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3:00pm - SaturdaySat 14th NovemberNov 2020
The Laithwaite Community Stadium

Woking
Woking
1 - 1

Yeovil
Yeovil Town

Cards hoping to make the most of home comforts

Glen Harrington
9:17am, Sat 14th Nov 2020
Woking vs Yeovil
Vanarama National League
Saturday 14th November 2020


After four consecutive away matches, Woking return to the Laithwaite Community Stadium today, aiming to put an end to a run of three straight defeats in all competitions and claim their first league victory since the win over Dagenham & Redbridge more than a month ago.

It’s been a tough fortnight for manager Alan Dowson who has twice seen his side surrender a second-half lead in 3-2 defeats against King’s Lynn Town and Gillingham. Whilst the performance in Norfolk will be one the Cards will be keen to forget, they deserve plenty of plaudits for their efforts against League One opposition last time out. The team was excellent for an hour, taking a deserved two goal lead through Max Kretzschmar and the in form Josh Davison, but they were undone in the final half hours as the Gills belatedly went through the gears and showed their quality. With our brief, but definitely exciting FA Cup run over, the Cards will turn their attention back to the National League, where after taking nine points from the first four matches, they’ve now managed just one from the last three. Dowse will hope he can get back to winning ways this afternoon.

Yeovil have endured a difficult start to the season and last year’s play-off quarter-finalists find themselves surprisingly propping up the league table – the only team in the division yet to win a league game. Despite their rotten record, the Glovers have been far from pushovers this season, drawing four of their seven matches, with their three defeats all coming by just a one goal margin. They have lost their last two however, going down 2-1 at home to Sutton United, and 1-0 at home to Chesterfield. Interestingly, all of their defeats this season have come at home. They have also done well to progress in the FA Cup, beating Dover Athletic on penalties in the fourth qualifying round, before winning 1-0 after extra time against Bromley last weekend.

Woking – Team News

Malachi Napa remains sidelined whilst Dowse will be sweating on the fitness of a number of other key players who missed the Gillingham game through injury. Matt Jarvis, Tommy Block, and John Goddard could all miss out again. But defender Ben Gerring is fit to return, after recovering from the injury he picked up in pre-season, and the centre-back could be called straight into action after the Cards’ previously watertight defence conceded six goals in the last two games. But the biggest selection decision might be out wide, with so many players missing, and the likes of Kyran Lofthouse or the returning Joe Leslie could be eyeing a starting spot.

Yeovil Town – The Boss

Darren Sarll has been Yeovil manager since June 2019, taking over at the club following their relegation from the Football League, and guiding them to a fourth place finish last season. He was previously in charge at Stevenage, where he held the top job for just over two years, working alongside Glenn Roeder. He was previously a player at non-league level, playing for the likes of St Albans, Chelmsford, and Hemel Hempstead, before moving into coaching.

One to Watch

There are a couple of players in the Yeovil squad that Woking fans will be familiar with, including defender Josh Staunton and former loan striker Joe Quigley, but one to watch is striker Rhys Murphy. An experienced player, who has also enjoyed time in the Football League, he was one of the standout players in the Cards’ most recent National League South season where he scored 28 times in all competitions for Chelmsford City. He continued that form last season, netting 20 times in the shortened campaign, including 17 in the National League.

Last Time Out

Woking 1-0 Yeovil Town – National League (25th January 2020)


The Cards pulled off a surprise win at the Laithwaite Community Stadium thanks to Shaun Donnellan’s superb first-half winner. The home side came into the game off the back of a miserable Christmas period, having won just one of their last five leagues matches and been knocked out of the FA Trophy by minnows Kingstonian, whilst Yeovil were still in the promotion hunt, but it was Woking who came away with all three points. The Glovers won the previous encounter earlier in the season 3-1, although Woking fans will remember Ibrahim Meite’s stunning consolation goal.

Next Up

The Cards travel to Dover Athletic on Tuesday evening before they’re back at home next weekend, when Barnet will be the visitors to the Laithwaite Community Stadium.


in association with LV BET

Davison snatches a point from Glovers as Woking leave it late

William Bewsey
12:00am, Sat 14th Nov 2020
Woking 1 Yeovil 1
Vanarama National League
14th November 2020

The Cards went into the match following three straight away defeats, in an encounter which saw them - unbeaten at home - against bottom of the table Yeovil, unbeaten away. It was clear that the torrential downpour affected the approach from both sides, with strong winds pushing towards the Kingfield Road End giving Yeovil the advantage in the first half.

The first action of the game came from a set piece, as an excellent delivery from Matty Warburton from a free kick gave a free header to Charlie Lee, but his header was straight at Craig Ross. Woking had a similar chance just three minutes later, an excellent delivery from Charlie Cooper giving Max Kretzschmar a free header, which was tame and easy for Adam Smith to gather.

Jack Cook found himself needing treatment following a horrible challenge from Albi Skendi, and to the shock of the Woking players, Skendi received just a warning from referee Adam Herczeg. A Yeovil player would find themselves in the book just minutes later, Lawson D’Ath with a poor challenge just outside the box. Charlie Cooper’s free kick was a couple of yards wide.

