INTRODUCING LEWESLewes?s start to the season has been, with the exception of the first game which they drew, exactly the same as Woking?s, although they have conceded rather more goals: 15 so far! So, surely a good game is to be expected from two teams fighting valiantly to free themselves from the relegation zone at this early stage of the season?
Last season Steve King?s Lewes team won the Blue Square South title with two games to spare after beating Dorchester at The Pan and gained promotion to the Blue Square Premier for the first time in their history. Surprisingly, and somewhat controversially, on the last day of the season the Board neglected to renew Steve King?s contract and in the following months all but one of the promotion-winning squad left the club ? Anthony Barness being the only regular player remaining. Amongst the leavers were former Card, Ian Selley, and now Eastbourne Borough striker Jean-Michel Sigere.
During the summer manager Kevin Keehan got down to work building a very solid, if unspectacular, squad for Lewes?s first season at this level. Danny Cullip, who was considered surplus to requirements by QPR manager Luigi De Canio but had since played for Gillingham, signed, as did former Grays player Michael Standing and Zac Beda from Brighton & Hove Albion. Lewes?s squad comprises a mixture of experience and youth and they will surely provide a stern test for the Cards on Tuesday night.
LEWES INChris Breach (Bognor)
Seb Wallis-Taylor (Bognor)
Chamal Fenelon (Havant)
Tom Graves (Horsham)
Rikki Banks (Worthing)
Michael Standing (Grays)
James Fraser (Bristol Rovers - loan)
Scott Taylor (Grays)
Olli Burgess (Burgess Hill)
Matt Geard (Horsham)
Joe Keehan (Worthing)
Danny Cullip (Gillingham)
Zac Beda (Brighton & Hove Albion)
LEWES OUTIan Simpemba (Havant & Waterlooville)
Dale Binns (Maidenhead)
Andy Drury (Stevenage)
Simon Wormull (Eastbourne Borough)
Paul Booth (Havant & Waterlooville)
Gary Holloway (Havant & Waterlooville)
Jamie Cade (Tonbridge)
Matt Groves (Eastleigh)
Leon Legge (Tonbridge)
Jay Conroy (Havant & Waterlooville)
Tom Davis (AFC Wimbledon)
Jean-Michel Sigere (Eastboune)
Paul Kennett (Worthing)
Stuart Robinson (released)
Steve Robinson (Chelmsford)
Shawn Beveny (Cray)
Lewis Hamilton (Tonbridge)
WOKING TEAM NEWSCaptain Colin Miles was forced off the pitch during the first half against Kettering on Saturday with an ankle injury, so must be a doubt for this Tuesday?s game against Lewes. Abdou El-Kholti also suffered an ankle injury but didn?t look as badly hurt as the aforementioned Miles.
LAST TIME ROUNDLewes 1-2 Woking (F) 9th August 2005)
The player who turned out to be the League?s top goalscorer during the following season, Justin Richards, netted his first pre-season goal as Woking beat Lewes by a single goal on a brilliant summer?s day in August. Mark Rawle added a second as the travelling Woking fans left satisfied and full of hope about the season ahead.
Woking: Shwan Jalal, Simon Jackson, Jimmy Aggrey, Karim El-Salahi, Gary MacDonald, Steve Ferguson (Steve Evans), Karl Murray, Lloyd Blackman(Ian Selley), Chris Sharpling, Craig McAllister (Mark Rawle), Justin Richards
LAST TIME OUTBurton 5-2 Lewes (30th August 2008)
Aaron Webster scored twice for Burton on the way to a thumping victory. Greg Pearson scored from close range but Lewes hit back through Scott Taylor and a Michael Standing penalty after Adam Yates up-ended Chamal Fenelon.
Yates made amends when he crossed for Keith Gilroy and Burton went in front when Webster headed home from a corner. A clinical finish from Shaun Harrad and another header from Webster a minute from time secured the points.
Lewes?s problems were compounded by injuries during the game to Danny Cullip (hamstring), Chris Breach (dislocated shoulder), Matt Geard and Danny Davis.
Lewes: Banks, Breach (Graves 62), Cullip, Barness, Davis (Cox 90), Standing, Keehan, Geard (Rowland 57), Wallis-Taylor, Taylor, Fenelon.
FORM GUIDE (last five games)Woking: LLLDLTorquay: 1-2 LOST
Burton 2-3 LOST
Forest Green Rovers: 0-1 LOST
Oxford: 0-0 DREW
Kettering: 0-1 LOST
Lewes: LLLDLCrawley: 0-3 LOST
Salisbury: 1-4 LOST
Weymouth: 0-2 LOST
Ebbsfleet: 0-0 DREW
Burton: 5-2 LOST
TICKET INFOUsual ticket prices apply for this Blue Square Premier League clash ?
Terracing ? Adults ?12 OAPs ?10 U16?s ?5
Leslie Gosden Stand ? Adults ?15 OAP?s ?11 U16?s ?6
Under 16 benefactors of the ?Project 3000? scheme can gain free entry to all parts of the ground and any accompanying adult will be admitted for just ?10.
Come on, you Cards!
TOM BARNARDO
Brian Caffarey adds:
MATCHDAY PROGRAMME
We?ve got another great line-up on Tuesday night, including:
a profile of Joel Ledgister
Sadie Gordon on the funnier side of football
Robert Greenaway on famous Woking football families
a profile of James Aughterson, Finance Director
Graeme Morton (aka Kanu?s Nan) in the ?fanfare? chair
Russell and Marc downing a pint or two while discussing Olympic football amongst other vital issues.
plus all the usual previews and reports, including David Holmes?s superb action photos. Support the Club: buy a programme!
