Boz's Fruit & Veg
FA Cup (Q4)
3:00pm - SaturdaySat 14th OctoberOct 2017
The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Att: 1004

Woking
Woking
1 - 1

Concord Rangers
Concord Rangers

Cards crave Cup run

Brian Caffarey
5:45am, Thu 12th Oct 2017
Woking v Concord Rangers
The Emirates FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round
3pm on Saturday 14 October 2017

Anthony Limbrick clearly appreciates that, while it’s marvellous to see the side performing so well in the National League, a good FA Cup run (long overdue!) would be a huge boost to the Club, both in terms of profile and finances. The Cards have been handed a favourable draw on paper, being at home against a side struggling in the National League South, but he will be well aware how form can be turned upside down in cup games. He will be keen to ensure that no complacency sets in and that Woking make the draw for the First Round Proper. Come down to the Laithwaite Community Stadium on Saturday to cheer on the Cards in what we hope will be the start of a memorable FA Cup run in what has already proved an exciting season. Normal admission prices have been reduced.

WOKING

The Cards’ excellent recent form continued last Saturday, with the side notching their seventh win in their last nine games as they overcame a very capable Dagenham and Redbridge side to consolidate third place in the table. The team had to display once more all the resilience that has marked a number of recent performances, with some outstanding defensive work providing the platform for a magical winner from Regan Charles-Cook. It says something about the strength of the side that, while the sponsors voted Chez Isaac ‘man of the match’ – and understandably so – the Non-League Paper gave the accolade, equally deservedly, to Jordan Wynter, who has barely put a foot wrong as a midfielder playing centre back, while Anthony Limbrick was the ‘manager of the day’. A special mention must go, too, to Academy player Lazar Stojsavljevic, who could not really have been asked to make a more daunting first full appearance but who, nevertheless, performed very well against a top side.

The Cards will be missing the excellent Josh Staunton on Saturday, following his fifth booking against Dagenham. But, with Richard Orlu returning from injury, there is a ready-made replacement. It would be no surprise, too, to see Joey Jones’s name somewhere on the team sheet and perhaps an unforced change or two (but not too many, please!) in the starting eleven. Nathan Baxter, Regan Charles-Cook and Jamie Philpot would all need clearance from their respective parent clubs to play.

The winners of the tie will receive £12,500 in prize money and a place in the First Round Proper, which will be played on the weekend of 4/5 November.

CONCORD RANGERS

The Beachboys were formed in 1967 as a boys’ club in Canvey Island and got their name from Concord Beach, near their ground. The club has had a huge rise up the non-League pyramid since starting off in the Thundermile Boys’ Football League. They eventually reached the Essex Senior League, where they spent 17 seasons before Danny Cowley, who went on to manage Braintree Town and, now, Lincoln City, propelled them through three promotions to the Conference South, which they reached at the end of the 2012-13 season, beating Lowestoft Town in the play-off final. They finished 9th in their first season at that level. The following year they finished 7th and also reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, losing to Mansfield Town in a replay.

The present manager, Adam Flanagan, was appointed in May 2015. In the 2015-16 season they finished 10th in the Conference South, dropping to 18th last season.

The Beachboys started off this season fairly satisfactorily but then suffered six consecutive league defeats from the end of August. But the FA Cup seems to have inspired a revival and they have now gone four games undefeated. They beat Tunbridge Wells 4-0 at home in the Second Qualifying Round, following that with a draw at Hampton and Richmond Borough in the league. Next up, on 30 September, was a 3-0 home win over Dorking Wanderers in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. Last Saturday they drew 1-1 at home with Havant and Waterlooville in the league, captain Steve Cawley netting their goal.

The Beachboys now sit in 21st place in the league with nine points from 13 games. Away from home, they have drawn one league game and lost five, scoring four goals and conceding 12.

Concord’s squad contains several very experienced players plus a number of new signings this summer. In the first camp are defender Steve King with over 340 appearances for the club, striker Steve Cawley with some 200 appearances and 70 goals and well-travelled keeper, Louis Wells. Arrivals this summer included defender Jordan Brown, who had been on loan from Welling United last season; midfielder Ben Greenhaigh, returning for his third spell from Hemel Hempstead Town; Billy Roast, previously captain at Maldon and Tiptree and of Colchester’s U21 side; Kyron Farrell, a midfielder who had been on loan from Millwall to Braintree Town last season; Khola Da Costa, a pacy winger formerly with Hendon and Harlow; Jordan Cox, a striker returning after a loan spell from Braintree in the 2015-16 season and a successful stint last season as part of Maidenhead United’s promotion-winning squad; midfielder Harry Lee, originally with Leyton Orient but subsequently with Welling and Braintree; defender Lewis Knight, formerly with Leatherhead, Brentwood Town and Chatham Town; and Femi Akinwande, on loan at East Thurrock United last season from Colchester United.

