Cards have to win!

Woking v Bishop’s Stortford
3pm on Saturday 16 April 2011

This has all the makings of a very competitive game as the Cards desperately seek to maintain their play-off challenge and the visitors fight to avoid the drop. Garry Hill’s side have got to win this game to maintain any realistic chance of finishing in the top five. So, come on down to Kingfield and cheer the team on to victory! And don’t forget to bring your completed Boost the Budget Standing Order form with you!

WOKING

The Cards now lie in 8th place, two points behind Chelmsford City in 5th place but with Dover and Eastleigh, in 6th and 7th place, still very much in the hunt too. With so many games between the top clubs in the remaining four fixtures, the permutations are almost too complex to handle. The focus, for the moment, has to be simply on getting three points on Saturday and then seeing how it looks. For the record, though, other critical games tomorrow include Chelmsford City v Farnborough, Eastleigh v Ebbsfleet United and Dorchester Town v Dover Athletic.

Garry will be hoping that his side can rediscover a bit more of the élan they showed in propelling themselves into the play-off chase after recent nervous performances against Dorchester Town and Dartford. In particular, we need to see some of the newcomers like Lyle Taylor, James Walker and Michael Doughty show up more strongly after a few games to settle in.

BISHOP’S STORTFORD

Ian Walker’s side lie in 18th place in the table with 36 points from 38 games, only three points above the relegation places. Their away record is better than their home record: 6 wins, 3 draws and 10 defeats, with 27 goals scored and 38 conceded.

Starting backwards from last Saturday’s disappointing defeat by Basingstoke Town, their recent results have been:

Bishop’s Stortford 0 Basingstoke Town 2
Hampton and Richmond Borough 0 Bishop’s Stortford 3
Dover Athletic 2 Bishop’s Stortford 0
Ebbsfleet United 0 Bishop’s Stortford 0
Bishop’s Stortford 2 Chelmsford City 2

The Blues’ 3-0 win at Hampton was their first in the league since 8 January. It was also the first victory since Ian Walker, the ex-Spurs keeper, took over the managerial reins.

Harlee Dean, on loan from Southampton, has been the Blues’ most consistent performer in recent games, although Michael Bakare starred in the Hampton game.

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

This season

Bishop’s Stortford 0 Woking 4
12 February 2011

This was the game in which Garry Hill’s side first began to turn on the style after hard-fought league wins over Thurrock and St Albans City and a very disappointing FA Trophy exit to Salisbury City. The previous week had seen the departures of Alan Inns, Sam Hurrell and Jerome Maledon and the arrival of Jay Davies, on loan from Peterborough, who proceeded to make an impressive debut. It was a shaky start, though, from the Cards and Andy Little was lucky to profit from a rebound off the post after Garrod had seized on a loose back header. Gradually the Cards gained more attacking momentum and took a decisive 2-0 lead just before half-time. First, Elvis Hammond cut back superbly for Moses Ademola to crash the ball home and then the goalscorer lifted an excellent pass into the path of ‘man of the match’ Kieran Murtagh, who chipped the ball deftly over the advancing keeper. It was virtually one-way traffic in the second half as some scintillating Woking play created a host of chances. Murtagh got his second and Woking’s third with a fine drive from the edge of the box and then substitute Ollie Palmer scored with his first touch, striking a fantastic dipping volley from out wide.

Last season

Woking 1 Bishop’s Stortford 0
22 August 2009

The fifth league game of the season saw the Cards move up to 6th place in the table but it wasn’t a very convincing display from Graham Baker’s side, the winner coming from a somewhat fortunate penalty late on after a messy tackle on Craig Watkins. Gez Sole duly converted. Sam Sloma deputised for the injured Aswad Thomas at left back, while Moses Ademola partnered Watkins up front, with Luke Medley on the right flank. The Cards found it hard all afternoon to produce a penetrating final pass or decent finish and, in the first half, had to be grateful to the immaculate Ross Worner for keeping the score at 0-0 as he made a superb save. The second half saw the Cards develop more momentum but the game seemed likely to end in stalemate until the late penalty.

Bishop’s Stortford 0 Woking 3
8 December 2009

This performance went some way to redeem a dreadful 5-0 midweek hammering at Bath City, in which Trevor Benjamin made his last appearance in his brief spell at the Club. With Jamie Hand dropping to the bench and Mark Ricketts back in midfield to partner Harry Arter, and with Jon Boardman returning to defence alongside Tom Hutchinson, the Cards looked in determined mood. Increasing pressure resulted in a goal on 32 minutes as Matthew Wright, partnering his Palace team-mate Nathaniel Pinney up front, hit an excellent shot past the keeper from the right of the box. The home side had one or two chances to get back in the game, Charlie Sheringham going close, but a series of defensive blunders gifted the Cards their second goal, Moses Ademola gleefully netting from close range. With twenty minutes to go substitute Sam Sloma put Gez Sole through for a one-on-one with the home keeper. Gez was perhaps slightly fortunate to be brought down but, typically, he made no mistake from the spot to make it 3-0.

ADMISSION

Adults - £12
Juniors (u16s) - £2
Concessions / Students - £8

The bar will be open from 12 noon with a special promotion both before and after the game. From 12pm until 1.30pm ALL DRAUGHT beers will be £2 a pint, which gives you a bargain on Fosters, London Pride bitter and Guinness.

There will be sport on the big screen from 12 noon and fish and chips available from Seafare or the burger bar inside the ground which you can bring back inside.

After the Woking v Bishop’s Stortford game, the Cardinals Bar will be screening the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Manchester City with ALL DRAUGHT beers again £2 a pint until close.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

See the earlier news item for details of our great matchday programme, which includes a look at goalscoring goalkeepers. Buy a copy and support the Club! If yours is the ‘lucky programme’ you will win a full hospitality package for two to the game of your choice.

Come on, you Cards!

N.B. Please bear in mind that the Kingfield Road Bridge is closed to vehicles.
Pedestrian access will remain via a footbridge, but those travelling by car to the ground may have to take a diversion. For more details about the diversion, including a map, please see the Woking Borough Council website: www.woking.gov.uk/en...nmap

And don’t forget to buy your tickets for the Farnborough away game!