Laithwaite Independent Financial Advisers
3:00pm - MondayMon 26th AugustAug 2019
Crabble Athletic Ground | Att: 1358

Dover Athletic
Dover Athletic
1 - 2

Woking
Woking

League leaders chasing fifth straight win

Glen Harrington
6:25pm, Sun 25th Aug 2019
Dover Athletic vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Monday 26th August


The Cards will look to make it two wins in three days and five consecutive National League victories on Monday afternoon as they make the trip to Dover Athletic.

Woking’s remarkable start to the season continued Saturday with a 2-0 home win over previous league leaders Solihull Moors. Jake Hyde and Manny Parry scored the goals early on and another brave defensive performance followed as a Ben Gerring-inspired backline protected the league’s best defensive record. It leaves the Cards sitting pretty at the top of the table with 15 points from six games – all with just three goals conceded. However, Alan Dowson will know his team will have to be at their best yet again if they want to stay there. The Cards have lost on their last five visits to Crabble and haven’t won a competitive fixture away to Dover since November 2011 – when Jack King, Dale Binns and Elvis Hammond scored for Woking in a 3-0 win.

The Whites, managed by Andy Hessenthaler, have themselves had a strong start to the season. After finishing in a slightly disappointing 13th place last season, their lowest league finish since promotion to the National League in 2014, they have started this campaign in far better form, winning four of their first six games, accumulating 12 points to sit sixth in the table at this early stage. Their best form has come away from home where they have won three straight games, beating Chesterfield (2-1), Barnet (1-0) and, on Saturday, Sutton United (2-1). Their three home games have resulted in a 2-1 win over Wrexham, sandwiched between 2-1 defeats against Dagenham & Redbridge and Torquay United.

As always, the team would really appreciate your support this weekend, particularly as it’s been so brilliant on away days already this season. We hope to see you there once again on Monday!

Woking Team News

Dowse made just the one change on Saturday as Hyde was rewarded for his brace against AFC Fylde with a start in place of Ibrahim Meite – quickly rewarding his manager’s faith with his third of the season. The boss also reverted to his favoured 5-3-2 formation with Josh Casey moving inside alongside Gerring and Parry, Tyreke Johnson playing at left wing-back, and with Hyde up front alongside Dave Tarpey.

There’s every chance we’ll see a couple of changes on Monday after just a 48-hour turnaround. Moussa Diarra and Max Kretzschmar are both believed to be fit, or close to it, but will need to wait their chance to get back in a winning team. Godfrey Poku will also be in Dowse’s mind after a solid 25-minute cameo against Solihull.

Dover Athletic Team News

Former Woking striker Inih Effiong was the matchwinner against Sutton as he found the net for the third consecutive game and will likely be the dangerman once again on Monday. Effiong scored 10 goals for the Cards two seasons ago before leaving for Ross County mid-season. His move to Scotland didn’t work out and he joined Dover in the summer of 2018. He scored 11 times last season.

The full team lining up for the Whites on Saturday consisted of Lee Worgan, the vastly experienced former Maidstone United keeper, in goal; in defence were Fulham academy graduate Josh Passley, summer signing Aaron Simpson, who was previously with Wolves and was most recently at Irish club Waterford, captain and England C international Kevin Lokko, and former Aldershot Town loanee Will de Havilland, who was with Maidstone last season.

In midfield were Michael Woods, a part of the Harrogate Town team which reached the play-offs last season, the experienced former Eastleigh man Jai Reason, along with Kurtis Cumberbatch; out wide were Steven Rigg, a recent addition from Gateshead, and the experienced Ricky Modeste, back with the club after a spell at Billericay Town, whilst Effiong was the focal point up front. A couple of players to watch out for from the bench are Nassim L’Ghoul, the dangerous winger who was at Welling United last season, and Alfie Pavey who got a brace in the opening day win over Chesterfield.

Last Time Out

Woking 1-2 Dover Athletic – National League (28 April 2018)


The Cards relegation to National League South was confirmed on the final day of the season. The hosts, needing a win to have any chance of survival, put in a brave performance and came close to pulling off the great escape. After Charlie Carter cancelled out Giancarlo Gallifuoco’s opening goal, and with relegation rivals losing elsewhere, just one more goal was required. But with Woking throwing everything forward they were caught out at the back and substitute Keanu Marsh-Brown got the winner with virtually the last kick of the game.