ADMISSION PRICES

Season-ticket holders are reminded that this is an ‘all pay’ game. However, normal admission prices have been reduced:

Adults £15
Concessions (Over 65s and Students Under 19) £10
U16s £5

Woking season ticket holders have the chance to sample the delights of the Geoff Chapple Lounge for only £36. See the website for details.

If a replay is required, it will be on Tuesday evening at Concord Rangers’ ground, with a 7.45pm kick-off.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Don’t forget to grab a copy of ‘Cardinals’. Only £3 for interviews, previews, match reports, Academy updates and great photos. Saturday’s edition includes a look at Woking’s recent FA Cup history.

COMING UP

The Cards return to National League action on Saturday 21 October when they travel to Neil Smith’s in-form Bromley and then to second-placed Dover Athletic on Tuesday 24 October. The Cards Trust hopes to run a coach to both games: ring or email the Club Shop to book your seat or call in on Saturday. The next home league game is against Guiseley on Saturday 28 October.

Come on, you Cards!


Engines stalled as Concord frustrate shot-shy Cards

Albert Cole
12:00am, Sat 14th Oct 2017
Woking 1 Concord Rangers 1
FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round
14th October 2017

Woking came into this game in great league form, and were short-priced favourites to see off the challenge of Concord Rangers, who sat just one off the bottom in Vanarama League South, and without an away win all season. That said, they were also on a four-game unbeaten run, and had triumphed in their last two FA Cup Qualifying ties by convincing margins of 3-0 and 4-0.

The Cards made three changes from the side that defeated Dagenham & Redbridge seven days earlier; fit again skipper Richard Orlu replacing the suspended Josh Staunton, also fit again left back Nathan Ralph in for academy graduate Lazar Stojsavljevic, and Inih Effiong starting in place of Jamie Philpot.

Woking started the game attacking the Leslie Gosden stand, but as early as the first minute Concord’s Khale Da Costa broke into the box, forcing Jordan Wynter into a hurried clearance for a corner. The corner in took a couple of headed flicks, before landing on the roof of the Woking net for another corner. This time, Woking won a free kick as Nathan Ralph was fouled on the edge of his own penalty area. Up the other end, Woking also forced a couple of corners in quick succession; the second of which was chased away to safety.

In the fifth minute, a decent ball from midfield into the Woking penalty area caused concern, with the Beach Boys skipper and leading scorer, Steve Cawley, just unable to connect. Four minutes later, a free kick from midfield was floated into the box and skimmed off the head of Effiong and away for a corner. It did seem rather strange to see Effiong on defensive duties, rather than in his usual position as an ‘outlet’ in such situations.

Woking were struggling to impose their usual quick passing game on the visitors, but Bawling got away down the right and put over a good cross, but this was safely gathered in by Louis Wells in the visitors’ goal. Joe Ward also burst into the box before playing in Effiong, who looked certain to score but Wells clawed it away superbly. The resulting corner was dealt with comfortably enough.

On 22 minutes, Steve Cawley gathered the ball in space in midfield, looked up, and seeing Baxter off his line, tried an outrageous effort from fully 35 yards. Baxter seemed to have lost his bearings, but recovered well enough to back-pedal and scramble the ball away for a corner.

Long throw-ins by Harry Lee seemed to be a particular strength of the Beach Boys play, and it was from one such set piece that they took the lead in the 35th minute. Woking defenders failed to properly clear, and failed again to react to the second ball, allowing Cawley too much time and space to pivot on the edge of the area, firing the ball with his left foot away from Baxter’s dive and into the net for his sixth goal of the season. It nearly got even worse six minutes later as Femi Akinwande got away down the Woking right before squaring to Cawley, who bent a shot just wide apparently with the aid of a deflection.

Half-Time: Woking 0 Concord Rangers 1

Woking had looked a shadow of the side we had come to expect in the first half, and Anthony Limbrick effected an immediate change at the start of the second half, presumably looking for a reaction, bringing on Jason Banton, yet another injury returnee, in place of Bawling.

The Cards certainly showed more urgency after the break, with much good stuff coming through Banton; but whilst there was certainly much more movement and endeavour, on too many occasions good positions were worked only for one too many touches to be tried when shooting looked like the best option.

