Laithwaite Independent Financial Advisers
VNLS
7:45pm - TuesdayTue 12th MarchMar 2019
RAW Charging Stadium | Att: 347

Oxford City
Oxford City
1 - 2

Woking
Woking

Cards aiming for daylight at the top of the table

Glen Harrington
9:08pm, Mon 11th Mar 2019
Oxford City vs Woking
Vanarama National League South
Tuesday 12th March 2019


The Cards will be looking to move three points clear at the top of the National League South table on Tuesday evening when they travel to Oxford City.

On Saturday, Woking and title rivals Torquay United stayed level on points after Alan Dowson’s side picked up a comfortable 2-0 home win over Chippenham Town, a fourth consecutive victory at the Laithwaite Community Stadium, whilst the Gulls won by the same scoreline at Billericay Town. But with the Devon-based side not in action again until next weekend the Cards have the opportunity to put the pressure on by moving clear at the summit. In order to do so they’ll need to overcome some mixed recent results away from home, with just two wins in five league games since the turn of the year, including a disappointing draw with struggling Hungerford Town ten days ago.

Oxford have had a reasonable season thus far and remain on track to improve upon last season’s 16th place finish. They currently sit in 13th place with 41 points from 33 games, with 12 wins, 5 draws and 16 defeats. They have scored an impressive 51 goals, 18 of them from star striker Kabongo Tshimanga, although they have also conceded 52 – only one top-half team, Chippenham, has conceded more. Their recent form is poor with just four points from their last ten league games, dating back to the turn of the year, whilst their eight defeats have included a 7-2 mauling at Torquay and last Saturday’s 5-3 thriller at home to Hampton and Richmond. Further disappointment against the likes of Hungerford, Gloucester and Truro have derailed what was a potential play-off campaign.

This is a game which promises goals so we hope that as many fans as possible will make the journey and, hopefully, enjoy an entertaining match-up.

Woking Team News

Dowse’s biggest selection issues are likely to be up front. Jake Hyde, who moved to 14 goals in all competitions with his brace on Saturday but went off with a slight injury reoccurrence at half-time, is unlikely to feature on the artificial surface. Harvey Bradbury is the most natural replacement but the Woking boss could also opt to play Greg Luer, utilised on the right of the front four against Chippenham, through the middle. Reise Allassani, Max Kretzschmar and a returning Paul Hodges, an unused substitute last time out, could then be a natural attacking trio.

The Cards will once again be sweating on the fitness of midfielder Armani Little, man-of-the-match against Chippenham, who was forced off early for the second game in a row – this time with a shoulder injury. His blooming partnership with new signing Olu Durojaiye has been highly promising over the last few weeks but Dowse knows he also has the vastly experienced Christian Jolley to call upon too. In defence, the back five looks likely to pick itself, although Jack Cook will no doubt be keen to state his case for a recall should anyone be carrying a slight knock.

Oxford City Team News

Against Dowse’s former club Hampton, manager Mark Jones selected Steven Caro in goal, with a back four of Eddie Jones, Hereford United loanee Joel Dielna, Tarik Moore-Azille and former Torquay and Aldershot man Joe Oastler; in midfield was Josh Ashby, signed from city rivals Oxford United last summer, and Jack Self, while out wide were Kyran Wiltshire and Owen James; up front was top scorer Tshimanga and Brandon Thomas-Asante, on loan from MK Dons.

There are a couple of former Woking players in the squad – Bobson Bawling was an unused substitute against Hampton, whilst Ben Jefford, sent-off at Kingfield earlier this season, is also part of the Oxford setup.

On the Day

Court Place Farm can be found on Marsh Lane; the postcode is OX3 0NQ – a drive of around one hour from the Laithwaite Community Stadium. The nearest station is Oxford which is around a 15-minute taxi journey from the ground.

Supporters can also book a place on the travelling club coach which departs at 4.00pm. The cost for trust members is £10 adults and £5 for under-16s – with a £5 increase for non-members. To book your place please contact Adam Bowyer (adam.bowyer@cardstrust.co.uk) or call the club shop.

Matchday ticket prices are £12 for adults, £6 for concessions and £3 for under-16s.


