Cards face tough Trophy test

Woking v Dover Athletic
FA Trophy 3rd Round
3pm on Saturday 24 January 2015

Garry Hill has made it clear that he’s keen to take the Cards to Wembley this season but familiar rivals, the Whites, pose a formidable obstacle since they have been in exceptional form after an uncertain start to life back in the Conference Premier. Come on down to Kingfield and cheer Woking on to the Trophy Quarter-Finals!

WOKING

The Cards seem to be recovering their form after a poor spell in December which saw them fall away in the play-off race. But they did beat Eastleigh at home in the 1st Round of the Trophy and eventually disposed of Oxford City in a replay. Garry Hill’s side have now gone five games undefeated, with creditable draws in the league away to Eastleigh and Gateshead and, last Saturday, at home to a hitherto rampant Bristol Rovers side. Other promising signs include the return from injury of top scorer Scott Rendell, who came off the bench against Rovers, and of captain Mark Ricketts, who has been an unused substitute in the last three games.

The arrival of striker Ross Lafayette on loan from Luton Town is also a boost, although it is counter-balanced by the departure of Jack Marriott, who has returned to Ipswich Town in order to go on loan to Colchester United as part of the deal that saw Colchester’s Freddie Sears move to Portman Road. More squad changes were announced today, with the arrival on loan of Charles Banya from Crawley Town, with Dean Morgan moving in the other direction. Banya has already had a spell on loan at Kingfield last season when he was still with Fulham. Reece Beckles has also gone on loan again to Farnborough.

The Cards played with great determination against Rovers, with outstanding displays from central defenders Joe McNerney and James Clarke and a strong contribution from the midfield. With Kevin Betsy returning to form and John Goddard impressing on the left, the Cards looked better balanced than they have done for some time.

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, kept faith with many of the players who gained promotion to the Vanarama Conference. They included 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 included 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 had 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 had been in the Faroe Islands; and another midfielder, the busy Matt Lock, signed from Chelmsford City.

The Whites had a very difficult start to the season but began to pick up towards the end of September, when they claimed successive wins against Alfreton and Aldershot at Crabble. The defence had been strengthened by the addition of Tom Bonner, on loan from Cambridge United, who has recently signed for Ebbsfleet, and Connor Essam, an ex-Gill who joined from Crawley Town. Kinnear also brought in Ricky Miller and Solomon Taiwo on loan from Luton Town. The latter has just re-joined the Whites. Another arrival was keeper Andrew Rafferty, who had been with Hartlepool United. Such was the turnaround in Dover’s fortunes that Kinnear won the ‘manager of the month’ award in November.

After their midweek 2-0 home win over Wrexham, Dover now sit in 8th place, one place above Woking, though level on points and goal difference, but with a game in hand.

An excellent FA Cup run saw the Whites dispose of two League sides, Morecambe and Cheltenham Town, before losing at home to Crystal Palace. In the Trophy Dover beat Lowestoft Town and Havant and Waterlooville, both away, to reach this stage.

Midfielder Adam Mekki, who has featured for Aldershot and Barnet, has recently signed permanently in addition to Taiwo. Striker Nathan Elder has gone on loan to Maidstone United.

ADMISSION

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

The game is not planned to be segregated.

Season ticket holders are reminded that this is an ‘all pay’ game. If a replay is required, it will take place on Tuesday evening at Crabble, with a 7.45pm kick-off.

There is a special ‘promotion’ for fans on Saturday: buy your fish and chips from Cardinals Catering under the Leslie Gosden Stand and the first 100 fans will be admitted to the Geoff Chapple Lounge, with the doors opening at 1.30pm.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Saturday’s edition of the Club’s stylish matchday programme includes a preview of all the Trophy ties; a look at how the two sides have reached the last 16; memories of Woking’s entry into floodlit competitions; a round-up of all the recent Vanarama Conference games and much more, including match reports, previews, news of the Club’s commercial and community initiatives and tremendous action photos. Make sure you get a copy! 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 6 Dover Athletic 1
25 August 2014

The two sides had started the season in very different form and this was reflected in this overwhelming victory for the Cards, who finally produced the goals that their previous performances had threatened. Gez Sole opened the scoring in the tenth minute, deflecting a header past the keeper, before adding a second ten minutes later with a determined run to the near post. Five minutes later Scott Rendell side-footed home to make it 3-0 but the uncertain Woking defending which had punctuated their goals was then punished by Stefan Payne as he broke through a James Clarke tackle to score via a deflection.

Dover’s defending proved to be even more hapless after the break as Rendell added three more goals in the second half, including one from the penalty spot – and the scoreline could have been even more embarrassing for Dover had Woking been more clinical in their finishing.

Woking: Jake Cole (Aaron Howe 66), James Clarke (Joey Jones 62), Mark Ricketts, Joe McNerney, Adam Newton, Josh Payne (Theo Lewis 62), Keiran Murtagh, Chris Arthur, Dean Morgan, Scott Rendell, Giuseppe Sole

Unused subs: John Nutter, Nick Arnold

Goals: Scott Rendell 25, 52, 60 (pen), 72 ; Giuseppe Sole 10, 20

Booked: Josh Payne

Dover Athletic: Mitch Walker, Craig Stone, Chris Kinnear Jnr, Richard Orlu, Nathan Elder (Jake Reid 77), Matt Lock (Tom Murphy 67), Stefan Payne, Tyrone Sterling, Yado Mambo, Tom Wynter (Nick Deverdics 31), Christian Nanetti

Unused subs: Barry Cogan, Brendan Owusu-Ansah

Goal: Stefan Payne 30

Attendance: 1454

COMING UP

The Cards are at home to Alfreton Town next Saturday (31 January) in what will be a crucial test of the Club’s ability to stay in the play-off race. Make sure you’ve got the date in your diary.


Come on, you Cards!