Boz's Fruit & Veg

Testing away trip for Cards

Brian Caffarey
9:54am, Thu 19th Jan 2012
Salisbury City v Woking
3pm on Saturday 21 January 2012

The Cards travel to Salisbury City on Saturday for the first of two successive testing away matches. The Whites looked a good side when they forced a goalless draw at Kingfield in October but, perhaps due to the distraction of their excellent FA Cup run, they have faltered in the league meanwhile and now need some points to ensure that they don’t get dragged into a relegation scrap. The Cards are 14 points clear at the top but will want to get another win under their belts if possible at a ground, however, at which Woking have usually not done well.

WOKING

For a good part of last Saturday’s home game against Bromley the Cards looked to have rediscovered the form which had largely eluded them in the previous four or five matches. But, after cruising into a two-goal lead, poor defending and a collapse in midfield dominance allowed Bromley to equalise, and it was only a last-gasp glancing header from substitute Joe McNerney deep into extended injury time that enabled them to secure three points.

Moses Ademola’s return last week, coupled with a lively display from Paris Cowan-Hall, certainly helped the Cards look more potent up front in spite of Dale Binns’s continuing absence. Mike Cestor slotted into the left-back role comfortably, enabling Adam Doyle to return to centre back duties – ironically, at the expense of Joe McNerney, who had been one of the better performers in recent games. Adam Doyle will be missing at Salisbury on Saturday, though, having picked up his second batch of five bookings, so it seems likely Joe will start this time.

SALISBURY CITY

The Whites lie 17th in the table with 26 points from 22 games. At home they’ve won five, drawn two and lost five, with 19 goals scored and 15 conceded. Now that their FA Cup run has ended – which took them to a Third Round tie at Sheffield United, losing 3-1 – they need to concentrate on making the most of their games in hand to pull themselves away from the relegation zone.

Manager Darrell Clarke has been instituting wholesale changes in the Whites’ squad. A number of players have already left, including winger Charlie Knight, who has joined AFC Totton on loan, whilst striker Jake Reid, ex-Woking Academy defender Josh Casey and winger Adam Kelly have all been placed on the transfer list. Matt Wright, formerly with Woking, has gone on loan at Swindon Supermarine, whilst Wayne Turk returned to Forest Green Rovers.

Clarke has brought back a former favourite, striker Robbie Matthews, from Newport County: Matthews was on loan to the Whites when they came to Kingfield in October. Other new signings are keeper Will Puddy from Chippenham Town; Stuart Sinclair, a midfielder from Arlesey Town; central defender Danny Webb, who was previously on loan from Bath City; Charlie Losasso, a midfielder on loan from Reading; Matt Clark, a versatile young midfielder/winger from Swindon Academy; and Abdulai Bell-Baggie, a forward from Hayes and Yeading who has caps at England U17 and U19 level and was previously at Yeovil.

GETTING THERE

The Raymond McEnhill Stadium
Partridge Way
Old Sarum
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP4 6PU
Website
http://www.salisburycity-fc.co.uk

By coach

The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 12 noon and costs £14 for members and £19 for non-members. Phone or email (shop@wokingfc.co.uk) the Club Shop today to book your place.

By car

Follow A322 and M3, leaving at junction 8 to join the A303. Leave A303 at the Countess Roundabout / Amesbury Junction and carry on through the town onto the A345. Continue towards Salisbury, past the turn-off to Boscombe Down on the left, up the hill and through the traffic lights at High Post (a hotel and nightclub are on your right) and carry on down to the Beehive junction roundabout. There is a large white sign, clearly marked 'football ground' in brown writing at the bottom. Turn left, through the first small roundabout and then left into Partridge Way.

By train

Nearest station: Salisbury

Direct trains from Woking leave at 16 and 46 minutes past the hour, with a journey time of about an hour. For the return journey, trains leave at 21 and 47 minutes past the hour.

The station is nearly three miles from the ground, so a taxi will be needed.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults – £13
Senior citizens / concessions – £10
Students (16-21) – £8
Children under 16 – £3
Transfer to stand – £2
Family tickets – seated £30, terrace £25
(min – 2 adults, 1 child; max – 2 adults, 2 children)

The game will be segregated.

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 0 Salisbury City 0
8 October 2011

The Cards were frustrated by a very stubborn Whites’ defence and, in particular, by giant keeper Conor Gough, who made several outstanding saves. With Adam Newton and Joe McNerney missing, Garry Hill brought in Josh Griffiths at right-back, whilst Mark Ricketts partnered the returning Adam Doyle in central defence.

Woking were soon on the offensive but initially found it hard to fashion promising openings, with Moses Ademola’s strike against the foot of the post in the 25th minute the best chance of the first half. The second half was virtually one-way traffic, with ‘man of the match’ Paris Cowan-Hall and Ademola causing consternation to opposition defenders but, try as they might, the Cards just couldn’t find a way past Gough.


Come on, you Cards!

P.S. Woking FC shareholders are reminded that the Club’s AGM takes place at 8pm on Monday 23 January in the Cardinals Bar.


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