Specsavers
7:45pm - TuesdayTue 8th OctoberOct 2019
Huish Park | Att: 3397

Yeovil
Yeovil Town
3 - 1

Woking
Woking

Improved Cards face tough test against promotion-chasing Yeovil

Glen Harrington
7:08pm, Sun 6th Oct 2019
Yeovil Town vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Tuesday 8th October 2019


It’s third against fourth in the National League on Tuesday evening as Woking make the trip to Huish Park to face Yeovil Town – their first league game against the Glovers in more than 16 years.

Whilst Saturday’s draw with Wrexham made it seven league games without a win for the Cards, it was a much-improved performance from Alan Dowson’s side, following the previous weekend’s disappointment against Boreham Wood. Kane Ferdinand scored his second goal in as many games, cancelling out the opener from James Jennings, whilst Ibrahim Meite looked threatening up front on his return from injury – coming off the bench for the final 25 minutes. Dowse will get a further boost in the shape of Ben Gerring, who returns after completing his three-match ban, meaning that the injured Tyreke Johnson is now the only absentee from the Woking squad.

Opponents Yeovil saw their seven-match winning streak ended by Hartlepool United on Saturday, going down 2-1 in the North East, as they missed the chance to join FC Halifax Town at the top of the table. The Glovers are looking to secure an immediate return to the Football League this season after dropping out of England’s top four divisions for the first time since 2003. It has been a remarkable two decades for Yeovil who rose as high as the Championship in 2013 before suffering three relegations in just six years. Manager Darren Sarll, who was previously in charge of Stevenage from 2016 to 2018, joined the club this summer and has enjoyed a solid start – after a difficult introduction he led his side to seven straight wins throughout late August and September before seeing that run belatedly come to an end at the start of October. He’ll now be determined to get back on track and protect a run of four straight home wins.

It should be a great game, and with a new ground to visit for many Woking fans, please do make the journey if you possibly can and support the team.

Woking Team News

Dowse has been fairly consistent with his selections of late. Craig Ross has been in inspired form in goal, behind a regular back four of Jack Cook, Josh Casey, Moussa Diarra and Manny Parry, who was voted Man of the Match against Wrexham on Saturday. Gerring, one of the standout players for the club during the first part of the season, may well have to wait his turn to force his way back into the team.

Further forward, Ferdinand and Shaun Donnellan were reunited in midfield on Saturday alongside Toby Edser, with Godfrey Poku missing out. Up front, Jamar Loza and Dave Tarpey played either side of Jake Hyde, but with the likes of Meite and Max Kretzschmar now fit, Dowse has plenty of options to rotate his squad.

Yeovil Town Team News

The Glovers lost out to a stoppage time winner on Saturday. They had equalised in the first minute of added time only for Hartlepool to score less than 60 seconds later. During that game, they started with Adam Smith in goal, the former Northampton Town and Bristol Rovers stopper is on loan from Forest Green Rovers.

In defence was the experienced Carl Dickinson, who has played in the Football League for Stoke City, Watford and Port Vale amongst others, captain Lee Collins, who joined this summer from Forest Green Rovers, Luke Wilkinson, formerly of Luton Town and Stevenage, plus Birmingham City loanee Remeao Hutton; in midfield was veteran Jimmy Smith, on loan from Crawley Town, Lawson D’Ath, a summer signing from MK Dons, Myles Hippolyte, who has spent the last few years in Scotland with Livingston, Falkirk and Dunfermline, and Charlie Lee, a promotion winner with Leyton Orient last season.

Up front was Gold Omotayo, who was with Bury last season, and dangerman Rhys Murphy, the top scorer in the National League South for Chelmsford City last season – he’s scored five goals so far this season to add to the 28 he got last term.

Last Time Out

Woking 1-1 Yeovil Town – National League (8th March 2003)


The Cards, battling against relegation, put in a commendable performance against the league leaders – who were midway through an 18-match unbeaten run which lasted until the end of the season. In fact, the Glovers won the four matches before their trip to Kingfield, as well as the seven matches following it. Jon Boardman scored Woking’s goal as the Cards went on to secure survival by a single point, whilst Yeovil were promoted, finishing 17 points clear of nearest challengers Morecambe.

On the Day

The ground can be found on Lufton Way; the postcode is BA22 8YF – a drive of around two hours from the Laithwaite Community Stadium. Yeovil has two railway stations, Yeovil Pen Mill which links with trains from Bristol and Birmingham, and Yeovil Junction which has a regular service from London Waterloo and Exeter. Both stations are about three miles from Huish Park so a taxi is advisable.

