Cards aim to extend unbeaten run
Brian Caffarey
7:15pm, Thu 17th Oct 2013
Wrexham v Woking
3pm on Saturday 19 October 2013
The Cards have now gone four league games unbeaten, with three clean sheets, since their 4-0 trouncing at home by Luton Town on 24 September. Although Wrexham have had an indifferent start to the season, the Cards’ recent resilience will no doubt be greatly tested at the imposing Racecourse Ground this Saturday.
WOKING
It would be no great surprise if, barring any new injuries, Garry picked the side that lined up against both FC Halifax Town and Barnet. He will be hoping, however, that his charges will be a bit more clinical in front of goal since they certainly had sufficient chances to have defeated Barnet and had the better of the game against Halifax too.
WREXHAM
Wrexham’s home record is not especially impressive for a club with play-off aspirations. They’ve beaten Welling, Luton and Southport, drawn with Hyde and Cambridge United and lost to Chester and Braintree. Last weekend, in a televised game, they drew 1-1 at Barnet but had Stephen Wright and Johnny Hunt sent off, both of whom will now miss Saturday’s match.
There are many familiar names from last season in the Reds’ squad, including huge centre-back Mark Creighton (who, however, has missed recent games through injury), Polish international midfielder Adrian Cieslewicz, skipper Dean Keates and strikers Brett Ormerod, Rob Ogleby and Andy Bishop, the last-named having signed permanently in the summer following a loan spell from Bury last season. New additions include winger Joe Anyinsah from Bristol Rovers; David Artell, a commanding centre-back who had a loan spell from Northampton last season; Mark Carrington, a defender on a short-term deal from Bury; and Junior N’Tame, a Cameroonian defender. 20 year-old reserve keeper Andy Coughlin, a summer signing from Tranmere Rovers, has been between the sticks for the last three games in place of Joslain Mayebi.
Wrexham currently lie 18th in the table, three places and two points above the Cards.
GETTING THERE
Racecourse Ground
Mold Road
Wrexham
Wales
LL11 2AH
Official website: www.wrexhamafc.co.uk
By coach
The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 9.00am. The cost is £23 for Trust members and £30 for non-members. Ring the Club Shop or email shop@wokingfc.co.uk to book your place.
By car
Take the M54 from the M6 (Junction 10A Northbound). Follow the M54 to the end of the motorway and join the A5 towards Shrewsbury. Continue on the A5 past Shrewsbury and Oswestry and then join the A483 towards Wrexham. Stay on the A483 as you reach Wrexham (this is the Wrexham by-pass). Exit at the 'Mold' junction and then follow the signs for 'Town Centre'. The Racecourse will come quickly into view. There is parking at Glyndwr University, for a small fee, next to the ground or at Maesgwyn Hall opposite the University.
By train
Those fans planning to travel by train will almost certainly have taken advantage of the cheaper advance fares. For any last-minute traveller, though, the 11.10 from Euston would get you to Chester at 13.12, from where you can pick up the 13.30, arriving at Wrexham at 13.46. Wrexham General station is next to the ground. There are trains back at 17.03 and 18.02, both involving changes at Chester and Crewe, with the former getting you to Euston at 20.04 and the latter at 21.18.
ADMISSION PRICES
Adults: £19
Over 60s and under 21s: £14
Over 80s and under 16s: £5
Under 11s: £1
Ady Loveday has contacted the Club to invite any Woking fans travelling to Wrexham to come and visit the Black Lion Inn, Church Street, Rhosllanachrugog, LL14 2BW, which is only a 10-minute drive from Wrexham’s ground. All beer will be at £2 a pint and there will be free food for all Woking fans. Ady asks that you bring a scarf or banner to put up in his pub.
LAST TIME OUT
Wrexham 3 Woking 1
11 August 2012
This was the Cards’ first game following their return to the Conference Premier and being drawn away to the previous season’s losing play-off finalists was certainly a challenging start. Woking found themselves under strong pressure from the kick-off and were a goal down after 18 minutes when Ogleby lobbed Aaron Howe. Mayebi made a fine save from Kevin Betsy but the Woking defence cracked again just before half-time when Dean Keates scored. The Cards pulled a goal back when Bradley Bubb took advantage of a defensive mix-up but Creighton made the game safe for Wrexham fifteen minutes from time with a back-post header.
NEXT GAME
Next Saturday (26 October) the Cards have a very testing FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round tie at home to Luton Town, who, as already noted, were 4-0 victors at Kingfield in the league only a month ago. However, Garry Hill’s side will be strongly motivated to turn the tables on the Hatters and progress to the next round of the Cup, so make sure you are there for what should be a cracking cup tie! The Cards’ next league game is the following Saturday (2 November) when they entertain high-flying Grimsby Town.
Come on, you Cards!