Ten minutes in, the ball fell to Orlu on the left hand edge of the area, but he fired just over under pressure. Concord were content to sit deep with all ten outfield players behind the ball and invite Woking on to them.

On 66 minutes on-loan Millwall striker Jamie Philpot entered the fray, Matt Young making way. Chez Isaac went to right back, allowing Philpot to play alongside Effiong up front. The Beach Boys bench countered immediately; bringing on the vastly experienced Steve King in place of Da Costa.

Regan Charles-Cook went on an exciting mazy run from midfield, escaping the clutches of Harry Lee, but again tried to do too much when he had worked a good position for himself, and the danger was cleared. Harry Lee was cautioned for an attempted pull-back in the build-up.

On 74 minutes, a corner from the right by Isaac was met by the head of Kane Ferdinand, but his downward header bounced up and straight into the arms of keeper Wells. It didn’t look like being Woking’s day, and three minutes later, in a last throw of the dice, the Cards threw on Charlie Carter in place of Chez Isaac, the formation changing to a back three.

Just when it looked like the Cards were going to fall victim to a cup shock, Banton won the ball 25 yards out and drove at the Concord defence, drifted past a couple of defenders, and tried his luck. His shot was deflected away, but fell kindly to sub Philpot who kept his cool to fire back across goal and beyond Wells into the net, to the delight of the faithful in the KRE.

Woking had their tails up now, and right on 90 minutes Joe Ward worked an opening for himself on the edge of the area, moved the ball onto his left foot and unleashed a fierce shot that looked certain to nestle in the top corner, but somehow Wells made a superb diving save to push it away for a corner.

The fourth official signalled 4 minutes of added time, and in the first of them Charles-Cook was bundled off the ball 30 yards from goal. Joe Ward took responsibility for the free kick, but unfortunately fired into the side netting.

At the death, the shock very nearly materialised after all. Cawley, easily Concord’s best player on the day, broke down the right. The Cards' defence seemed to freeze as he unleashed a fierce shot which cannoned off the near post with a thud. Seconds later, the referee’s whistle signalled a replay on Tuesday night in Canvey Island would be necessary to separate these two sides. Woking will need to be in much better form then to ensure that they make the first round proper for another season.

Woking: Nathan Baxter, Matt Young, (Jamie Philpot 66), Nathan Ralph, Chez Isaac, (Charlie Carter 77), Jordan Wynter, Richard Orlu ©, Bobson Bawling (Jason Banton 46), Kane Ferdinand, Inih Effiong, Regan Charles-Cook, Joe Ward

Unused Subs: Joey Jones, Declan Appau, Lazar Stojsavljevic, Sam Mason

Goal: Philpot 86

Concord Rangers: Louis Wells, Jed Smith, (Kyron Farrells 85), Amos Nasha, Lewis Knight, Billy Roast, Khale Da Costa, (Steve King 67), Harry Lee, Femi Akinwande, (Rob Girdlestone 80), Steve Cawley ©, Lewis Taaffe

Unused Subs: Adam Topley, Danny Parish, George Marsh

Goal: Cawley 35

Referee: Savvas Yianni

Attendance: 1,004

My MOTM: Richard Orlu – the returning skipper did everything that was required of him in a calm and composed manner.
WOKING LINEUP
1Nathan Baxter
21Matt Young ('66)
3Nathan Ralph
6Richard Orlu
15Jordan Wynter
8Chez Isaac ('77)
22Kane Ferdinand
11Regan Charles-Cook
7Bobson Bawling ('46)
23Joe Ward
9Inih Effiong
BENCH
18Sam Mason
4Joey Jones
24Lazar Stojsavljevic
17Declan Appau
12Charlie Carter ('77)
10Jason Banton ('46)
20Jamie Philpot ('66)
Concord Rangers LINEUP
1Louis Wells
2Jed Smith ('85)
3Jordan Brown
4Amos Nasha
5Lewis Knight
6Billy Roast
7Khale Da Costa ('67)
8Harry Lee
9Femi Akinwande ('80)
10Steve Cawley
11Lewis Taaffe
BENCH
12Steve King ('67)
14Adam Topley
15Danny Parish
16Rob Girdlestone ('80)
17George Marsh
18Kyron Farrell ('85)

Woking 1 - 1 Concord Rangers (Anthony Limbrick Interview)

Woking 1 - 1 Concord Rangers (Richard Orlu Interview)

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