Laithwaite Independent Financial Advisers
7:45pm - TuesdayTue 3rd SeptemberSep 2019
The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Att: 2599

Woking
Woking
1 - 1

Torquay
Torquay United

Cards looking for strong September after near-perfect start

Glen Harrington
6:42pm, Mon 2nd Sep 2019
Woking vs Torquay United
Vanarama National League
Tuesday 3rd September 2019


The Cards will be reacquainted with rivals Torquay United on Tuesday evening as last season’s two promoted teams from the National League South clash again at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.

Woking will be aiming to extend a six-game winning run, the club’s best run in five-and-a-half-years, knowing that victory will not only keep them top of the National League table but also mark the Cards’ best run of league results since April 2010 – when Graham Baker’s side won seven straight matches. It’s certainly been an incredible start to the season for Alan Dowson and his team, who have picked up 21 points out of a possible 24 from what looked a tricky August fixture list, and they’ll now be looking to continue that form into September. Dowse, the players and supporters of Woking will certainly be familiar with the threat Torquay have to offer following the club’s three meetings and extended rivalry last season, but will be buoyed by the fact that the Cards have lost just one of their last 12 meetings against the Gulls in a run stretching back to March 2015.

Torquay were comfortably the standout team from those that the Cards faced last season and Gary Johnson’s side were well deserving of both their league title and promotion alongside Woking – who were, of course, forced to go through the play-offs. After strengthening this summer, most notably adding former Cards’ loanee Armani Little, they were tipped by many for another promotion push. Whilst their results haven’t quite reflected that thus far, they have nonetheless started strongly by the normal standards of a promoted team and find themselves within touching distance of the top seven at this early stage. Their current record is 11 points from eight games, with three wins, two draws and three defeats; victories have come at home to Boreham Wood and Aldershot, as well as away to Dover, with losses at Solihull, at home to Maidenhead, and on Saturday at home to Hartlepool.

This promises to be another great game between these two teams and after last year’s six-goal thriller at Kingfield what more reason do you need to come along and support the boys?

Woking Team News

Dowse will be forced into at least one change for the first time in four games. Kane Ferdinand is suspended after picking up five yellow cards and he’ll likely be replaced in midfield by either Godfrey Poku or new signing Jake Gray, who’s still awaiting his debut as he works on his fitness with coach Christian Jolley. There could be a further enforced absence in the shape of Ben Gerring, arguably the Cards’ standout performer so far this season, who was forced off with an injury during the first-half of Woking’s win over Barrow on Saturday. Moussa Diarra would be the natural replacement.

Elsewhere, the Cards’ will be conscious of nursing the fitness of strikers Jake Hyde and Dave Tarpey, who have eight goals between them already this season. Fellow striker Ibrahim Meite should be available if called upon with the loan for the Crawley Town frontman having been extended for an additional month.

Torquay United Team News

Jamie Reid’s fifth goal of the season wasn’t enough as the Gulls fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat at home to Hartlepool on Saturday. Their team included Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Covolan Cavagnari; in defence were Ben Wynter, the experienced Liam Davis, who has previously been with Northampton Town and Oxford United amongst others, Kyle Cameron, who joined the club last summer from Newcastle United, and Frenchman Jean-Yves Koué Niate.

In midfield were Little, scorer of Woking’s winning goal in the play-off final back in May, Asa Hall, previously of Luton Town, Oxford United and Barrow, and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, back for a third loan spell from Bristol City; further forward were Kalvin Lumbombo Kalala, scorer of 10 goals last campaign, and Jake Andrews, signed this summer from Bristol City after a successful loan spell last season; Reid was the focal point up front as he continued his fine scoring run for the club. One player to look for from the bench is towering Dutch centre forward Manny Duku who joined the club from Cheltenham Town this summer.

Last Time Out

Woking 3-3 Torquay United – National League South (6th April 2019)


The Cards went into the game knowing that only three points would keep alive their fading title hopes and delay what appeared to be Torquay’s inevitable march towards the title. The home side started superbly, taking the lead through Greg Luer, who then scored a second after Jamie Reid had briefly brought the visitors level. Kieron Cadogan netted a superb solo third goal only for Torquay to strike with a late sucker-punch – Saikou Janneh pulling one back before Ben Wynter scored a stoppage time leveller. Ben Gerring was also sent off in the final stages in a game that had everything.

Admission Prices

• Adults £18
• Over 65s £13
• Disabled (Including carer) £13
• Students (Under 19) £5
• U16s £5

Tickets are available on the turnstiles or in advance online. Remember, our matchday programme will also be on sale for £3. Don’t forget to grab your copy on the way in! You’ll then be able to visit the club shop for more great offers.

Next Up

The Cards travel to Hartlepool United on Saturday evening for a late kick-off. If you can’t make the game you can also watch it live on BT Sport. Our next home game is seven days later against Ebbsfleet United when we’ll welcome former manager Garry Hill back to Kingfield.

Woking share spoils with familiar foes Torquay United

Haydn Cobb
12:00am, Tue 3rd Sep 2019
Woking 1 Torquay United 1
Vanarama National League
Tuesday 3rd September 2019

Woking were held to their first draw of the season against fellow promoted side Torquay United in a hotly contested match which saw the Cards take the lead through Dave Tarpey only to be pegged back with 11 minutes to go.

Vanarama National League table-toppers Woking came into the game with six consecutive wins, their best run for almost six years, while the form guide also pointed favourably to Alan Dowson’s team having lost just one in 12 previous meetings against the Gulls.

