Woking side including several fringe and youth team players beat Westfield 4-1 to go through to the next round of the Surrey Senior Cup.

GUISELEY

Guiseley AFC have risen quickly in recent years up the non-League pyramid, being promoted to the Conference North in 2009-10 and then going on to be defeated in four successive campaigns in the play-offs before finally gaining promotion last year in defeating Chorley.

In the summer manager Mark Bower assembled a side with a lot of Football League and Conference North experience, especially in defence, where he can call on keeper Steve Drench; skipper Danny Lowe, formerly captain at FC Halifax Town; centre back Adam Lockwood, with over 300 appearances for Yeovil and Doncaster; and Ben Parker, who has played for Leeds United, Bradford City, Doncaster Rovers and Carlisle. Midfield additions included Will Hatfield, previously with FC Halifax Town but with nearly 100 League appearances for Accrington Stanley under his belt. Up front, Bower brought in Tom Craddock, previously with Portsmouth, Oxford United and Luton Town, to join Adam Boyes, Liam Dickinson and Nicky Boshell, younger brother of Assistant Manager and midfielder, Danny Boshell.

More recently he has brought in utility player James Hurst from Torquay United; young striker Anthony Dudley, now in his second loan spell from Bury, having previously scored five goals in seven appearances; and Emile Sinclair, a striker on loan from York City.

Guiseley presently sit in 18th place in the table with 34 points, six points clear of the relegation spots. Away from home they have won two games, drawn seven and lost seven.

In the Non-League Paper last weekend manager Mark Bower was quoted as saying â€˜Weâ€™ve got a good feel for this league now and a good idea what teams are about and what to expect from places like Braintree and Dover. Theyâ€™re different from a Woking or Torquayâ€™. A back-handed compliment â€“ or just a hint that we might be seen as a more comfortable place to visit? But Bower did go on to say that he regarded Braintree, Dover and Woking as blueprints for part-time clubs who have shown that they can challenge the full-timers.

Last weekend Guiseley drew 2-2 at Dover Athletic in the FA Trophy, with goals coming from Will Hatfield and Gavin Rothery. The replay on Tuesday night was postponed for a week because of the Lionsâ€™ waterlogged pitch.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults - Â£18
Over 65s, Students with NUS card, forces personnel and MOD civilian staff with recognised ID - Â£13
U16s - Â£5

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Another packed, full colour, 64-page matchday programme includes Mick Phillipsâ€™s insights into all the work that goes into videoing games for the Club and BT Sport; more news about the Woking FC Bikeathon, which takes place on Saturday; and another dip into the Clubâ€™s rich history. In addition, thereâ€™s a summary of recent league and Trophy results; and news from the Club Board and the Cards Trust, plus match previews, reports and the usual superb match action photos. Great value at only Â£3!

LAST TIME WE MET

Guiseley 4 Woking 4
12 September 2016

A youthful and much-changed Woking side just couldnâ€™t put this game to bed, with Guiseley equalising for the third and final time deep into eight minutes of stoppage time.

The Cards were already without Mark Ricketts and Keiran Murtagh (in addition, of course, to Scott Rendell and Ismail Yakubu) but then lost Joey Jones to a warm-up injury, Harry Cardwell stepping in at the last minute. Jimmy Keohane was making his first start for the Club.

In a lively opening both sides had early chances but John Goddard put the Cards ahead with a superb free-kick in the 8th minute before doubling the lead in the 13th minute with a close-range finish after combining sweetly with Chris Arthur.

Some poor defending then allowed Guiseley back into the game, with goals from Rob Atkinson and Nicky Boshell. But just before half-time captain Brian Saah made it 3-2 to the Cards, heading home powerfully.

The home sideâ€™s pressure after the break paid off in the 67th minute when Tom Craddock equalised but Dan Holman restored the Cardsâ€™ lead eight minutes later, finishing coolly as the Guiseley defence appealed for offside.

But, much to Garry Hillâ€™s annoyance, the Cards once again let the lead slip, with Jake Lawlor slotting home in injury time.

Guiseley: Steve Drench, Ryan Toulson, Ben Parker, Adam Lockwood, Jake Lawlor, Adam Boyes (Tom Craddock 55), Will Hatfield, Liam Dickinson, Nicky Boshell (Wayne Brooksby 55), Zac Thompson (Luke Porritt 77), Rob Atkinson

Subs not used: Danny Boshell, Steve Dickinson

Goals: Atkinson 33, Boshell 41, Craddock 67, Lawlor 90

Woking: Jake Cole, Jake Caprice (Ben Pattie 89), Chris Arthur, Brian Saah, Terell Thomas, Godfrey Poku, Harry Cardwell, Jimmy Keohane, John Goddard, Bruno Andrade (Kadell Daniel 65), Dan Holman (Giuseppe Sole 83)

Sub not used: Nick Hamann

Goals: John Goddard 8, 13, Brian Saah 45, Dan Holman 75

Attendance: 643

COMING UP

The Cards travel to Bromley next Saturday (20 February), followed by successive games away to Grimsby: first in the league on Tuesday 23 February and, second, in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy on Saturday 27 February. The Cardsâ€™ next home game is against Dover Athletic on Saturday 5 March.

Come on, you Cards!

Cards fail to grab chance

Brian Caffarey
9:22pm, Sat 13th Feb 2016

Woking 0 Guiseley AFC 1
13 February 2016

A below-par display from Garry Hillâ€™s side, especially in the first half, resulted in the Cards passing up a great opportunity to move into the play-off places. Woking fell behind to an early goal and, although they perked up in the second half, they were unable to fashion an equaliser, let alone grab the three points they really needed.