Next Up

The Cards are on the road again on Saturday when they travel to Welling United. Our next home game is the following Saturday against Slough Town before an important trip to Bath City to end our March fixture list.

Cards get through difficult Oxford examination, securing a 2-1

John Pearce
12:00am, Tue 12th Mar 2019
Oxford City 1 Woking 2
Vanarama National League South
12th March 2019

I could, of course, have gone with the headline ‘Oxford City 1 Oxford United 2’, as it was goals from Armani Little and Harvey Bradbury that represented the difference between the two teams on the night, as the Cards secured a vital win.

Oxford City had taken an early lead through a penalty, which Woking responded to with a lovely free-kick from Little just outside the box. A ‘last gasp’ goal from Harvey Bradbury – effectively the last meaningful kick of the game, just when Woking fans had resigned themselves to coming away from Marsh Lane with a single point - sealed all 3 and left Woking 3 points clear of the Gulls at the top of table, having played one game more.

On an evening that was dry and cold, with the earlier heavy rain having abated and the strong winds of late mostly subdued, Woking fielded a side with one change from the home game against Chippenham, with Paul Hodges replacing a Jake Hyde whose past unfortunate experience of injuries on 3G pitches had understandably influenced a decision not to play him. This meant Greg Luer started in a lone role up front. Nicky Wheeler, absent in recent weeks, returned to the bench. There was one familiar face in the Oxford squad, with former Woking player Bobson Bawling on the bench.

The game started slowly with both sides cagey and few decisive moves. Little was fouled near the City area in the 4th minute, as was a City defender from the resulting free kick. Another Woking free kick 5 minutes later was put just over the Oxford bar by Kretzschmar.

Then on 13 minutes, a long Oxford ball from the right fell at the feet of prolific striker, No. 9 Kabongo Tshimanga, and his move into the box was brought to an abrupt halt by the Cards keeper, Craig Ross. Tshimanga –who, unless my ears deceived me, also appears to answer to the name of ‘Kevin’, judging by words of encouragement from nearby home fans – fired home the penalty from the spot. 1-0 to City.

A couple of minutes later – with Woking generally being outplayed at this juncture – Oxford forced another corner; Ashby’s kick was headed out. However, the Cards were awarded a free kick just outside of the area to the right of the goal. Little’s beautifully placed kick dropped into the top right-hand corner and was only slightly flattered by the slow reaction of King in the Oxford goal. 1-1.

A spot of aggro between Casey and Kyran Wiltshire, when the latter refused to release the ball for a Woking throw-in, prompted some briefs words of admonition from the ref. By now, Woking had started to play with more confidence and fluidity than earlier. However, a series of niggling tackles led to the respective No. 8’s, Fleet and Little, finding themselves in the ref’s book around the 35th minute. Shortly afterwards, Fleet fired a shot past the right-hand post of Ross’ goal.

The first half petered out, with the Cards being awarded a few free kicks and, by now, taking the majority of the possession of the ball.

Half-time: Oxford City 1 Woking 1

The second half kicked off to Woking chants of ‘My garden shed is bigger than this’ behind the Oxford goal.

Duly inspired, the Cards made a strong start to the half. A purposeful run on the left by Luer gave them a corner, taken by Kretzschmar, promptly knocked back to him for another go, and collected by the keeper. Another corner ensued 2 minutes later, which the keeper fumbled but eventually claimed.

The relatively diminutive Jack Cook came on as substitute for Moussa Diarra in the 53rd minute, and Harvey Bradbury replaced Reise Allassani in the 60th – as did Bawling for City.

In the 68th minute, Little made a surging run from left to right, passed a number of Oxford players, and fired in a shot which hit the side netting. At the other end, Ross did well to save a short range shot.

Kretzschmar slipped a ball through to Bradbury on the right, and his attempt to centre was blocked for another corner, which King deflected onto a Woking head and out for a goal kick.

On 74 minutes, Oxford’s Jack Dielna went down from a tackle and looked like he may have incurred a hamstring injury. He was helped off by the physio and replaced by Albie Hopkins.

Bawling was looking lively on Oxford’s right and arguably show as many glimpses of his real ability on the night as he had managed in a complete season for Woking (mostly spent out injured).