There is a supporters’ coach running for the game which leaves from the Laithwaite Community Stadium at 4.00pm. Please arrive by 3.45pm. The price is £30 for adults and £25 for under-16s with a £5 discount for Cards’ Trust members. Those looking to attend should contact Adam Bowyer (adam.bowyer@cardstrust.co.uk) or call the club shop for more information.

Matchday ticket prices are £19 for adults, £17 for concessions, £12 for a young person and £3 for a junior. Discounts can be made by pre-purchasing and by buying online. A full breakdown can be found on the Yeovil website.

Next Up

The Cards are away once again on Saturday as we face Barnet. This will be followed seven days later by our debut in this season’s FA Cup. The draw for the fourth qualifying round is made on Monday afternoon.

Cards second best in Somerset

Ian Toft
12:00am, Tue 8th Oct 2019
Yeovil Town 3 Woking 1
Vanarama National League
8th October 2019

Woking suffered their fourth defeat of the season in a bruising encounter at Huish Park. A first half masterclass from the Glovers frontline left the Cards with all to do. Despite Ibrahim Meite’s spectacular 25 yard drive, the second half fightback proved to be too great a challenge to overcome.

The Cards travelled to a side that just five years prior had been playing in the second tier of English football. Despite the Glovers rapid descent down the league system, signs were now apparent from recent form that they are potentially placed to regain their position in the Football League at the first attempt. Whereas the Cards had produced their best form during August, Yeovil had shot up into the top three with a September that had delivered them maximum points under League Manager of the Month Darren Sarll.

Ben Gerring returned to the Woking line up from his three match suspension with Godfrey Poku also receiving a recall. Toby Edser and Jake Hyde both dropped out of the squad. These changes reflected a changed formation with Alan Dowson reverting to a system with three centre halves in position, Cook and Casey deployed as wing-backs and Loza in an advanced role with Tarpey.

With a light rain falling prior to kick off the Cards won the toss and opted to change ends to attack the vacant uncovered Radio Cabs terrace, usually reserved for the away fans. Thankfully the 172 loyal Cards fans that had made the long midweek journey had been rehoused under cover in part of the Screwfix Community Stand located on the side of the pitch.

Backed by their own boisterous support the home side went on an early attack. Worthington found space on the right and crossed in for Murphy to head straight into the arms of a relieved Ross.

The Cards got the chance for their first attack minutes later. A forward ball was nodded on by Tarpey to Kane Ferdinand. With a clear sight on goal Wilkinson sensed the danger and was able to make an excellent tackle to deny the Cards’ midfielder the chance to shoot.

Ten minutes in, Loza won the ball midway through the Glovers’ half. His pass was played wide to Casey in space who returned forward to Loza. A short pass then played in Tarpey, who though surrounded, took a couple of touches to switch feet and tee up a low powerful shot at the bottom corner. Only the quick reflexes of home goalkeeper Adam Smith denied Tarpey the early goal.

From the resulting corner swung back in by Tarpey, Parry got up first but was narrowly unable to divert his header below the crossbar with Smith appearing to be beaten.

This miss proved costly as some minutes later Duffus floated a searching cross from wide on the right. Glover’s forward James Smith was first to get there and his delicate knock back teed up Rhys Murphy to strike past Craig Ross for his sixth goal of the season.

Midway through the half Ross played out an accurate kick to Tarpey who found space along the left. As the Yeovil defence scrambled back the Cards forward switched the ball across to Cook who raced forward on the opposite wing. With it looking like the was just the goalkeeper to beat, Cook cut back inwards looking to play in a teammate. However, having charged back Wilkinson was able to make up the ground and shepherd the ball to safety before the pass could be made.

With the minutes of the half winding down the home side doubled their lead. A short pass was threaded through to Duffus who took a slight touch forward to control the ball from underneath his feet. Parry appeared to clumsily mistime his tackle which allowed referee Middleton to point to the penalty spot. Top scorer Murphy stepped up and though Ross produced an excellent save to claw the ball away, the rebound was unkind and allowed Murphy to slot home his second goal of the evening at the second attempt.

Shell-shocked from conceding a second goal the Cards appeared to be caught out by the home side’s continued relentlessness. As the board for added time was raised Murphy escaped along the left flank after a missed tackle from Gerring. Whereas it appeared some of the defending team expected the referee’s whistle to be blown the advantage was given allowing Murphy to play a simple pass inside for James Smith to score Yeovil’s third and cap off a dominant half for the hosts.