After a stalemate first half, with both teams losing a player each to injury, Woking broke the deadlock through Tarpey’s rifled effort only to see Torquay United debutant Ben Whitfield equalise with a header.

The goals stretched the game but neither side could find the quality to secure a winner which meant the points would be split between the two newly promoted teams.

With FC Halifax Town beating Chesterfield, Woking have been shuffled to second place on goal difference.

The Cards made two changes to the line-up which started the victory against Barrow last Saturday, one imposed with Kane Ferdinand suspended - with Godfrey Poku slotting into central midfield - while Moussa Diarra replaced Manny Parry in central defence alongside Ben Gerring who shook off the injury which forced him off at the weekend.

In a low-key opening to the game, Woking were forced into an early change as Shaun Donnellan’s evening was over after eight minutes as he pulled up with a suspected hamstring injury with Nathan Collier coming on in his place in central midfield.

Jamie Reid was convinced he’d put the visitors into the lead on the 19th minute when he slotted past Craig Ross but a late offside flag saved Woking, while during the build-up the ball appeared to deflect off a Torquay United arm.

As Woking probed well on either wing through Tarpey and Tyreke Johnson, it was the Gulls who had the next clear chance through Reid again. A counter-attack saw Reid bear down on goal and curl a fierce effort around Johnson, leaving Ross stranded, only to see his shot rebound off the upright.
Woking responded through a freekick which was half-cleared to Collier but his looping header drifted wide of the left-hand post.

With both sides playing their ninth league game in a month, as the 2019-2020 season started on the 3rd August, it was Torquay’s turn to lose a player to injury with ex-Cards loanee Armani Little hobbling off on 33 minutes.

As both sides looked evenly matched approaching halftime the remainder of the first period was played without major incident.

Half-time: Woking 0 Torquay United 0

Gary Johnson aimed to freshen things up in the Gulls’ midfield bringing on Jake Andrews for Connor Lemonheigh-Evans but it was Woking who broke the deadlock with a stunning strike from Tarpey.

With Woking building pressure, Johnson’s cross was fought for by Jake Hyde with the ball falling kindly to Tarpey in the centre of the penalty box. But the Woking forward still had to manufacturer a yard of space, shifting the ball from left to right, before producing a powerful right-foot shot for his third goal of the season.


Collier runs to join Tarpey in his goal celebration; pic: David Holmes


The Cards kept Torquay at a distance, limiting the away side to a Manny Duku shot which clipped the side netting, as the duo of Poku and Collier shielded the defence with tireless running.

Despite a couple of half-chances for Woking to double their lead, Torquay United regained their composure to hit the Cards with a sucker punch on 79 minutes. A deep cross from Ben Wynter on the right found Whitfield - who came on for the injured Little - unmarked at the back post and the winger nodded in an equaliser to setup a grandstand finish.

With plenty of haste but not much accuracy from both sides, a pulsating game failed to provide either side any further openings which saw the two sides promoted from the National League South last season share the points. It marks Woking’s first draw of the campaign and ends the Cards’ stellar run of six straight wins.

Woking will look to return to winning ways on Saturday night in front of the BT Sport cameras with the long trip up to Hartlepool United.

Woking: 13 Craig Ross; 3 Joshua Casey ©, 5 Ben Gerring, 6 Moussa Diarra, 2 Jack Cook; 16 Shaun Donnellan (Nathan Collier 8’), 14 Godfrey Poku, 17 Tyreke Johnson, 20 Toby Edser, 7 Davey Tarpey; 9 Jake Hyde (Ibrahim Meite 86’)

Unused subs: 1 Sam Howes, 4 Manny Parry, 11 Paul Hodges

Goals: Tarpey 54’

Bookings: Jack Cook 82’

Torquay United 28 Lucas Covolan-Cavagnari; 2 Ben Wynter, 3 Liam Davis, 4 Kyle Cameron, 6 Joe Lewis, 8 Asa Hall ©, 9 Manny Duku, 10 Armani Little (Ben Whitfield 33’), 14 Frank Vincent (Kalvin Kalala 73’), 17 Connor Lemonheigh-Evans (Jake Andrews 45’), 19 Jamie Reid

Unused subs: 1 Shaun MacDonald, 25 Robbie Cundy

Goals: Whitfield 79’

Bookings: Ben Wynter 76’, Jake Andrews 90’

Referee: Elliott Swallow

Attendance: 2599

Man of the Match: Godfrey Poku – Tireless midfield marshalling and kept Woking ticking when they were tiring.
WOKING LINEUP
13Craig Ross
2Jack Cook
3Josh Casey
5Ben Gerring
6Moussa Diarra
14Godfrey Poku
16Shaun Donnellan ('8)
20Toby Edser
17Tyreke Johnson
7Dave Tarpey
9Jake Hyde ('86)
BENCH
1Sam Howes
4Manny Parry
12Nathan Collier ('8)
11Paul Hodges
18Ibrahim Meite ('86)
Torquay United LINEUP
28Lucas Covolan Cavagnari
2Ben Wynter
3Liam Davis
4Kyle Cameron
6Joe Lewis
8Asa Hall
10Armani Little ('33)
14Frank Vincent ('73)
17Connor Lemonheigh-Evans ('45)
9Manny Duku
19Jamie Reid
BENCH
1Shaun MacDonald
25Robbie Cundy
11Jake Andrews ('45)
20Kalvin Lumbombo Kalala ('73)
34Ben Whitfield ('33)

Woking 1 - 1 Torquay United | Ian Dyer Interview

Woking 1 - 1 Torquay United | Godfrey Poku Interview

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