Cards return to league action

Brian Caffarey
7:33pm, Wed 8th Nov 2017

FC Halifax Town v Woking
Vanarama National League
3pm on Saturday 11 November 2017

The Cards get back to league action on Saturday with a long trip to West Yorkshire before resuming Emirates FA Cup action on Tuesday with another lengthy excursion to Bury. Their morale ought to have been boosted by a good performance against the League 1 side, with the Cards looking the more accomplished outfit for most of the game. But Anthony Limbrickâ€™s side could do with picking up some more points in the league to maintain a challenge for a play-off place.

WOKING

The Cards may feel a little disappointed not to have finished off Bury on Saturday. After conceding a goal 45 seconds in, Woking equalised deservedly through a very fine header from Jamie Philpot and, till midway through the second half at least, looked like the only team interested in, or capable of, winning. Letâ€™s hope our best chance has not gone.

For the trip to Halifax, Anthony will at least be able to call on Kane Ferdinand again, whoâ€™s now served his three-match suspension. But itâ€™s reported that Josh Staunton, who missed the game against Bury, will be out for a couple of weeks more with an ankle ligaments injury. Weâ€™ll have to see whether either of Charlie Carter and Bobson Bawling are fit enough to figure in the team selection. Itâ€™s interesting to note that Fabio Saraiva has now been on the bench for three consecutive games without actually getting on the pitch. Jason Banton was also fit enough to return to the bench on Saturday.

FC HALIFAX TOWN

The Shaymen, having been relegated at the end of the 2015-16 season, bounced straight back under new manager Billy Heath, defeating Chorley in last seasonâ€™s Conference North play-off final.

Heath had brought in several players from his previous club, North Ferriby United, including striker Tom Denton, who had a spell on loan at Woking from Huddersfield, and midfielder Liam King.

The Shaymen had an uncertain start to this season, failing to score in their first three league games, but went on an unbeaten six-game run from mid-August. More recently, they have registered only one win in their last seven league games. They now sit in 15th place in the table with 24 points from 18 games. At home they have won four league games, drawn two and lost three, scoring and conceding 11 goals. In the FA Cup they were knocked out by Tranmere Rovers in the 4th Qualifying Round. They did not have a fixture last weekend.

In goal, Heath can choose between 6â€™7â€� Sam Johnson, who signed from Port Vale in the summer after two previous loan spells, and Tom Nicholson, another incomer from North Ferriby, with whom he won an FA Trophy winnerâ€™s medal. Defenders include Zimbabwean Cliff Moyo, another with experience at North Ferriby; Josh Wilde, yet another North Ferriby exile; Scott McManus, previously with Crewe and FC United of Manchester; Scott Garner, who was Boston Unitedâ€™s captain; Nathan Hotte, formerly with Bradford PA and North Ferriby; Martin Riley; and Matty Brown, a danger at set pieces, previously with Chesterfield, Southport and Chester.

In midfield, the Shaymenâ€™s squad includes Danny Clarke, another recruit from North Ferriby; Connor Oliver; Bohan Dixon; Dion Charles, on loan from Fleetwood Town; Josh MacDonald; Jake Hobbs; and talented left-winger Matt Kosylo, who has been the danger man in recent games. Daniel Batty, 19, is a recent loan arrival from Hull City.

Up front, in addition to top scorer Tom Denton, Heath can call on Adam Clarke, who started his career with Liverpool; and Ben Tomlinson. George Waring has recently arrived on loan from Tranmere Rovers. Midfielder David Lynch has just re-joined Southport for an undisclosed fee.

GETTING THERE

The Shay Stadium
Halifax
HX1 2YT (2YS for sat navs)

Official website: www.halifaxafc.co.uk

By coach

The Cards Trust is running a coach to this match. It will leave The Laithwaite Community Stadium at 8.30am. The cost is Â£30 for members, Â£35 for non-members, and Â£15/Â£18 for under 16s.

To book please emailÂ shop@wokingfc.co.uk

The Trust will also run a coach to the replay at Bury, leaving at 2.30pm, if there are enough â€˜takersâ€™. Please let the Club Shop know by Thursday if you're interested. Cost to members will be Â£30, non-members Â£35, and Â£15/Â£18 for under 16s.

By car

Take the M62, exiting at junction 24. Follow signs for A629 Halifax into Skircoat Road, then on to Shaw Hill, where you will find the ground.

By train

Trains go at 00, 20 and 40 minutes past the hour from Euston and take about three and a half hours e.g. 10.00 (13.33), 10.20 (14.05) and 10.40 (14.14). All seem to involve a change at Manchester Piccadilly and then either getting a connection to Manchester Victoria or sometimes a train from Piccadilly to Huddersfield and then a change there for a train to Halifax. There are also a few trains, via a different but usually slower route, from St Pancras. Returning, there are trains to Euston at 17.20 (21.20) and 17.56 (21.59), the first via Huddersfield and Manchester Piccadilly, the second via Manchester Victoria and Piccadilly.

