HISTON v WOKING
3pm on Saturday 6 December 2008
The Cards have a very interesting away game on Saturday, journeying to Histon, who have conquered Swindon and Leeds in the FA Cup and who also lie second in the BSP after a fantastic run of form, which started ironically after their defeat at Kingfield at the end of September. Woking won?t lack confidence, though, in the light of that victory and travelling on the back of six games without defeat.
WOKING
Woking will have Liam Marum back from suspension. That will pose an interesting dilemma for Phil Gilchrist since Tom Denton, on loan from Huddersfield Town, impressed (and scored) on his debut at Salisbury on Tuesday, and Tom?s height would be a useful asset at set pieces. Given Histon?s propensity to throw lots of crosses into the box, Patrice Konan?s height could see him restored at right back in place of Daniel Spence. Another good display from Nick Gindre in goal, including saving Charlie Griffin?s penalty kick at Salisbury, will presumably mean that Simon Eastwood will have to wait a bit longer to make his debut. Subject to any new injuries incurred on Tuesday, Tom Hutchinson and Goma Lambu will be the only absentees through injury.
The statistics may show that Woking are bottom of the league form table but the Cards are unbeaten in their last six games, including hard-fought draws away at Eastbourne and Weymouth and an encouraging draw at home to Torquay United. On Tuesday the Cards had a convincing 3-0 away win at an admittedly youthful Salisbury side in the Setanta Shield. The evidence is that the side is gradually improving. Saturday would be a good time to bring that to wider attention.
HISTON
Histon made the transition to the BSP last season with ease, finishing in 7th place. Manager Steve Fallon, who has guided the Stutes to an amazing four promotions, has a good mix of old hands and younger faces, a few of whom, like the very promising Nat Percival-Knight, have come through the Stutes? youth system. Captain Mitchel-King is a big threat at set pieces. Striker Danny Wright has returned from injury to fine goalscoring form, joining Jack Midson and Percival-Knight. At the back Danny Naisbitt is a reliable keeper and full back Lanre Oyebanjo is a recipient of a BSP ?player of the month? award this season.
John Kennedy and Neil Andrews have been with the club for many years. New arrivals in the summer included striker Damian Reeves from Farsley Celtic. Fallon also paid out a four-figure fee for Josh Simpson, a midfielder from Cambridge City, who has been in fine form. A recent arrival on loan is QPR forward Romone Rose.
Since their 1-0 defeat at Kingfield at the end of September Histon have been in superb form. They have recorded wins at home against Salisbury, Crawley, Durham City (FA Cup replay), Swindon, Kettering, Oxford and now Leeds. Their away form is equally impressive, with wins at Ebbsfleet, Altrincham and Stevenage.
Histon now lie in second place in the league, three points behind Burton Albion but with two games in hand. Their home records reads: W7 D2 L1, with 18 goals scored and 9 conceded.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
Last season
Histon 0-1 Woking
8 December 2007
Giuseppe Sole?s penalty on 59 minutes after Antonio Murray handled Adam Green's cross was the only goal of the game. Sole made no mistake with the penalty, driving it into the corner to give Woking the lead. Histon gave it their all in the final ten minutes and Antonio Murray had two excellent chances to secure a draw but, thankfully, Woking?s defence, inspired by the outstanding Jay Gasson, held firm to record an excellent away victory.
Woking 3-3 Histon
29 March 2008
Despite the pitch conditions, the continuous rain and a sometimes fiercely swirling wind both sides produced good flowing football which resulted in an entertaining game. Matt Ruby headed home Woking?s first goal after just four minutes but Knight-Percival equalised for Histon two minutes later. Jason Norville and Giuseppe Sole fired Woking into a 3-1 lead but Histon fought back to 3-3 with goals from Midson and Gwillim. All in all, a very entertaining game from both sides.
This season
Woking 1-0 Histon
27 September 2008
This was the third win in a row for the Cards. However, they had to withstand an early bombardment from the Stutes, as they threw cross after cross into the box. The Cards? defence looked rattled, and two ?goals? were disallowed for infringements, but they survived. From the half-hour mark onwards, though, it was the Cards who took the upper hand. Wilfried Domoraud, having already struck the bar with a header, put the Cards ahead with a great strike soon after half-time. Histon mounted a late onslaught but Lenny Pidgeley?s handling helped to keep all three points safe.
GETTING THERE
The Glass World Stadium
Bridge Road
Impington
Cambridge
CB24 9PH
Website: http://www.histonfc.co.uk/
Coach
Leaves 11.30am; ?15 members, ?20 non-members; phone the Club Shop on Friday to book.
Car
The Glass World Stadium is situated to the east of the B1049, just over half a mile north of Junction 32 of the A14, and is easily accessed from all directions. From the South: take the M11 and leave at Junction 14 to take the A14 Eastbound (Newmarket, Ipswich); leave the A14 at Junction 32, turning left onto the B1049.
Train
Trains leave KX at 15 and 45 minutes past each hour and take 46 minutes. Cambridge Station is about a 10 minute walk from the City Centre. The Citi 7 bus connects Histon/Impington with Cambridge Railway Station and runs every 10 minutes. Allow about 30-45 minutes for the journey.
Come on, you Cards!
