Cards will have to upset the odds
Brian Caffarey
7:54pm, Thu 14th Apr 2016
Forest Green Rovers v Woking
3pm on Saturday 16 April 2016
With three draws in their last four games, the Cards have at least put a stop to their losing run but they are still looking for their first win since they beat Wrexham away on 9 January. Rovers know that they have to win this game to stand even a remote chance of depriving Cheltenham Town of the automatic promotion place, so Garry’s side can expect to be given a testing time.
WOKING
The Cards’ wretched luck with injuries was evident again last week as Alex Smith was forced off against Gateshead. It seems likely that John Goddard will still be missing following the hamstring injury he sustained at Welling.
FOREST GREEN ROVERS
Rovers, who have been in the top two places all season, now lie six points behind Cheltenham Town with three games to play and with a greatly inferior goal difference. Rovers have to win on Saturday to keep alive their automatic promotion hopes but, even if they beat the Cards, that won’t be enough if the Robins beat Halifax Town. So, manager Ady Pennock, being realistic, is very much emphasising how important it is for Rovers to go into the play-offs in good form.
Rovers’ chances of catching Gary Johnson’s side were dealt what looks like a fatal blow by their current run of five drawn games, the last of which was away to Braintree Town last Saturday. Rovers have an excellent home record, with 15 wins, three draws and only three defeats this season.
Rovers have a very strong squad, with a wealth of attacking options, including Kurtis Guthrie, formerly with Welling; Jon ‘The Beast’ Parkin; ex-Barnet winger Keanu Marsh-Brown; Elliott Frear; Aaron O’Connor; and ex-Shot Brett Williams. Ex-Card Delano Sam-Yorke joined Boreham Wood in January on a loan till the end of the season. Steve Arnold, formerly with Stevenage, is the regular keeper: Lenny Pidgeley has just joined as a back-up keeper. Other familiar names include midfielders Aaron Racine, Sam Wedgbury and Darren Carter (who has played in the Premier League) and defenders Charlie Clough (ex-Sutton United), David Pipe, James Jennings, Marcus Kelly and Dale Bennett.
GETTING THERE
The New Lawn
Another Way
Nailsworth
GL6 0FG (Satnav: GL6 0ET)
Official website: www.forestgreenrovers.com
By coach
The Cards Trust coach leaves the Laithwaite Community Stadium at 11.30am and costs £20 for members and £25 for non-members, with U16s at £10/£13. Ring (01483 772470) or email the Club Shop (shop@wokingfc.co.uk) to book your place.
By car
Take the M4 west-bound towards Bristol and exit at J18. Then head north on the A46 to Nailsworth. At the mini-roundabout turn left onto Spring Hill and The New Lawn is at the top of the road on the left.
By train
It’s a complicated trip by train to the nearest station, Stroud, which is four miles from the ground. Look up www.nationalrail.com or www.thetrainline.com for details. If you do get there by train, walk three minutes from the station to the bus stop outside Merrywalks Shopping Centre and catch the 93 or 46 bus to Forest Green, which takes about 30 minutes.
ADMISSION PRICES
Away fans are housed in the North Stand.
Adults: £15
Over 65s: £11
Under 21s/Students: £7
Under 16s: £4
LAST TIME OUT
Woking 2 Forest Green Rovers 1
Vanarama National League
15 September 2015
The Cards gained their fifth successive home win while ending league leaders Rovers’ 100% record.
Top scorer John Goddard gave the Cards the lead shortly before half-time, jinking between defenders before unleashing a powerful shot which keeper Maxted could only parry up into the air, Goddard following up to nod the ball home.
The Cards were content to play on the counter-attack for most of the second half and extended their lead when ‘man of the match’ Bruno Andrade whipped in a dangerous cross which Jimmy Keohane stabbed home at the far post after the ball had flicked off Dan Holman.
But Kurtis Guthrie pulled a goal back almost immediately to set up a pulsating last quarter of an hour in which both sides had chances to find the net again. However, the Cards’ defence stood firm to record a fine win.
Little did Woking fans guess, however, that this victory marked the end of the Cards’ promising start to the season – with only one win secured in the following eleven league and FA Cup games.
Woking: Jake Cole, Chris Arthur (Kadell Daniel 28), Terell Thomas, Brian Saah, Jake Caprice, Bruno Andrade (Godfrey Poku 87), Jimmy Keohane, John Goddard, Keiran Murtagh (c), Harry Cardwell (Giuseppe Sole 61), Dan Holman
Unused subs: Nick Hamman, Ben Pattie
Goals: John Goddard (43), Jimmy Keohane (70)
Forest Green Rovers: Jonny Maxted, David Pipe (c), Dale Bennett, Aarran Racine, James Jennings (Marcus Kelly 20), Aaron O’Connor (Jon Parkin 67), Sam Wedgbury, Keanu Marsh-Brown, Rob Sinclair, Elliott Frear (Delano Sam-Yorke 75), Kurtis Guthrie
Unused subs: Charlie Clough, Darren Jones
Goals: Kurtis Guthrie (74)
Sent off: Kelly (two yellow cards (45, 90)
Attendance: 1,775
NEXT GAME
The Cards are at home to Grimsby Town at 7.45pm on Tuesday evening (19 April). This is followed by a trip to Lincoln City on Saturday 23 April. The Cards’ last game of the season is at home to Eastleigh on Saturday 30 April (kick-off 5.30pm).
Come on, you Cards!