Cards look to maintain momentum

Southport v Woking
3pm on Saturday 5 October 2013


After a much needed win on Saturday, the first at Kingfield this season, Woking now make the long trip to Haig Avenue for their game against Southport. The Cards managed to win there last season and will be desperate to build on the improved form shown against Nuneaton in order to maintain the momentum of that vital victory.

WOKING

Having Scott Rendell back in the side was a huge bonus last Saturday and his partnership with Gavin Williams looks to be developing well. Garry has a number of interesting decisions to make regarding his midfield with newcomer Darren Murphy adding much needed “bite� in the middle of the park and substitute John Goddard looking dangerous going forward. How the manager will set up his midfield we’ll have to wait and see but there appear to be a number of options available that all look promising.

If Adam Newton remains unavailable it’s likely that the back four, that dealt comfortably with the side second in the league and kept a clean sheet into the bargain, will be retained.

SOUTHPORT

The Sandgrounders’ new manager Alan Wright, the former Aston Villa full-back, brought in a substantial number of new faces over the summer, with quite a few being recruited from relegated Barrow. In addition to two new keepers, Danny Hurst and David Stevenson, they included a new captain, highly-experienced midfielder Jamie Milligan, previously with Fleetwood; Danny Hattersley, a striker from Stockport County; and Scott Brown, a midfielder who includes over 60 appearances for Bristol City on his c.v. Two more signings recently have been French midfielder Bruci Irie-Be, previously with Lille B and Blackpool reserves, and Yamen Osawe, a pacy forward from Blackburn’s ranks, who has already notched three goals.

Chris Almond was top scorer last season, while Karl Ledsham also poses a considerable threat.

Southport have an excellent home record, having won four and drawn one of their five home league games. There have been victories over Luton, Gateshead, Aldershot and Alfreton, with only Welling sharing the points.
Last Saturday they were away at Dartford, losing by a single goal and despite hitting the woodwork early on. Southport have now lost six games – all away fixtures.

GETTING THERE

Merseyrail Community Stadium
Haig Avenue
Southport
PR8 6JZ

Official website: www.southportfc.net

By coach

The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 9am. The price for members is £25 and for non-members £32. Phone or email the Club Shop (shop@wokingfc.co.uk) to book your place.
By car
Leave the M6 at Junction 26 and take the M58 towards Southport. Leave the M58 at Junction 3 and take the A570 towards Ormskirk. Follow the A570 around Ormskirk Town Centre towards Southport. On entering Southport you will come to a large roundabout with Tesco's & McDonalds outlets. Take the 3rd exit onto Scarisbrick New Road (A570). You should now be able to catch sight of the ground over on your right. Pass the Richmond pub on your left and then turn right into Haig Avenue. The ground is down on the right. There is no car park at the ground. However, there are usually many spaces under a couple of minutes’ walk but watch out for parking restrictions around the streets.
By train
You can either get a train from Euston to Wigan and change there or travel to Liverpool Lime Street and then catch the Merseyrail to Southport. Look up www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.thetrainline.com for details of train times and prices.
ADMISSION PRICES

Adults: £13.50
Concessions: £10
Under 18s: £5
Under 11s: Free (if accompanied by a paying adult)

The match will be segregated and the ‘away end’ is an uncovered terrace.

LAST TIME OUT

Last season’s home game against Southport in October 2012 was a bit of a nightmare. It started well, with Kevin Betsy giving the Cards the lead after 10 minutes, set up by Gavin McCallum. But the Sandgrounders increasingly came back into the game, equalising before half-time through Andrew Parry. The visitors went down to ten men ten minutes after the break but still managed to take the lead through a Chris Lynch back-post tap-in. Gavin McCallum scrambled the ball home to make it 2-2 but Brett Johnson then under-hit a back pass to Sam Beasant. Joe McNerney desperately tried to save the day but only succeeded in giving away a penalty and being red-carded too, whilst Chris Lever converted to wrap up all the points for Southport.

The return fixture in February this year again saw Woking allow ten-man Southport to come back at them but this time they went on to claim the points with a 2-1 win. The turning point in the match was Simon Grand’s dismissal in the 24th minute for an ugly lunge at Mark Ricketts. The Cards then gained the ascendancy, with Bradley Bubb seizing on a Jayden Stockley pass to give the visitors the lead. Southport equalised on the hour through an Aaron Chalmers’ free-kick but Bubb secured a rare Woking win at Southport with a shot that went in off a defender.

NEXT GAME

The next game is a very attractive home fixture against Edgar Davids’s Barnet side on Tuesday evening. There have been some entertaining games between the two sides over the years and the current Barnet side have started the season very promisingly following their relegation from League 2 last season.


Come on, you Cards!