Collier went on a strong run, and released the ball to Hodges who ran, in characteristic fashion, past a couple of Oxford defenders and gained a corner. From that, a low header by Cook passed the right stanchion of the goal.

With time running out, there was a bit of a flurry of activity from Oxford in the Woking area. In the 41st minute, the ball arrived at the feet of Thomas-Asante immediately in front of the goal but he managed to send it soaring over the bar. Two minutes later, Casey forced a corner on the right at the other end; Little’s kick fell straight into the keeper’s arms. And soon we were into time added on.

Then came the dramatic denouement as the Cards upped the pressure in the Oxford box in the final moments. Dorojaiye blasted the ball against a City defender, and it ricocheted out a long way out to Casey. He floated it back into the area, where it touched Gerring’s head on the way to Bradbury’s chest, who then slammed it against the underside of the Oxford bar and into the back of the net over the keeper’s head.

Cue delirium from the substantial contingent of travelling Cards fans immediately behind that goal; cue also Bradbury’s shirt come off – an almost understandable reaction given the release of pent-up tension – and the yellow card coming out. There only remained time for the home team to restart from the centre circle, upon which the referee blew his whistle. Proceedings completed with some brief ‘handbags’ with the mightily relieved Cards players slightly over-eager with their celebrations in the faces of the dispirited City ones; things soon calmed down.


Harvey Bradbury strikes for the late late Woking winner; pic: David Holmes


In summary, it was a bit of a scrappy, unconvincing performance from the Cards on the night with City matching them most of the way, until those final moments and an outcome that most watching would have by then ruled out as highly unlikely. One could roll out the old cliché about the mark of potential champions being their ability to pull something ‘out of the bag’ when they’re having an off day. With a difficult match away to Welling United – often a bogey side in recent years – coming up next, the Cards will need to up their game to come away with points.

Woking: 1. Craig Ross, 2. Nathan Collier, 3. Josh Casey ©, 4. Moussa Diarra (Jack Cook 53’), 5. Ben Gerring, 6. Olu Durojaiye, 7. Paul Hodges, 8. Armani Little, 9. Greg Luer, 10. Max Kretzschmar, 11. Reise Allassani (Harvey Bradbury 60')

Unused subs: 15. Nicky Wheeler, 16. Christian Jolley, 18. Sam Mason

Goals: Little 26’, Bradbury 90+4’

Bookings: Little, Bradbury

Oxford City 1. Craig King, 2. Eddie Jones, 3. Ryan Case, 18. Joel Dielna (16. Albie Hopkins 74’), 6. Joe Oastler ©, 7. Kyran Wiltshire (Bobson Bawling 60’), 8. Reece Fleet, 9. Kabongo Tshimanga, 10. Brandon Thomas-Asante, 11. Jack Self

Unused subs: 13.Steven Caro, 14. Owen James, 5. Tarik Moore-Azille

Goals: Kabongo Tshimanga 13’

Bookings: Fleet

Referee: Daniel Lamport

Attendance: 347

Man of the Match: Josh Casey. While Armani Little was a strong candidate, not least for his well-taken goal, Captain Casey was a pocket dynamo popping up all over the pitch and generally directing proceedings.
Oxford City LINEUP
1Craig King
2Eddie Jones
3Ryan Case
4Josh Ashby
18Joel Dielna ('74)
6Joe Oastler
7Kyran Wiltshire ('60)
8Reece Fleet
9Kabongo Tshimanga
10Brandon Thomas-Asante
11Jack Self
BENCH
13Steven Caro
14Owen James
16Albie Hopkins ('74)
17Bobson Bawling ('60)
5Tarik Moore-Azille
WOKING LINEUP
1Craig Ross
2Nathan Collier
3Josh Casey
4Moussa Diarra ('53)
5Ben Gerring
6Olu Durojaiye
7Paul Hodges
8Armani Little
9Greg Luer
10Max Kretzschmar
11Reise Allassani ('60)
BENCH
12Jack Cook ('53)
14Harvey Bradbury ('60)
15Nicky Wheeler
16Christian Jolley
18Sam Mason

Oxford City 1-2 Woking | Dowse Interview

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