On the Day

The ground can be found on Lewisham Road; the postcode is CT17 0QJ – a drive of around one hour and 40 minutes from the Laithwaite Community Stadium. The main railway station in Dover is Dover Priory which is approximately 2 miles from Crabble. The closest station to Crabble is Kearsney which is about a 10-15-minute walk from the ground.

There is a travelling club coach for supporters which departs at 11am – although at the time of writing there are very limited spaces remaining. Please contact Adam Bowyer (adam.bowyer@cardstrust.co.uk) or call the club shop for more information.

Ticket prices are £18 for adults, £15 for those over the age of 60, £9 for those under the age of 18, and free for anyone under the age of 11 accompanied by a paying adult.

Next Up

The Cards next game is on Saturday afternoon when Barrow are the visitors to the Laithwaite Community Stadium. That’s followed by another home game three days later against Torquay United.

Excellent Edser sinks Dover late on to keep Woking top

William Bewsey
12:00am, Mon 26th Aug 2019
Dover Athletic 1 Woking 2
Vanarama National League
26th August 2019

After defeating Solihull Moors to make it five wins in a row, Woking had another tricky test to negotiate, as Dover Athletic, who sat in the play off positions and were coming off the back of a 2-1 away win at Sutton, hosted the Cards.

In what was a sweltering heat at Crabble Stadium, Woking boss Alan Dowson made no changes from the winning team at Kingfield on Saturday, whereas Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler made four changes, with former Woking striker Inih Effiong dropped to the bench, as Effiong, Simpson, Reason and Rigg were replaced by L’Ghoul, Munns, Pavey and Gobern.

The start to the match was fairly low key, as the only notable event in the first ten minutes was good work from Tarpey, but his cross was easily gathered by Lee Worgan. Woking were trying to force an opening, with good link up play by Hyde and Tarpey leading to Tarpey’s shot being saved.

The game took a big turn in the 14th minute as Tarpey had already played the ball, when Kurtis Cumberbatch lunged in late. It was a poor challenge but only warranted a yellow, but Cumberbatch then confronted Donnellan. He appeared to headbutt the Woking man, with strong calls from Woking players and fans alike for the man to go. Donnellan was given a yellow card for his role in the confrontation, with the referee brandishing two yellow cards to Cumberbatch, who left his teammates a man down and at a disadvantage.

Just six minutes later, Toby Edser turned his man, but was impeded by Woods, and the referee brandished a yellow card. It took until the 31st minute for the deadlock to be broken, with smart work from Nassim L’Ghoul forcing the opening to Modeste, as his cross was turned in by the forward.

Just minutes later, a corner found the head of Manny Parry, but his header went just wide. Woking then found the equaliser, as an inch perfect ball from Edser found Tarpey out wide, and his cross was met by the head of Jake Hyde (pictured above), who continued his impressive goal scoring form, he now has four goals in his last three games, but more importantly, Woking had the equaliser before the half time break, and they could’ve been in front, as Dover defender Will De Havilland blocked Jake Hyde’s shot on goal. Hyde had another chance just before half time as his shot was blocked, Kevin Lokko this time.

Half-time: Dover Athletic 1 Woking 1

Woking pushed on to try and win the game early on, with Dover sitting back, trying to get a result after the red card. The first real chance for the Cards in the half saw Tyreke Johnson beat his defender and unleash a shot, which rippled the side netting.

Dover were looking to create an opening, with substitute Jai Reason sending Woods free down the sideline, but he couldn’t put in a decent cross and Ross gathered the ball. The impressive L’Ghoul was causing problems for the Cards, looking lively and trying to win fouls and put balls into the box.

The heat was getting to the players as well as the fact that this was the second game in three days, with regular drinks breaks and Kevin Lokko going down with cramp as well. Dover keeper Lee Worgan was helping to wind down the clock too, as Cards fans and players alike were frustrated with the referee’s inability to stop this.