Look up www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.thetrainline.com for more details of times and prices.

The ground is five to ten minutesâ€™ walk from Halifax station. Leave the car park, turn left and the ground is on your right in half a mile.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults Â£18
Over 65 and Students with ID Â£15
U16 Â£5
U7 Â£3

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 1 FC Halifax Town 1
Vanarama National League
23 January 2016

Woking ground out a hard-fought draw against an improving FC Halifax Town despite playing with ten men for over an hour, as Bruno Andradeâ€™s first-half goal was cancelled out a few minutes later by Sam Walkerâ€™s precise free-kick.

With the home side hunting a fourth consecutive win in all competitions, their strong start was halted after Chris Arthur was shown a straight red card midway through the first half. Despite the setback, Woking took the lead ten minutes later through Andradeâ€™s mesmerising run and shot.

However, Woking were pegged back when Walker converted a curling free-kick for Halifax five minutes before the interval. Nevertheless, the Cards showed strong resilience to keep out the Shaymen and take a well-deserved point to make it nine games unbeaten.

Woking: Jake Cole, Chris Arthur, Brian Saah, Joey Jones, Cameron Norman, John Goddard, Mark Ricketts (c), Keiran Murtagh, Bruno Andrade (Jake Caprice 67), Joe Quigley, Giuseppe Sole (Matthew Robinson 30)

Unused subs: Nick Hamann, Godfrey Poku, Alex Smith

Goal: Andrade (35)

Red Card: Arthur (25)

FC Halifax Town: Sam Johnson, James Bolton, Scott McManus, Hamza Bencherif, Matty Brown, Kevin Roberts (Josh MacDonald 71), Nicky Wroe (c), Kingsley James, Sam Walker (Dino Fazlic 61), Shaun Tuton, Jordan Burrow

Unused subs: Jordan Porter, Richard Peniket, Jake Hibbs

Goal: Walker (39)

Attendance: 1,484

COMING UP

The Cards travel to Bury on Tuesday 14 November for their Emirates FA Cup 1st Round Replay. They are then at home to Maidenhead United on Saturday 18 November and then at home again, to Ebbsfleet United, the following Tuesday (21 November).

Come on, you Cards!

Stalemate at The Shay

Ian Toft
12:00am, Sat 11th Nov 2017

FC Halifax Town 0 Woking 0
Vanarama National League
11th November 2017

Woking ground out a goalless draw in West Yorkshire to earn a valuable point in the Vanarama National League. In a game of very few clear chances the Cards needed to be resilient throughout to nullify the threat posed by FC Halifax Town and they kept to their task of keeping a clean sheet with reasonable ease. On another day Anthony Limbrick might have been hopeful for better opportunities to score at the other end but on this day it was largely not to be.

The afternoon began in a sombre mood with a moment of remembrance and reflection to thank and pay our tributes to the brave servicemen and women who serve and have served in the Armed Forces all over the world, both in wartime and peace. In addition to a two minute silence the Last Post was performed, all impeccably observed by the crowd of 1,710.

Anthony Limbrick made two changes to the side that had previously earned a draw with League One Bury in the FA Cup with Kane Ferdinand returning from suspension and a recall for Declan Appau in place of Chez Isaac and Joe Ward. Woking attacked the South Stand in the first half in cold, crisp and clear conditions.

An early tussle led to Charles-Cook a little shaken up which resulted in a brief check up from the Cards physio. Ralph floated the resulting free-kick into the box though it was comfortably cleared by the home team.

The Shaymen got their first opportunity in the fifth minute when a cross into the box couldnâ€™t be controlled by Orlu. The ball ran through to Denton who appeared to be clean through. However his shot was comfortably saved by Baxter.

Kane Ferdinand was initially sent clean through but was tracked back and sent wide. Though he successfully managed to control the ball his cross was too deep and sailed over the rushing pack.

MacDonald was sent down the right wing for the Shaymen and as he surged forward Ralph mistimed his attempted tackle bringing down his opponent on the edge of the box and earning the first booking of the game. The free kick was sung in by Middleton which found its way through to Denton. However the Halifax striker found the ball stuck under his feet and couldnâ€™t get a clean shot away.

A few minutes later the home side were aggrieved by a call from the officials when Dentonâ€™s nod down appeared to send Batty clear. However play was halted when the linesman spotted that he had ran on to the pass from an offside position.

Middleton played an accurate pass forward for the home side that appeared to cut out a number of Cards looking to intercept. However the weight of the pass narrowly eluded McManus who looked best placed to collect clean through.

