Specsavers
SSC (R1)
7:45pm - TuesdayTue 3rd DecemberDec 2019
The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Att: 335

Woking
Woking
2 - 1

Chertsey Town
Chertsey Town

Cards begin Surrey Senior Cup campaign against FA Vase winners

Glen Harrington
9:20pm, Mon 2nd Dec 2019
Woking vs Chertsey Town
Surrey Senior Cup – First Round
Tuesday 3rd December 2019


The Cards kick-off their quest for a first Surrey Senior Cup title since the 2016/17 season on Tuesday evening when they host the reigning FA Vase champions Chertsey Town at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.

Woking, who have won the competition three times this decade – in 2012, 2014 and 2017, all under Garry Hill – hold the record for the most Surrey Senior Cup final appearances (29), and they’ll be aiming to bring up number 30 by the end of the season. Only Dulwich Hamlet (16) and Sutton United (15) have won the competition on more occasions than the Cards (13).

Last season, Alan Dowson’s side were knocked out in the quarter-final by Banstead Athletic, having comfortably beaten Croydon and Egham Town in the previous rounds. With the focus firmly on promotion from the National League South, Dowse used the competition as an opportune moment to take a look at youngsters and other fringe players, with Jack Skinner emerging as one of the standout players with four goals across the three games, including a hat-trick against Croydon. Expect to see the likes of Nathan Collier, Manny Parry, Max Kretzschmar, Jake Gray, Paul Hodges and Ibrahim Meite against Chertsey, plus a number of players from the Cards’ successful and highly thought of academy.

Last season’s winners were Metropolitan Police who defeated Tooting & Mitcham United 2-0 in the final. In 2018, Merstham beat Leatherhead 3-1, avenging a 4-0 defeat to Woking in the final the previous season.

Chertsey, also known as the Curfews, currently play in the Isthmian League South Central, the eighth tier of English football, three divisions below Woking. They are newly promoted to the league after winning the Combined Counties League Premier Division last season – part of a league and cup double – their first honours of any kind since winning the Southern Combination Cup in 1999. They have made one previous appearance in a Surrey Senior Cup final – losing 2-0 to Sutton in 1986.

The Curfews played 10 games in last season’s Vase before reaching Wembley, where they beat Cray Valley Paper Mills 3-1 after extra time, whilst their squad included former Woking winger Dale Binns. Now under new manager Kevin MacLaren, they are currently sitting in an impressive fifth place in the league table, occupying the last of four play-off places. They’ve taken 25 points from their first 15 league games, scoring 38 goals in the process, led by the division’s top scorers Jake Baxter and Lubomir Guentchev, who have netted 11 each.

There are reduced admission prices for this game - £10 for adults and £5 for concessions – so come along if you can and cheer on the teams!

Cards Come Through Late Curfew

Dan Stobbart
12:00am, Tue 3rd Dec 2019
Woking 2 Chertsey Town 1
Surrey Senior Cup - First Round
December 3rd 2019

Woking just did just enough against their local opposition Chertsey Town to progress into the second round of the Surrey Senior Cup. A Max Kretzschmar penalty and Shaun Donnellan header gave the Cards an early lead and set anticipation for more to come, but a spirited Chertsey battled well, missing a first half penalty, before notching a goal back just past the hour mark through Scott Day. The visitors rallied late, but were unable to force penalties.

Dowse shuffled his side but did opt for a more experienced team than perhaps expected. Christian Paulat-Brigg started in goal, as Shaun Donnellan partnered Moussa Diarra in central defence, Jake Gray and Godfrey Poku operating just in front. Max Kretzschmar, Paul Hodges and Jack Skinner (pictured), who performed particularly well in this competition last season, attacked behind front-man Ibra Meite.

In a busy opening twenty minutes, Woking took the lead inside the opening five, Skinner receiving a nicely flighted ball from Donnellan in the area, but scrappily brought to ground by a defender, penalty awarded. Kretzschmar stepped up, and emphatically drove the kick into the top left corner.

The Curfews would respond instantly, striker Jake Baxter would almost punish the Cards not clearing their lines with a half-volley sailing wide, and also having an effort find the side netting, Lubo Guentchev also slicing an attempt narrowly over the upright following a quick counter.

It preceded Shaun Donnellan doubling the Cards lead on twelve minutes, nodding a Jack Cook aerial flick-on marginally over the line despite the best efforts of Chertsey to tip it over the bar. Confusion followed as to whether the goalkeeper or in fact a defender had handled on the line, and if the referee had actually awarded a goal kick regardless, but the goal was eventually confirmed.

Day would head over another chance in space, prior to Chertsey being awarded a spot kick themselves. A rapid transition of play put Glen Yala into the area, his quick turn forcing a trip by Collier. Baxter stepped up and struck it, his effort saved by Paulet-Brigg, who then reacted impressively to deny the rebound as well.

