Seymours

Cards eye three more points

Brian Caffarey
3:32pm, Thu 26th Mar 2015
Chester v Woking
3pm on Saturday 28 March 2015

The Cards’ thrilling win over Torquay United on Tuesday evening has put them only one point behind Forest Green Rovers, who occupy the fifth play-off spot. They now travel to Chester on Saturday seeking their fourth successive away win, knowing that they can afford very little slippage in their remaining six league games. It will be a tough challenge against Steve Burr’s side but the Cards will know that they are capable of leaving with all three points if they play to their strengths.

WOKING

It was a terrific performance by Garry Hill’s side to come back from 0-2 at half-time on Tuesday to achieve a 3-2 win. The Cards had started the first half in nightmare fashion, finding themselves two goals down after 20 minutes. But two strikes of the woodwork before half-time held out hope that the Cards could recover and, once the irrepressible Yemi Odubade had opened the scoring after the break, everything clicked and Torquay were over-run to the delight of the Kingfield crowd.

Special mention must be made of a very assured debut by 19 year-old loanee keeper Michael Crowe, who kept the Cards in the game at a point when a three-goal deficit would surely have sunk the side. He must have wondered in the first 20 minutes, though, what he had let himself in for!

Garry has today added midfielder Manny Oyeleke to the squad, on loan from Brentford. Manny has already had a loan spell at Aldershot Town this season.

The Cards are on a good run, having won five of their last six games, the only reverse coming at home to Grimsby. Two of Woking’s play-off rivals, Gateshead and Eastleigh, play each other on Saturday, so a win for the Cards could prove particularly valuable. Forest Green Rovers are away at Lincoln City, while FC Halifax travel to improving Nuneaton.

CHESTER

Following the winding-up of the former Chester City FC in March 2010 a ‘phoenix’ club was formed, which enjoyed phenomenal success, winning three successive promotions to start life last season in the Conference Premier. But the club was only saved from relegation last season by Hereford United’s demise.

Chester have stabilised this season and now sit 11th in the table, with 54 points from 40 games. At home they’ve won nine games, drawn three and lost seven, scoring 24 goals and conceding 25. Last Saturday they drew 1-1 at Alfreton Town, with Ben Heneghan scoring a late equaliser. Their last home game resulted in a surprising 2-1 defeat against Dartford but the one prior to that saw a creditable 2-2 draw against Grimsby.

The Blues have some capable players, including experienced keeper Jon Worsnop, England C midfielder Kingsley James, midfielder Sean McConville and striker John Rooney (Wayne Rooney’s brother). They have several useful on-loan players, including midfielder Brad Abbot from Barnsley, striker Matty Hughes from Fleetwood Town and Oli McBurnie, another striker, this time from Bradford City.

GETTING THERE

Swansway Chester Stadium
Bumpers Lane
Chester
CH1 4LT

Official website: www.chesterfc.com

By coach

The Cards Trust is running a coach to this game. The cost is £20 for members and £25 for non-members. Phone (01483 772470) or email (shop@wokingfc.co.uk) the Club Shop to book your place. When doing so, please check the departure time – which seems to have been the subject of some confusion, to which I don’t wish to add!

By car

Head for the M25 and then travel north by M40, M42 and M6 till J16, joining the A500 (Crewe/Nantwich), subsequently following the A51 (Chester/Wrexham), the A49 (Warrington/Chester) and the A51 again (Chester). Follow the signs for Chester City Centre. At the Bars roundabout take the first exit onto the A5268 (North Wales/Wrexham), stay in left-hand lane and continue through traffic signals and at the Grosvenor roundabout take the third exit (A5268 Motorways M53/M56 All through traffic). At Watergate junction take A548 (Queensferry) and then at traffic signals turn left onto Stendhal Road (Sealand Industrial Estate) and bear right onto Bumpers Lane.

Parking at the ground costs £2. There is also parking in the industrial estate near the ground.

By train

Trains from Euston to Chester leave at 10 and 40 minutes past the hour, with the latter involving a change at Crewe, all taking just over two hours. The 11.10 would get you to Chester at 13.13, while the 11.40, with the change at Crewe, would get you there at 13.46. Trains on the way back are at 55 minutes past the hour and all involve a change at Crewe. The 17.55 would get you to Euston at 20.05.

The ground is about two miles from the station, so it would be best to take a taxi. Another option is to take the Railink bus to the bus exchange and then take the number 10 bus, which runs along Sealand Road.

ADMISSION PRICES

The prices for seated and standing admission are as follows:
Adults £18/£15
Concessions £12/£10
U21 £10/£10
Age 5-15 £3/£3
Under 5s Free/Free

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 1 Chester 0
13 September 2014

The Cards came into this game on the back of a start to the season which had seen them win five and draw three of their opening eight games, including a midweek win over Aldershot Town thanks to an amazing late free-kick from Gez Sole.

That game, however, had seen a serious injury to keeper Aaron Howe, with Garry Hill moving swiftly to bring back former favourite Ross Worner on loan from AFC Wimbledon.

Chester had had a testing start to their season and were clearly determined to play it tight, frustrating the Cards in midfield in what was largely a scrappy first half, with the best chance falling to the Blues’ Kingsley James just before half-time when he crashed a 25-yard shot against the underside of the bar.

Woking started the second half in more determined fashion and what turned out to be the winning goal came swiftly, thanks to some clever footwork from Dean Morgan and a deft touch from Gez Sole, with the ball just spinning over the line.

Chester worked hard to get back into the game but the Woking defence was solid and saw out the ninety minutes fairly comfortably. The win left the Cards in second place, a point behind leaders Barnet.

Woking: Ross Worner, James Clarke, Joe McNerney(c), Mike Cestor, Theo Lewis (Adam Newton 57), Joey Jones, Josh Payne, Chris Arthur, Dean Morgan (Keiran Murtagh 73), Giuseppe Sole (John Goddard 73), Scott Rendell

Unused Subs: Andy Little, Nicholas Arnold

Bookings: Mike Cestor (63)

Goal(s): Giuseppe Sole(52)

Chester: James Worksop, Gareth Roberts, Ben Heneghan, Kieron Charnock, Michael Kay, Sean McConville (Craig Mahon 60), Kingsley James, Danny Harrison(c)(Callum Morris 79), Jaden Hall, John Rooney, Craig Hobson (Chris Iwelumo 79)

Unused Subs: Connor Roberts, Ibou Jourad

Bookings: Sean McConville(60)

Attendance: 1,629.

NEXT GAME

The Cards are at home to Welling United at 3pm on Saturday 4 April, followed by a trip to Dover Athletic at 3pm on Monday 6 April (Easter Monday).

Come on, you Cards!


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