WOKING v SALISBURY CITY
7.45pm on Tuesday 23 September 2008
There may still be a few people who will look at this fixture and think it?s one of the easier home games of the season. Well, Nick Holmes?s side demonstrated very clearly last year, in their first season in the BSP, that they are no ?pushovers? for anyone, and they have started this season exceptionally well. They now sit in third place and are unbeaten away from home. The pressure will be on Phil Gilchrist?s side, in the first of two crucial home games this week, to produce a compelling performance and, more importantly, to grab all three points.
WOKING
Abdou El Kholti (ankle ligament) and Paolo Vernazza (hamstring) were absentees, through injury, on Saturday, with the latter sounding nearest to a return. It will be interesting to see if Phil Gilchrist starts with Joel Ledgister up front again in preference to Manny Williams or, indeed, if he tries another formation to try to inject some sharpness into a goal-shy attack.
SALISBURY CITY
The Whites made few changes to their squad in the summer, the main signings being those of Rob Sinclair (Luton) and Djoumin Sangare (Stafford).
They have enjoyed an excellent start to this campaign, picking up 20 points from their opening ten fixtures, in stark contrast to the Cards? five points. Salisbury?s record reads: six wins, two draws and two defeats. Their away record reads: three wins (at FGR, Lewes and Torquay) and two draws (at Altrincham and York).
Ex-Card James Bittner has regained his place in goal and former Kingfield favourite, Charlie Griffin, is amongst the goals this season. He has scored four so far, mainly after coming on as a ?super sub?, but started at York on Saturday, where an injury-hit Whites side did very well to gain a 1-1 draw, only conceding a goal at the death. The Whites? new loan signing from Gillingham, Sean Clohessy, was on target for Nick Holmes?s side. A third former Card in the Whites? squad is Michael Fowler.
It sounds as though the Whites will be considerably depleted by injuries on Tuesday evening. Rob Sinclair and Ryan Clarke have long-term injuries. Matt Robinson is recovering from a heel injury and isn?t expected to be fit enough to play before next Saturday. Two more players were injured up at York: Michael Fowler and Djoumin Sangare, both of whom are expected to be out for several weeks.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
06-07: Salisbury City 3-1 Woking (FA Trophy First Round)
(McAllister)
07-08 Salisbury City 2-1 Woking
(Sole)
Woking 3-2 Salisbury City
(Morgan, Sole (pen), Norville)
LAST SEASON
Salisbury City 2-1 Woking
27 August 2007
Woking?s unbeaten start under Frank Gray came to a disappointing end in Wiltshire as newly-promoted Salisbury took full advantage of a depleted Woking side. Missing Nick Gindre and Tom Hutchinson, the Cards struggled to adapt after Gray was forced to shuffle his pack, and Salisbury led 2-0 at the interval thanks to goals from Matt Tubbs and Darrell Clarke. Substitute Giuseppe Sole fired home what proved to be nothing more than a late consolation to open his account for the campaign.
Woking 3-2 Salisbury City
24 March 2008
A bumper crowd following another successful ?Kids for Free? promotion were treated to an exciting game at Kingfield in this Easter Monday fixture. Woking took the lead through Marvin Morgan, who attacked what looked like a harmless free-kick from Danny Bunce. The Cards were pegged back immediately after Rob Sinclair smashed home for the visitors, before Liam Feeney?s free-kick was misjudged by Ross Worner six minutes after the interval, with the ball looping into the top corner. A stunned Woking struggled to fight back, before Frank?s introduction of Sole and Pattison sparked Woking into life. Morgan won a penalty against the run of play, which Sole eventually scored with a re-take after the Salisbury keeper Clarke was adjudged to have come too far off his line. Jason Norville nodded home from two yards in stoppage time to send Kingfield into raptures.
MATCHDAY PROGRAMME
We?ve got another packed matchday programme for you on Tuesday evening, including:
? a profile of Abdou El Kholti
? a summary of last Thursday?s fans? forum, plus pictures
? a profile of Jane Spong
? the final part of Robert Greenaway?s nostalgic reminiscences of famous Woking football families, focusing on the Mortimore brothers and the Lintotts
? Martyn Pattison in the ?fanfare? chair
plus much more, including the usual fantastic photos from David Holmes and match reports and previews. Buy a copy and support the Club!
Come on, you Cards!
