Home win is the target

Woking v Dover Athletic
3pm on Monday 25 August 2014

Garry Hill will be hoping that his side can grab their first home win tomorrow (Monday) afternoon when old rivals Dover Athletic visit Kingfield. The Cards have been the more accomplished side in all their games so far but have only one win and three draws to show for their endeavours. The Whites will have been boosted by a convincing home win over Eastleigh on Saturday. Come on down to Kingfield to cheer the Cards on in what should be a very competitive game!

WOKING

The Cards completely dominated the first half-hour at Welling on Saturday but failed to make their domination pay and got caught out in what was virtually the home side’s first attack. A scrappy second half saw them eventually gain an equaliser through substitute Adam Newton.

It was like a re-run of the first home game against Dartford and, to a lesser extent, the last home game against Macclesfield, although the latter remained goalless. Woking had plenty of possession, with some attractive approach play, but had little penetration in the box.

AFC Wimbledon loanee Chris Arthur made his Cards’ debut at Welling but new signing, defender Nick Arnold, was an unused substitute. With two Bank Holiday games coming so close together, and Garry clearly unhappy with the present balance of the side, it would be no surprise to see a few more changes in Monday’s line-up.

DOVER ATHLETIC

The Whites were promoted through the play-offs last season, beating Kent rivals Ebbsfleet United 1-0 in the final at Stonebridge Road. Manager Chris Kinnear, who returned to Crabble after a gap of 18 years to lead Dover into the play-offs, has kept faith with many of the players who gained promotion to the Vanarama Conference. They include winger Ricky Modeste, midfielders Barry Cogan and Chris Kinnear Jnr, strikers Nathan Elder and Jeff Goulding, keeper Mitch Walker and defenders Craig Stone, Richard Orlu and Sean Raggett. Ex-Card Moses Ademola was offered a new deal but decided to stay in the Conference South with Bromley.

Newcomers include striker Stefan Payne, who scored 31 goals for AFC Hornchurch and who numbers Fulham, Gillingham and Sutton among his previous clubs; Jake Reid, another striker, who has played for several Conference clubs, including Salisbury City and Newport County; highly-rated Italian midfielder Christian Nanetti, signed from Havant and Waterlooville; defender Tyrone Sterling, returning after a year away at Dartford; well-travelled midfielder Nick Deverdics, whose most recent club was in the Faroe Islands; and another midfielder, the busy Matt Lock, signed from Chelmsford City.

Dover’s results, in a testing start at the higher level, have been:

Dover Athletic 0 FC Halifax Town 1
Braintree Town 3 Dover Athletic 0
Grimsby Town 1 Dover Athletic 1
Dover Athletic 2 Eastleigh 1

The Whites’ confidence will have been considerably boosted by an excellent point gained at Grimsby and a well-deserved win over Eastleigh. The latter was achieved in spite of the loss of Sean Raggett, sent off shortly before half-time. The goals came from Stefan Payne and Nathan Elder.

ADMISSION

Adults: £15
Over 65s and Students with a valid NUS card: £10
U16s: £3

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Have you tried the Club’s stylish new matchday programme yet? It’s still only £3 but now has 64 pages, with a soft laminate cover, high quality ‘finish’ and stunning photos. Saturday’s edition includes an interview with summer signing James Clarke, some ‘Boardroom’ thoughts from Garry Richardson, some amusing quick-fire responses from Scott Rendell, a study by Alex Beck of the relationship between town size and club status, a round-up of all the recent Vanarama Conference games and much more, including match reports, previews and news of the Club’s community work. Make sure you try it out! If you can’t get to the game, you can order a copy from the Club Shop on shop@wokingfc.co.uk

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 3 Dover Athletic 1
17 September 2011

Late goals from Paris Cowan-Hall and substitute Jay Davies ensured Woking took all three points in an entertaining game against fellow title favourites Dover Athletic.

The Cards took an early lead when Moses Ademola capitalised on a mistake by the Whites’ keeper Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz, but had that advantage cancelled out by a Steven Watt tap-in just before half-time.

A very even second half looked to be producing a draw, but an incisive break and finish from Cowan-Hall reclaimed the home side’s lead, before a close-range Davies header made the points safe.

Dover Athletic 0 Woking 3
19 November 2011

Any concerns that Garry Hill’s side might be a bit rusty after a two-week break from league action were soon dispelled by a scintillating first-half display from the Cards which made a mockery of Dover’s unbeaten home league record. Dale Binns put Woking one up after only nine minutes and Jack King’s typically assured penalty gave the Cards a more-than-deserved 2-0 lead just before the break. The second half was a more even affair but the Whites spurned the few openings that came their way and substitute Elvis Hammond rounded things off with a fine finish in injury time.

NEXT GAME

The Cards travel to Wrexham next Saturday. The Cards Trust is running a coach to this game. The coach leaves at 9.00am and the cost is £24 for members and £29 for non-members. Book your place at the Club Shop tomorrow or ring (01483 772470) or email shop@wokingfc.co.,uk during the week.

The next home game is on Saturday 6 September when Lincoln City are the visitors.

Come on, you Cards!

P.S. Please bear in mind that the A320 Guildford Road is closed both ways between the Harvester in Ottershaw and Brox Road, between the hours of 7am and 7pm until 26 August. Please, therefore, allow extra time for your journey to Kingfield if necessary.