Lovetts

Cards aim to make it two

Brian Caffarey
3:38pm, Sun 11th Oct 2015
Woking v Torquay United
Vanarama National League
7.45pm on Tuesday 13 October 2015

The Cards returned to form on Saturday with a decisive 3-0 away win at FC Halifax Town and will be looking to build on that on Tuesday evening when they take on Torquay United with the aim of completing the double over the Devon side. But the Gulls ended their own even worse run on Saturday and, under new player-manager Kevin Nicholson, will also be looking to make it two in a row. Come on down to the Laithwaite Community Stadium to cheer on Garry Hill’s side to another win!

WOKING

Garry Hill was clearly very pleased with Woking’s performance on Saturday, emphasising the energy, commitment and desire which were so notably missing against Southport a week previously. He also pointed to the fact that Mark Ricketts and Joey Jones were further along the road to full match fitness and that Chris Arthur was able to return from injury. He mentioned, too, the reintroduction of Kadell Daniel and the fact that there was more movement up front and better service to the front players. Dan Holman returned to goalscoring form, notching two, including a ‘wonder’ strike, while John Goddard was also on target with an excellent free-kick.

Garry and Woking fans will be very much hoping that the side can carry through this return to form to Tuesday’s game.

TORQUAY UNITED

The Gulls have had well-publicised financial problems, with substantial budget cuts no doubt being the primary cause of a miserable start to the season. A false sense of optimism was induced as the Gulls won two of their opening three fixtures but Woking’s away win in the fourth game was the beginning of a twelve-match sequence without a win. The nadir was a 7-3 home defeat by Bromley. Former Mansfield manager Paul Cox resigned, with club legend Kevin Nicholson being appointed as player-manager.

The Gulls’ win at Southport, Nicholson’s third game in charge, ended a losing sequence of five games. Alex Fisher scored from a set piece in the first minute and it sounds as if Torquay ought to have been well ahead by half-time. As it was, they had to withstand some home pressure after the break before coming away with all the points. However, Southport clearly put on a poorer display than on the previous Saturday, with manager Paul Carden contrasting the desire they showed then with that against Torquay.

Torquay are now captained by defender Angus McDonald. Other squad members include the giant Exodus Geohaghon, midfielder Simon Heslop and mercurial forward Louis Briscoe. Recent additions include defenders Durrell Berry, previously with Cheltenham, and Harry Hickford, on loan from MK Dons.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £18
Over 65s and Students with NUS card £13
U16s £5

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Make sure you get your copy of the Club’s excellent 64-page matchday programme. Features include a profile of Paul Merson, Guest of Honour in the Geoff Chapple Lounge, Mark Ricketts’ thoughts on the recent dip in form and a report from the New Zealand branch of the Woking FC fan club. There’s also a look at what’s been going at other National League clubs; and news from the Cards Trust, plus match previews, reports and the usual superb match action photos.

LAST TIME WE MET

Torquay United 0 Woking 1
13 August 2015

The last-minute winner from Ismail Yakubu at Plainmoor was sweet revenge for being on the receiving end in similar fashion last season.

The Cards had to survive a ‘sticky’ patch midway through the first half when Jake Cole was forced to save well from Alex Fisher, who might also have had a penalty after what looked like a tug from Yakubu. But the Cards recovered to offer the greater threat leading up to the break and immediately afterwards.

Torquay seemed to be unsettled, rather than energised, by an extraordinary, self-induced, mix-up over a substitution, with Paul Cox ordered from the bench. Home keeper Fabien Speiss made a superb save from Joey Jones but was unable to prevent Yakubu scoring in the 90th minute as he crept up at the back post to decisively head in Kadell Daniel’s fine corner.

Woking had to endure seven minutes of added time before they celebrated their third win in a row following the disappointment of the opening day loss at Tranmere.

Torquay United: Fabien Speiss, James Hurst, Dan Butler, Angus MacDonald, Exodus Geohaghon, Josh Carmichael, Courtney Richards, Louis Briscoe (Tyrone Marsh 79), Nathan Smith, Alex Fisher (Simon Heslop 68), Joe Quigley (Malachi Lavelle-Moore 93)

Unused subs: Jamie Richards, Shepherd Murombedzi

Woking: Jake Cole, Jake Caprice, Chris Arthur, Brian Saah, Ismail Yakubu, Joey Jones, Mark Ricketts (c), Keiran Murtagh, John Goddard (Bruno Andrade 77), Giuseppe Sole (Kadell Daniel 56), Dan Holman (Ben Pattie 84)

Unused subs: Nick Hamman, Godfrey Poku

Goal: Yakubu (90)

COMING UP

The Cards have another attractive home game this Saturday (17 October) when Wrexham are the visitors.

Come on, you Cards!

P.S. Listen out for tomorrow’s FA Cup draw to see who Woking will be playing in the Fourth Qualifying Round on Saturday 24 October.

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