Half-time: Yeovil Town 3 Woking 0

With the game appearing to be all but gone Alan Dowson made a double substitution ahead of the restart. Gerring and Poku, the two players recalled for the game both made way for Kretzschmar and Meite. This enabled a return to the formation more akin to a 4-4-2.

Unfortunately it appeared to make little difference to a game that the home side seemed happy to resume control of. After an early attempt for Murphy which was denied by Ross, the Glovers striker again found himself clean through. Only tireless tracking back by Diarra was able to disrupt the charge striker’s for goal in his attempts to extend the lead further.

Woking made their final change before the hour mark with Paul Hodges introduced for Loza. This seemed to give the Cards a little confidence that had previously appeared to be missing. A quick throw by Casey was launched long to Tarpey. Holding the ball up well he passed back to Meite in the centre who took a touch and launched an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the Yeovil net from 25 yards out.

Building on from the goal, the Cards pushed on further. A Kretzschmar free kick from out on the right was played into a crowd of bodies. Diarra rose first but was unable to keep his attempt down.

Woking would feel that they could have been awarded a penalty in the 77th minute due to the similarities to one awarded to the hosts in the first half. Meite appeared to have his legs taken by Wilkinson when in control of the ball in the penalty area. Despite a strong appeal referee Middleton waved away protests. The aftermath led to a booking for the Cards striker for dissent.


Paul Hodges off on a run; pic: David Holmes

Late efforts from Meite, Tarpey and Kretzschmar all appeared to offer Yeovil’s goalkeeper and defence some discomfort. However there was a sense that the result had long been decided earlier in the game and a comeback from the visitors was always unlikely.

The result meant that though Yeovil remain third they are now only a point behind leaders Halifax. With defeat, the Cards drop a place but still remain within the play-off positions.

Another stern test awaits on Saturday and Alan Dowson knows that he must now pick up his players for the next battle away at Barnet.

Woking:1 Craig Ross, 2 Jack Cook, 3 Josh Casey (capt), 4 Manny Parry, 5 Ben Gerring (18 Ibrahim Meite 46’), 6 Moussa Diarra, 7 Dave Tarpey, 8 Kane Ferdinand, 14 Godfrey Poku (10 Max Kretzschmar 46’), 16 Shaun Donnellan, 22 Jamar Loza (11 Paul Hodges 54’)

Unused subs: 1 Sam Howes, 12 Nathan Collier

Goals: Meite ‘67

Bookings: Meite

Yeovil Town 31 Adam Smith, 24 Remeao Hutton, 4 Lee Collins (capt), 6 Luke Wilkinson, 3 Carl Dickinson, 26 Charlie Lee, 7 Matthew Worthington, 28 James Tilley, 5 James Smith, 14 Courtney Duffus, 9 Rhys Murphy

Unused subs: 19 Tom Bradbury, 10 Gold Omotayo

Goals: Murphy 12’ 41’, Smith 45’

Bookings: Hutton

Referee: Daniel Middleton

Attendance: 3,397

Man of the Match: My choice is Ibrahim Meite; an outstanding 25 yard strike helped to lift the whole team’s performance and offered slim hope that they could take something from the game.
Yeovil Town LINEUP
31Adam Smith
24Remeao Hutton
3Carl Dickinson
4Lee Collins
6Luke Wilkinson
5Jimmy Smith ('81)
26Charlie Lee
7Matt Worthington
14Courtney Duffus ('61)
28James Tilley ('61)
9Rhys Murphy
BENCH
19Tom Bradbury
8Lawson D Ath ('61)
18Albi Skendi ('81)
10Gold Omotayo
33Chris Dagnall ('61)
WOKING LINEUP
13Craig Ross
2Jack Cook
3Josh Casey
4Manny Parry
5Ben Gerring ('46)
6Moussa Diarra
16Shaun Donnellan
14Godfrey Poku ('46)
8Kane Ferdinand
7Dave Tarpey
22Jamar Loza ('54)
BENCH
1Sam Howes
12Nathan Collier
10Max Kretzschmar ('46)
11Paul Hodges ('54)
18Ibrahim Meite ('46)

Yeovil Town 3 - 1 Woking | Dowse Interview

Yeovil Town 3-1 Woking | Paul Hodges Interview

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