The remainder of the half would calm down, play still lively but absorbed largely in midfield; the attacking trio behind Meite rotating within the line but not quite able to muster opportunities in the final third. Up the other end, the runs of Baxter were a threat as Chertsey had a knack for turning play over quickly, Donnellan with a brilliant recovery challenge to prevent the striker getting a shot off close to goal.

Whilst in a race down the right with Diarra, Baxter got to the byline and forced a corner just on the verge of half-time. In the duel, Diarra unfortunately pulled up with what looked like a hamstring tweak, the Frenchman heading straight down the tunnel after getting to his feet.

Half-Time: Woking 2 Chertsey Town 0

Josh Casey came on at half-time in place of Diarra, Nathan Collier would then move into central defence to partner Donnellan.

Baxter set out to punish a Poku misplaced pass, striking well from the edge of the box, the ball slightly deflecting and whistling just over the bar.

The Cards began to generate activity in the final third, Paul Hodges unexpectedly received the ball in space, and instinctively played back to Skinner, unfortunately losing the opportunity to get in behind and do damage. He would then turn provider for Skinner, spearheading a swift break from inside his own half and producing a measured through-ball, Skinner marginally beaten to it by the defender.

Hodges would then be brought down on the right-hand side; Kretzschmar's delivery was a perfectly measured one, finding Jack Cook in space, only to side foot first-time over the bar.

Chertsey had been starting to threaten down the left side, and got reward from a corner kick just past the hour, Guentchev’s delivery powerfully met at the near post by Day.

In reaction to the goal, the game opened up a bit on entering the last twenty minutes, Baxter initially not getting a good contact on a corner delivery before having another crack at it, catching the ball with force, and bringing out a good near post save from Paulet-Brigg.

Dowse brought on Jamar Loza for Skinner as Woking looked to rally and put the game to bed. Kretzschmar had a couple of efforts drift off target including a free kick; Hodges deftly took down a Gray flighted ball and strike just wide, before Gray himself came agonisingly close, smacking the underside of the bar from just inside the area.

Kretzschmar and Meite linked well a couple of times, one attack just ruled offside, the other finding Loza on the left side of the area, who did well under challenge to get a shot off, the effort saved well.

The Curfews forced the issue in the final minutes, winning a succession of corners and putting in testing deliveries, and Day would have a couple of shots blocked before bringing out a diving catch from Paulet-Brigg.

Ultimately a tricky negotiation for Woking against lower league opposition, but the strong albeit positionally variable Cards side held out and got reward for finding the net early. A home tie with Kingstonian awaits in the next round of the Surrey Senior Cup, expected to be played in early January. That's after playing the K's away from home in the Cards other continuing cup competition this term, the FA Trophy, in just under a fortnight.

Woking: 1 Chris Paulet-Brigg, 12 Nathan Collier, 2 Jack Cook, 6 Moussa Diarra (3 Josh Casey 46'), 16 Shaun Donnellan (Oliver Creed 64'), 14 Godfrey Poku, 10 Max Kretzschmar, 15 Jack Skinner (22 Jamar Loza 70’), 18 Ibrahim Meite, 24 Jake Grey

Unused subs: 1 Craig Ross, 7 Dave Tarpey

Goals: Kretzschmar 4', Donnellan 12'

Chertsey Nick Jupp, Michael Drage, Albie Sheehan-Couzens, Glen Yala (Talboys 72’) Mason Welch-Turner (Fred Hill 66’), Lubo Guentchev, Jake Baxter, Andy Crossley, Jonathan Hippolyte, Sam Murphy, Scott Day

Unused subs: Casey Maclaren, Devon Gordon, Sam Hurrell, Leon Dadey, Dale Binns

Goals: Day 64’

Referee: TBA

Attendance: 335

Man of the Match: Chris Paulet-Brigg – penalty and rebound save, key saves in the second half to ensure the Cards stayed ahead.
WOKING LINEUP
21Christian Paulat-Brigg
2Jack Cook
12Nathan Collier
16Shaun Donnellan ('64)
6Moussa Diarra ('46)
14Godfrey Poku
24Jake Gray
10Max Kretzschmar
15Jack Skinner ('70)
11Paul Hodges
18Ibrahim Meite
BENCH
13Craig Ross
3Josh Casey ('46)
Oliver Creed ('64)
22Jamar Loza ('70)
7Dave Tarpey
Chertsey Town LINEUP
Nick Jupp
Michael Drage
Albie Sheehan-Couzens
Glen Yala ('72)
Mason Welch-Turner ('66)
Lubo Guentchev
Jake Baxter
Andy Crossley
Jonathan Hippolyte
Sam Murphy
Scott Day
BENCH
Casey Maclaren
Devon Gordon
Sam Hurrell
Leon Dadey
Dale Binns
Arlie Talboys ('72)
Fred Hill ('66)

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