Lovetts
7:45pm - TuesdayTue 16th AugustAug 2016
The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Att: 864

Woking
Woking
0 - 1

Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers

Cards face another tough test

Brian Caffarey
9:57pm, Sun 14th Aug 2016
Woking v Forest Green Rovers
Vanarama National League
7.45pm on Tuesday 16 August 2016

The Cards take on last year’s beaten play-off finalists, Forest Green Rovers, on Tuesday evening in what will no doubt be another testing encounter for Garry Hill’s new-look side, who have only a point to show from their three games so far. Come down to the Laithwaite Community Stadium to give them your support!

WOKING

The Cards followed up their 3-1 opening day defeat at home against a strong Lincoln City side with a 2-2 draw at newly-promoted Solihull Moors, failing to hold onto a two-goal lead. On Saturday at Southport they again took the lead, through Dennon Lewis, but quickly conceded a penalty and then were undone by a late strike from Port’s Louis Almond.

Ismail Yakubu and Delano Sam-Yorke were both missing from the squad, but late signing Anthony Edgar came on as a substitute.

The Cards now face two very tough home games against fancied sides, Forest Green Rovers and Dagenham and Redbridge. Unless some points can be gathered from those games, Cards fans will fear that the season could turn into a difficult struggle to get away from the bottom four places.

FOREST GREEN ROVERS

Rovers, beaten 3-1 by Grimsby Town in last year’s play-off final, are widely expected to be strong challengers again this season, under new manager Mark Cooper. With their financial backing from Ecotricity owner, Dale Vince, Rovers have been able to reinforce their already large and impressive squad. Their ‘marquee’ signing this summer was that of Matt Tubbs, who made his name as a top non-League striker with Salisbury before moving to Crawley, Bournemouth and Portsmouth. Other arrivals include the returning Sam Russell in goal; another keeper, Jonny Maxted; Ethan Pinnock, a central defender from Dulwich Hamlet; Jon Moran, a young central defender from Nantwich Town and formerly the Crewe Alexandra U18 captain; Harry Hickford, a defender/midfielder from MK Dons; Liam Noble, an attacking midfielder from Notts County; Drissa Traore, a midfielder from Cooper’s former club, Swindon Town; Fabien Robert, an attacking midfielder, also from Swindon ; Mohamed Chenial, a French wing back signed from Le Havre; and strikers Christian Doidge from Dagenham and Redbridge and Rhys Murphy from Oldham Athletic.

Among players retained from last season are new captain Aaran Racine, Elliot Frear, Darren Carter, Sam Wedgbury, Keanu Marsh-Brown, Charlie Clough, Rob Sinclair, Dale Bennett and Marcus Kelly. A notable departure was that of fearsome striker Jon Parkin, alongside former Woking keeper Lenny Pidgeley and, of course, Delano Sam-Yorke.

Rovers’ start to the season has been mixed, losing away 1-0 to Boreham Wood to a goal scored by ex-Card Bruno Andrade before drawing 1-1 at home to Sutton United, with Matt Tubbs getting off the mark. On Saturday they secured a fortunate late winner at home to Gateshead, who had won their two previous games by three-goal margins.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £18
Over 65/Students with valid student card £13
U16s £5

COMING UP

The Cards’ next game is this coming Saturday, 20 August (kick off 3pm), when they take on Garry Hill’s former club, Dagenham and Redbridge. Make sure the date is in your diary!

Come on, you Cards!

The wait for that first win continues

Alfie Gates
12:00am, Wed 17th Aug 2016
Woking 0 Forest Green Rovers 1
Vanarama National League
16 August 2016

With Woking being unable to find their first win of the season, many Woking fans came into this match knowing how tough it would be for the WFC players. Forest Green, who finished second last season, kicked off in their bright green kits. The evening was looking perfect for a football match, with a light warm breeze and the sound of the cheering fans.

The first 10 minutes were controlled by Forest Green possession-wise, although they failed to test Michael Poke once. However, 11 minutes in, Forest Green midfielder Rob Sinclair flashed a striking shot just wide of the post from outside the 18-yard box; unfortunately for the visitors, it was centimetres away from them being 1-0 up. Forest Green continued to dominate the game and tire the Woking players, but the FGR defence were taken by surprise on the 14th minute, as pacy Jake Caprice rushed down the right wing and crossed a dangerous low ball in. Sam Russell, who didn’t expect the resulting shot, dived out low from his goal to parry the ball away to safety.