Woking got the ball in the net with Ben Gerring tapping home in the 73rd minute, but the linesman’s flag put a halt to any celebrations. Dover were starting to see more of the ball as the Cards tired, with Woking giving away a few unnecessary free kicks. Woods found himself in space on the wing, with two Dover men waiting for a cross unmarked, but he will feel he should have done better as Ross gathered unharmed.

Inih Effiong showed strength and skill to play Reason in with just ten minutes of normal time left, but Reason’s shot went agonisingly wide of Ross’s far post. Two minutes later, Tarpey found himself inside the box with a shooting opportunity, but blazed over after being well closed down by the Dover defence.

With just two minutes of normal time left, the Cards got a winner, and this was a goal of real quality. Edser, who had looked impressive all game with his passing and movement, picked up the ball just inside the area, and sent a curler into the top corner on his favoured left foot, a fantastic way to surely send Woking back to the summit of the table. Cards fans were sent into jubilation as Edser leapt into the stands.

Six minutes of injury time were to be played, and the Cards battled well to not allow Dover a chance, with the only chance being a Woking chance, as Ibrahim Meite was sent through one on one with Worgan, who made a strong save. But this was to be the last action, as Cards fans, staff and players rejoiced after an incredible start to the season continued.

Alan Dowson will be delighted with the victory, as despite a frustrating second half, the players managed to dig in and reap the rewards. This was a performance of real character and desire, and showed the resilience of the squad, on a ground where Woking had mostly picked up disappointing results. They now have until Saturday to recover, when they face Barrow at Kingfield, knowing that they sit top of the pile having been tipped by many to struggle.

Woking: 1 Craig Ross, 2 Jack Cook, 4, Manny Parry, 5 Ben Gerring, 3 Josh Casey, 8 Kane Ferdinand, 16 Shaun Donnellan (11 Paul Hodges 69’), 20 Toby Edser; 7 Dave Tarpey(14 Godfrey Poku 88’) 9 Jake Hyde (18 Ibrahim Meite 58’), 17 Tyreke Johnson.

Unused subs: 1 Sam Howes, 12 Nathan Collier

Goals: Hyde 42’, Edser 88’

Bookings: Donnellan 16’, Meite 77’, Ferdinand 90+3'

Dover Athletic 13 Lee Worgan, 2 Josh Passley, 5 Kevin Lokko, 6 Will De Havilland, 18 Oscar Goburn, 8 Michael Woods, 15 Kurtis Cumberbatch, 11 Jack Munns, 10 Nassim L’Ghoul (7 Jai Reason 70’), 12 Ricky Modeste (19 Steven Rigg 63’), 14 Alfie Pavey (9 Inih Effiong 57’)

Unused subs: 1 Yusef Mersin, 22 Bilel Hinchiri

Goals: Modeste 30’

Bookings: Passley 78’, Cumberbatch 16’, Cumberbatch 16’

Sent off: Cumberbatch 16’

Referee: Carl Brook

Attendance: 1358 (248 Woking fans)

Man of the Match: Toby Edser has fitted in perfectly into this Woking team, and it was his brilliant ball to Tarpey that created the first goal, and his goal to win the match was a piece of individual brilliance
Dover Athletic LINEUP
13Lee Worgan
2Josh Passley
18Oscar Gobern
5Kevin Lokko
6Will de Havilland
8Michael Woods
15Kurtis Cumberbatch
11Jack Munns
10Nassim L’Ghoul ('71)
12Ricky Modeste ('64)
14Alfie Pavey ('57)
BENCH
1Yusuf Mersin
7Jai Reason ('71)
22Bilal Hinchiri
19Steven Rigg ('64)
9Inih Effiong ('57)
WOKING LINEUP
13Craig Ross
2Jack Cook
3Josh Casey
4Manny Parry
5Ben Gerring
8Kane Ferdinand
16Shaun Donnellan ('69)
20Toby Edser
11Tyreke Johnson
7Dave Tarpey ('89)
9Jake Hyde ('58)
BENCH
1Sam Howes
12Nathan Collier
14Godfrey Poku ('89)
11Paul Hodges ('69)
18Ibrahim Meite ('58)

Dover Athletic 1 - 2 Woking | Dowse Interview

Dover Athletic 1 - 2 Woking | Toby Edser Interview

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