One last first half opportunity for the home side came and went when a superb whipped cross from MacDonald from the right eluded all of the Woking defence and Denton was left with a free header at the back post after he escaped his marker. However his header cleared the crossbar much to the frustration of the home supporters.

Half Time: FC Halifax Town 0 - 0 Woking

Like the first half the second again began with a heavy challenge on a Cards player. This time it was Orlu who needed a little time to be escorted from the field for some treatment.

However the second half would begin slowly with no chances of note for at least the first ten minutes of the half. When some action did arrive it was Charles Cook who sought to grab the impetus. After collecting deep in midfield his mazy run took him out wide to the left. Having stepped past two attempted tackles he earned a corner for the visitors. Unfortunately the next play was comfortably collected by Johnson in front of the Halifax goal.

Middleton collected a loose ball in the centre of the park for the Shaymen and laid on a quick through ball over the Cards backline for MacDonald to chase. However his first time effort nestled straight into the arms of Baxter.

Soon after Tomlinson had replaced Batty for the home side, Ferdinand collected a pass to advance down the right. A heavy challenge by Garner on the edge of the box resulted in a minor alteration between the two players resulting in referee Peter Gibbons having to step in and mediate. After a stern talking to for both players and the award of a free kick to the Cards, the resulting play was comfortably defended by Halifax.

A Josh Wilde cross in to the Cards penalty area from deep out to the left should have been comfortably dealt with by Wynter. However he was eluded by the bounce which presented Denton with a clean shot at goal. However his powerful strike was hit wide of the far post.

Having been brought on to add some impetus to the Cards attack, Joe Ward collected from 25 yards out and with a quick turn shot low to the far post. Scrambling across his goal, Johnson could only get down to parry the strike around his post for a corner. From the resulting cross Wynter collected just inside the penalty area but his shot was high and wide.

In the dying stages the home side had a couple of penalty claims for handball waved away by the referee and had one final opportunity when a fierce shot from Middleton was bravely deflected away from goal by Orlu. However throughout the afternoon it was apparent that neither side posed any great ability to get a clear shot on the otherâ€™s goal.

In reality this had been a poor game of football with both teams comfortably able to handle the threat posed by one another. The reality is that little from this game would be given consideration for any scrapbook or end of season highlights reel. Nevertheless this has historically been the sort of game that Cards fans will know that they could have lost and both they and Anthony Limbrick will be pleased that the team stuck to their task to come away with a valuable draw.

Woking now turn their attention to another ground just 23 miles from The Shay when they return north to Gigg Lane on Tuesday for the FA Cup first round replay with Bury. After a solid showing in the first game Anthony Limbrick will be keen to see the task through and earn a place in the second round of the competition.

Woking: Nathan Baxter, Matt Young, Richard Orlu (c), Jordan Wynter, Nathan Ralph, Joey Jones, Kane Ferdinand, Declan Appau (Chez Isaac 56), Regan Charles-Cook, Inih Effiong, Jamie Philpot (Joe Ward 68)

Unused subs: Fabio Saraiva. Lazar Stojsavljevic, Sam Mason

Yellow Cards: Ralph

FC Halifax Town: Sam Johnson, Josh Wilde (George Waring 88), Matthew Brown (c), Scott Garner, Nathan Hotte, Tom Denton, Scott McManus, Josh MacDonald, Harry Middleton, Josh Clackstone, Daniel Batty (Ben Tomlinson 88)

Unused subs: Tom Nicholson, Connor Oliver, Danny Clarke

Yellow Cards: Wilde

My MOTM: Joey Jones: On a day of so few chances and where there was little to choose between many Cards performers, the defensive midfielder gets the acclaim. The importance of his ability to root out the potential danger and be there to close down to win back possession cannot be underestimated. Without this, Halifax may well have enjoyed more success in pressurising the Cards backline.

Referee: Peter Gibbons

Attendance: 1,710

FC Halifax Town LINEUP
1	Sam Johnson
3	Josh Wilde ('88)
11	Scott McManus
5	Matty Brown
6	Scott Garner
8	Nathan Hotte
15	Josh MacDonald
35	Harry Middleton
36	Josh Clackstone
37	Daniel Batty ('62)
9	Tom Denton
BENCH
13	Tom Nicholson
14	Ben Tomlinson ('62)
10	Connor Oliver
18	Danny Clarke
38	George Waring ('88)

WOKING LINEUP
1	Nathan Baxter
21	Matt Young
3	Nathan Ralph
6	Richard Orlu
15	Jordan Wynter
4	Joey Jones
22	Kane Ferdinand
17	Declan Appau ('56)
20	Jamie Philpot ('67)
11	Regan Charles-Cook
9	Inih Effiong
BENCH
18	Sam Mason
24	Lazar Stojsavljevic
8	Chez Isaac ('56)
14	Fabio Saraiva
23	Joe Ward ('67)