On a cold, grey, damp afternoon the Cards lined up with Matt Robinson on the right flank in place of Bruno Andrade, with the on-loan Luton midfielder never looking comfortable in that role, and it was not until Andrade came on early in the second half that Woking began to come to life.

The Cards started sluggishly and almost went behind as early as the third minute, Jake Cole just managing to divert a shot for a corner after Gavin Rothery had been allowed to run into the box unchallenged. Woking responded with a blocked effort from Mark Ricketts and then Shaun Jeffers, put clear, had a fierce drive saved by keeper Steven Drench, who was excellent on the relatively few occasions he was called into action.

The visitors continued to threaten, racking up corners, with the Cards finding it difficult to clear their lines convincingly. But the Lionsâ€™ goal in the 9th minute came from a counter-attack. Scott Griffiths was caught upfield as an attack broke down. His defensive colleagues seemed unaware of the huge gap which he had left, Brian Saah getting across too late to prevent a cross coming in, which Liam Dickinson converted easily from close in.

As so often this season, the Cardsâ€™ prospects seemed to rest mainly on the skills of John Goddard as he went on a tricky run, putting in a dangerous cross. But when he worked a good shooting chance later he shot tamely at Drench.

Guiseley had a good chance to double their lead when Emile Sinclair left Joey Jones in his wake, only to be foiled by Jake Cole tipping his shot over the bar.

There was then a delay of some six minutes after Jeffers, with no one around him, suddenly collapsed. He was eventually stretchered off, with the rumours being that he had suffered a very painful back spasm. Gez Sole came on to replace him.

In the 38th minute Goddardâ€™s clever footwork left two defenders for dead on the edge of the area. His fierce drive was palmed by Drench straight into the path of Sole but he mis-kicked horribly and so the chance went begging.

The six minutes of extra time produced a booking for a frustrated Ricketts and also one moment of brilliance as Keiran Murtaghâ€™s back flick was followed by a fine, swivelled left-foot volley from Sole and a great save from Drench. Sadly, it was in contrast to much of Wokingâ€™s play in a very disappointing first half.

Half-time: Woking 0 Guiseley AFC 1

The Cards started the second half with a bit more urgency but were still finding it difficult to string any moves together. Bruno Andrade duly came on in the 56th minute, with Murtagh giving way. But it was the visitors who threatened first, with Cole again coming to the rescue, clawing Dickinsonâ€™s header away from under his bar.

However, Andrade was soon in the action, getting the ball into the box for Joe Quigley, who turned smartly but miscued his effort on goal.

Two minutes later the Cardsâ€™ defence opened up again, with Scott Griffiths saving the day with a tremendous sliding block as James Hurst looked odds on to score.

As the game continued to liven up, Robinsonâ€™s cross presented Goddard with a good chance but his shot skimmed the bar. The arrival of Jake Caprice, in place of Joey Jones, with Cameron Norman moving to centre back, injected yet more pace and urgency into Wokingâ€™s play, as he and Andrade combined cleverly down Wokingâ€™s right flank.

The Cardsâ€™ best chance of the half came when Quigley met Andradeâ€™s cross, only to look with disbelief as Drench reacted superbly to block his effort. Other chances and half-chances followed as Sole put two free-kicks over the bar and Norman glanced a header wide. Goddard shot optimistically from distance but his effort was wide.

As the minutes ticked by and the Cards failed to find the net it became increasingly evident that they would be fortunate to retrieve a point, let alone grab the three that had looked a very decent prospect at 3pm. A Caprice cross-cum-shot swirled to land on top of the net and he also fired in a very dangerous low cross which was deflected away for a corner. Relieving Sole of free-kick duties, he managed to get his shot on target but it was a comfortable save for Drench at the foot of his post.

Into four minutes of added time Guiseley ought to have doubled their lead as Hurst crossed but Boswellâ€™s free header was directed straight at Cole.

And so a very disappointing afternoon drew to a close, with the Cards yet again faltering against a team in the lower reaches of the table.

Woking: Jake Cole, Cameron Norman, Joey Jones (Jake Caprice 66), Scott Griffiths, Matt Robinson, Keiran Murtagh (Bruno Andrade 56), Mark Ricketts, John Goddard, Joe Quigley, Shaun Jeffers (Giuseppe Sole 29)

Unused substitutes: Chris Arthur, Nick Hamann

Booked: Mark Ricketts

Sponsor (Fernox) MOTM: John Goddard (pictured)

Guiseley AFC: Steven Drench, Ryan Toulson, Danny Lowe, Jake Lawlor, Gavin Rothery (Daniel Boswell 71), Daniel Hall, Will Hatfield, Liam Dickinson (Nicky Boshell 66) , Emile Sinclair (Adam Boyes 89), Robert Atkinson, James Hurst

Unused substitutes: Ben Parker, Anthony Dudley

Goal: Liam Dickinson 9

Booked: Will Hatfield and Danny Lowe

Attendance: 1182

WOKING LINEUP
1	Jake Cole
26	Cameron Norman
233	Scott Griffiths
5	Brian Saah
7	Joey Jones ('64)
4	Mark Ricketts
8	Keiran Murtagh ('57)
14	Matt Robinson
11	John Goddard
22	Shaun Jeffers ('30)
19	Joe Quigley
BENCH
18	Nick Hamann
2	Jake Caprice ('64)
3	Chris Arthur
15	Bruno Andrade ('57)
10	Giuseppe Sole ('30)