Cards seek second home win

Woking v Barrow
3pm on Saturday 18 August 2012

Garry Hill’s side will be hoping to build on their first win of the season on Tuesday night with another three points on Saturday afternoon against Barrow. But it won’t be easy: the Bluebirds have shown already that they’re hard to break down, having registered two goalless draws so far. It would be great to get 2,000 through the turnstiles on Saturday: come and cheer the side on to another win!

WOKING

It was a struggle to get the crucial goal on Tuesday against a very resilient ten-man Dartford but patience was rewarded eventually with a possibly fortunate penalty, which Gez Sole converted. Not surprisingly, Garry’s new-look side are not yet firing on all cylinders, with several new signings still to make their mark, but there are some promising signs, certainly in the form of the talented duo of Kevin Betsy and Lee Sawyer in midfield.

Woking fans will be anxious to find out if Gez Sole’s knee injury, which forced him from the field after he’d given the Cards the lead, is going to lead to a lay-off.

Saturday’s game is an opportunity for the Cards to get some more points on the board – with all due respect to Barrow, there are almost certainly tougher challenges ahead from Kingfield visitors.

BARROW

This is the Bluebirds’ fifth season in the BSP. It’s been mostly a struggle but last season’s 13th-place finish was their best showing so far. Manager Dave Bayliss lost a couple of promising young players in the summer with the moves of Jack Mackreth and Andy Cook to Macclesfield and Grimsby respectively but has made some interesting additions, including several last-minute players coming in on loan or short-term contract. The new faces include defender Matt Flynn from Fleetwood; Obi Anoruo, a young forward from Wrexham; Garry Hunter, a very experienced midfielder from Morecambe; Alex-Rae Harvey, formerly with Burnley, who had a one-month loan spell with the Bluebirds last season; and Danny Rowe, a former Stockport winger. The last-minute additions included two promising young players on loan from Burnley: Joe Jackson, a 19 year-old striker, who had a spell at Holker Street last season, and Tom Anderson, an 18 year-old 6’4� defender. Also standing at 6’4� is former Macclesfield striker Vinny Mukendi, whilst two other late arrivals were Aaron Cole, a former Derby County winger who spent much of last season on loan at Stockport, and Ben Hoskin.

Adam Boyes, who notched 20 goals for Barrow last year, is the main threat.

Barrow, usually very strong at home, had a fairly disappointing first day, drawing 0-0 with AFC Telford. On Tuesday night they ended with the same scoreline at BSP newcomers Hyde United.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £15
Over 65s/Students £10
U16s £5

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Saturday’s 56-page programme includes an update from Chairman Mike Smith; Mark Ricketts’s thoughts on the new season; an account by Ian Nicholson of his experiences as a chaplain at the Olympics; a view from a Barrow fan; plus match reports, previews, some great action photos and much more. If you can’t get to the game, you can order a copy from the Club Shop on shop@wokingfc.co.uk

BOOST THE BUDGET

The Cards Trust will be encouraging fans to join the Boost the Budget scheme, which is providing crucial funds for Garry’s playing budget. Please look out for details and sign up if you can afford to do so.

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 1 Barrow 0
7 March 2009

The Cards went into this game in 20th position in the table, having lost four and drawn two of their previous six matches. Barrow were level on points but with three games in hand. The Cards started strongly, with both Bozanic and Domoraud hitting the woodwork. But it was a deflected effort from Bozanic in the 22nd minute which gave the Cards the vital goal: their first in over 500 minutes of play. Elvins especially, looking for his first goal in Woking colours, and Marum both had chances to extend the Cards’ lead before half-time in what was virtually one-way traffic.

Woking largely continued to dictate the play in the second half, although the on-loan Peter Winn caused problems when the Bluebirds broke quickly out of defence but they found ‘man of the match’ Paul Lorraine in fine form.

Woking: Danny Knowles, Patrice Konan, Paul Lorraine, Colin Miles, Joe Anderson, Micah Hyde (Liam Marum), Oliver Bozanic, Matt Pattison, Kelvin Bossman (Goma Lambu), Rob Elvins (Dan Sintim), Wilfried Domoraud

Unused subs: Michael Kamara, Charlie Moone

NEXT GAME

The Cards are away to Forest Green Rovers a week later, with the next home game being on Tuesday
28 August against Alan Devonshire’s Braintree Town.

Come on, you Cards!