Laithwaite Independent Financial Advisers

Another difficult test looms for the Cards

Brian Caffarey
8:16pm, Thu 13th Nov 2014
FC Halifax Town v Woking
2pm on Sunday 16 November 2014

Those fans who are not travelling to this Sunday’s match will be able to watch it live on BT Sport in the Cardinals Bar, which will be open from 12 noon to 5pm. Please remember that it is a 2pm kick-off. The Cards will approach this game in better spirits following their much-improved performance midweek against Wrexham. Let’s hope Woking can repeat last season’s great display at the Shay!

WOKING

The Cards looked livelier and sharper midweek than they have done for a while in spite of missing a clutch of players. The tempo was quicker, there was more ‘fight’ and a very obvious commitment to get something out of the game. The only downside was that most people’s ‘man of the match’, Joey Jones, picked up a fifth booking right at the end to rule him out of Sunday’s clash. But Joe McNerney, who will be hoping to figure in the England C fixture at the Shay a couple of days later, will be available after his one-match suspension and fans will be hoping that Josh Payne, also selected for the England C squad, and Keiran Murtagh will also be at Garry’s disposal.

Jack Marriott had his best game on Wednesday night since he returned to the Club. Let’s hope that memories of his superb hat-trick at the Shay last season encourage a return to the form he showed last season in his first loan spell.

FC HALIFAX TOWN

The Shaymen have a reputation as a big, strong, physical side who play a direct but very effective brand of football. They will certainly put Woking’s defensive resolve to the test. Marc Roberts’s long throws are a particular threat.

Last season they were virtually unbeatable at home, with only the Cards coming away with three points in the league. This season the Shay is continuing to be a very tough place to visit. Halifax’s home league record reads won six, drawn two and lost one, the only defeat coming in a surprise 3-1 reverse at the hands of Altrincham. In midweek the Shaymen lost 1-0 at Grimsby. Halifax now sit in sixth place in the table, one place behind Woking on goal difference. The table could look very different, however, by the time the two sides do battle on Sunday afternoon.

Scott Boden is the side’s top scorer with eight league goals, supported by Richard Peniket with four and defender Marc Roberts with three. A recent loan signing is central defender Sean McGinty from Rochdale.

GETTING THERE

The Shay Stadium
Halifax
HX1 2YT (2YS for sat navs)

Official website: www.halifaxafc.co.uk

The Cards Trust is not running a coach to this match.

By car
Take the M62, exiting at junction 24. Follow signs for A629 Halifax into Skircoat Road, then on to Shaw Hill, where you will find the ground.

By train
Trains to Halifax leave from Kings Cross and are nearly all via a change at Leeds. The 08.56 would get you to Halifax at 12.27, with the 09.56 arriving at 13.26. Returning, the 16.13 is direct to KX, arriving at 19.03, but a considerably cheaper alternative would be the 16.28, arriving at 19.42 via a change at Leeds. Look up www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.thetrainline.com for more details of times and prices.

The ground is five to ten minutes’ walk from Halifax station. Leave the car park, turn left and the ground is on your right in half a mile.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £17
Concessions £13
U16 £6
U12 £6
U7 £3

LAST TIME OUT

FC Halifax 3 Woking 4
7 December 2014

This was a fantastic result for the Cards, who inflicted the Shaymen’s first (and, as it turned out, only) home league defeat of the season.

Woking conceded inside 90 seconds as on-loan Burnley midfielder Archie Love got on the end of an Adam Smith cross. But the Cards then struck a three-goal salvo to leave their shocked hosts reeling. First, Marriott side-footed home after a Rendell effort was blocked. Then he latched onto a precise through ball from Joe McNerney to finish clinically. Marriott then turned provider as he and John Nutter created a difficult chance for Rendell, who nevertheless steered the ball home.

Having re-grouped towards the end of the first half, Halifax put the Cards’ defence under considerable pressure after the break but the Woking backline held firm. In the 73rd minute Marriott grabbed his hat-trick, with a fine strike, after an excellent break by Kevin Betsy. However, the three-goal cushion lasted barely a minute as Wilson seized on a loose ball to fire home. Halifax’s Gray was sent off but ten-man Halifax made it 3-4 with a stunning 30-yard strike from Dan Gardner.

Woking hung on for the remaining nine minutes of full time and five minutes of extra time before finally claiming all the points.

Halifax: Glennon, Pearson (Patterson 61), Ainge, Anderson, McManus, Smith, Love (Gardner 46), Maynard, Marshall, Gray, Ironside (Wilson 60). Subs not used: Senior, McReady.

Booking: Patterson

Sending Off: Gray

Woking: Beasant, Cestor, Payne, McNerney, Nutter, Ricketts, Betsy, Marriott (Johnson 90), Murtagh, Banya (Newton 41), Rendell. Subs not used: Howe, Sole, Goddard.

Bookings: McNerney, Murtagh, Cestor

Attendance: 1,033

NEXT GAME

The Cards will be hoping for a big crowd next Saturday (22 November) when they take on old foes and league leaders Barnet at Kingfield. Martin Allen’s side have threatened at times to run away with the league but have been pegged back recently and will be missing some key players. Make sure the date is firmly in your diary!

Come on, you Cards!

P.S. Cards Trust members - don't forget the AGM on Thursday 20 November at 7.30pm.

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Registered office The Laithwaite Community Stadium, Kingfield, Woking, Surrey, GU22 9AA

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