The game lacked a real cutting edge for much of the first half, at times it was one of head tennis. Following a foul from Saul Shotton just after the half hour mark, which resulted in Woking’s first booking of the game, Luke Wilkinson had a free kick just outside the penalty area. The Yeovil specialist had his effort blocked by the wall. Charlie Cooper put an enticing ball into the box, but Josh Davison was unable to get a good connection.

The first real moment of quality came from Yeovil. A deep free kick was only half cleared by Woking, and Matty Warburton, on loan from Northampton, showed his EFL quality with an excellent finish into the bottom corner, giving Ross no chance. Just two minutes of added time were comfortable enough for Yeovil, who had a deserved lead, with Woking lacking cohesion and quality.

Half-time: Woking 0 Yeovil 1

Woking were out early for the second half, and just six minutes after half time, Morgan Williams got on the wrong side of Charlie Cooper inside the box, penalty to Woking. Max Kretzschmar, Woking’s specialist, stepped up, but his penalty hit the post and the ball was cleared. It just looked like being one of those days for Woking, and Yeovil thought they had doubled their lead, with Warburton seeing a shot well saved by the feet of Ross, Murphy tapped home but the linesman’s flag was up quickly.

With sixteen minutes to go, an excellent shot from Murphy from 25 yards was incredibly tipped onto the bar by Ross, with the rebound being blocked by desperate Woking defending, before the ball found its way to Warburton, who was fouled inside the box, and the referee did not hesitate in pointing to the spot for the second penalty of the game. Murphy stepped up, but his tame effort was straight at Ross, and Yeovil had missed their chance to clinch victory.

The penalty miss boosted the Cards’ morale, and Ben Dempsey was replaced by Dave Tarpey, which showed the intent from Woking boss Alan Dowson. Woking started to string passes together, with Kretzschmar in particular seeing much more of the ball, and it was the Woking number 10 who created an opportunity for Josh Davison. Following good work from Kretzschmar down the wing, he cut the ball back to Davison, who let the ball roll and then struck a shot which was well saved by Adam Smith and the ball went out for a corner.

Yeovil managed to run the clock down until the 88th minute, when calamitous defending from Luke Wilkinson and Morgan Williams gave Davison the chance to take the keeper on, and he rounded Adam Smith before firing a composed finish into the back of the net from a tight angle.


Glovers' in despair as Davison hits late equaliser; pic: David Holmes


Woking were caught out straight from kick off, and it was too easy for a free header following a good cross, luckily for Woking it was wide. Five minutes of added time saw no further action of note, and full time saw handbags from both sides, with Yeovil devastated that they had let their first three points slip away from them.

Woking will be the happier of the two sides, but Alan Dowson will be disappointed that the Cards couldn’t take their chances and snatch the three points from Yeovil. Woking have a chance to get back to winning ways at Dover on Tuesday night, and possibly a return to action for Ben Gerring after injury.

Woking: 13 Craig Ross, 2 Jack Cook, 3 Josh Casey, 4 Charlie Cooper, 6 Saul Shotton, 8 Kane Ferdinand, 10 Max Kretzschmar, 14 Slavi Spasov, 16 Kyran Lofthouse, 18 Ben Dempsey (Dave Tarpey 77’) 25 Josh Davison

Unused subs: Ben Gerring, Matt Jarvis, Nathan Collier, Jayden Wareham

Goals: Davison 88’

Bookings: Shotton 33’, Davison 90’, Ferdinand 90’

Yeovil 1 Adam Smith, 3 Carl Dickinson, 6 Luke Wilkinson, 8 Lawson D’Ath, 9 Rhys Murphy, 11, Matt Warburton, 17 Morgan Williams, 18 Albi Skendi, 19 Joe Quigley, 22 Charlie Lee, 27 Alex Bradley

Unused subs: Ryan Burke, Matt Worthington, Jimmy Smith, Gabby Rogers, Harry Palmer

Goals: Warburton 44’

Bookings: D’Ath 15’, Smith 71’

Referee: Adam Herczeg

Attendance: N/A

Man of the Match: Craig Ross was brilliant once again, making several key saves to keep Yeovil at bay, showing why he is one of the highest rated keepers in the National League.

WOKING LINEUP
13Craig Ross
16Kyran Lofthouse
3Josh Casey
6Saul Shotton
2Jack Cook
18Ben Dempsey ('77)
4Charlie Cooper
8Kane Ferdinand
10Max Kretzschmar
14Slavi Spasov
25Josh Davison
BENCH
12Nathan Collier
5Ben Gerring
11Matt Jarvis
7Dave Tarpey ('77)
23Jayden Wareham
Yeovil Town LINEUP
1Adam Smith
17Morgan Williams
3Carl Dickinson
6Luke Wilkinson
18Albi Skendi
8Lawson D Ath
22Charlie Lee
27Alex Bradley
11Matty Warburton
19Joe Quigley
9Rhys Murphy
BENCH
23Harry Palmer
5Ryan Burke
7Matt Worthington
10Jimmy Smith
16Gabriel Rogers

Woking 1-1 Yeovil Town | Dowse Interview

Woking 1-1 Yeovil Town | Kyran Lofthouse Interview

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