Forest Green striker Rhys Murphy then had a not very convincing shot outside the box on the 16th minute, which was saved comfortably by poke after the shot is too central. The goal came for Forest green on the 19th minute and it was a very well taken goal, Forest Green’s danger man Noble chipped a ball into the box where it met Keanu Marsh-Brown who powerfully volleyed it past the Woking keeper.

The next 15 minutes of the match were all Forest Green. The men in light green passed the ball around the pitch very well, but on the 35th minute Zac Ansah got into a 1-on-1 situation with FGR keeper Russell; Ansah tried to slide the ball between the keeper’s legs but Russell did brilliantly to use his feet and deflected the shot out for a corner. On the 39th minute, FGR’s Rob Sinclair came off injured to be replaced by Darren Carter. In Injury time, they had the ball in the net when Carter whipped a ball in from a free .kick; it was pushed over the line only for the goal to be not given for offside.

Half Time: Woking 0 Forest Green Rovers 1

The early part of the second half was much similar to the early part of the 1st half. Forest Green were spreading themselves out across the pitch well, causing the Woking players to get out of breath with all the passes. On the 58th minute, the ever present Rhys Murphy got into another 1-on-1 situation with Poke, only for the assistant referee to raise his offside flag. Nathan Ralph was brought down 30 yards outside the box in a very central position, Fabio Saraiva took the shot low but a defender blocked it to deflect the shot just wide of the goal.

Forest Green brought on Matt Tubbs for Rhys Murphy. Woking made two substitutions; Charlie Penny came on for Dennon Lewis in the 70th Minute and Anthony Edgar for Ugwu in the 76th. Keiran Murtagh gave away a free kick 22 yards out in a dangerous position on the 80th minute. Noble shot towards the top left hand corner, but Poke did well to tip over the bar for a corner. Marsh-Brown then decided to shoot from range but again the shot was too central and Poke saved the ball comfortably.

Woking’s Kretzschmar came on for Saraiva in the 82nd minute, when Forest Green also replaced Christian Doidge with Kieffer Moore. In Injury time, Tubbs got into a great position and he half volleyed into Michael Poke, who did well to push the ball away athletically.

Woking: Michael Poke, Ben Gordon, Jake Caprice, Joey Jones, Brian Saah, Keiran Murtagh, Gozie Ugwu (Anthony Edgar 76), Zac Ansah, Nathan Ralph, Dennon Lewis (Charlie Penny 70), Fabio Saraiva (Max Kretzschmar 82)

Unused subs: Brandon Hall, Charlie Carter.

Woking formation: 4-3-3 (2 Wingers)

Forest Green Rovers: Sam Russell, Ben Jefford, Drissa Traore, Dale Bennett, Keanu Marsh-Brown, Christian Doidge (Kieffer Moore 82), Ethan Pinnock, Liam Noble, Rob Sinclair (Darren Carter 39), Aarran Racine, Rhys Murphy (Matt Tubbs 68)

Unused subs: Jonny Maxted, Mohamed Chemlal.

Forest Green formation: 4-3-2-1

MOTM as selected by match sponsors Rigby Taylor: Jake Caprice (pictured) – Gave 100% effort, didn’t stop running and wasn’t afraid to shoot, cross or even try out his skills; he also was winning headers and using his strength effectively

Referee: Constantine Hatzidakis

Attendance: 864
WOKING LINEUP
1Michael Poke
2Jake Caprice
3Ben Gordon
5Brian Saah
4Joey Jones
8Keiran Murtagh
14Fabio Saraiva ('83)
16Dennon Lewis ('70)
11Nathan Ralph
9Gozie Ugwu ('74)
10Zak Ansah
BENCH
18Brandon Hall
12Charlie Carter
15Max Kretzschmar ('83)
7Charlie Penny ('70)
19Anthony Edgar ('74)
Forest Green Rovers LINEUP

Woking 0 - 1 Forest Green Rovers (Garry Hill Interview)

Shop Online

adidas 1/4 Zip Training Top

adidas 1/4 Zip Training Top

BUY NOW »
adidas 2023/24 Away Shirt

adidas 2023/24 Away Shirt

BUY NOW »
adidas 2023/24 Home Shirt

adidas 2023/24 Home Shirt

BUY NOW »
adidas Laithwaite Financial Services Boz's Fruit and Veg Jewson MKJ Peacock Construction Seymours The National League Vanarama

Woking Football Club Limited
A company incorporated in England and Wales (company number: ‍03329172)
Registered office The Laithwaite Community Stadium, Kingfield, Woking, Surrey, GU22 9AA

Click here to read our Data Protection Privacy Policy
Click here to read our Accessibility Statement