Cards target strong finish on final trip
Brian Caffarey
9:33am, Thu 21st Apr 2016
Lincoln City v Woking
Vanarama National League
3pm on Saturday 23 April 2016
Garry Hill was encouraged by his side’s display midweek against Grimsby Town in spite of the 3-1 defeat and will be hoping that they can take their recent improved form to Lincoln on Saturday for the final away game of the season.
WOKING
The Cards fought back well in the second half against a very strong Grimsby side, with Bruno Andrade bringing the scoreline to 2-1 before ace striker Padraig Amond settled the Mariners’ nerves with another superb strike to seal his hat-trick.
John Goddard took part in the pre-match routines before Tuesday’s match, although he wasn’t named in the 16 for the game. Cards fans will be hoping for at least one more glimpse of him in action before his touted move to a League club in the summer.
LINCOLN CITY
Manager Chris Moyses guided the Imps to an encouraging first half of the season, with the side sitting in fourth place when they visited Woking in early December (see below).
However, their defeat by the Cards began a poor run, with only one win recorded in ten league and cup games in December and January. The Imps now sit in 11th place with 61 points from 44 games. Last weekend they secured a 2-2 draw at Southport. Their home record is very respectable: ten wins, seven draws and only five defeats. Moyses has indicated that he will step down in summer due to work overload.
The Imps have some experienced hands, including keeper Paul Farman, defender Chris Bush (ex-Gateshead and Hereford amongst other clubs), long-serving skipper Alan Power, and strikers Matt Rhead and Jack Muldoon. The permanent cadre has been reinforced with a number of loans, including Shrewsbury winger James Caton, Leeds NI U21 striker Robbie McDaid, Barnsley forward George Maris and Sheffield Wednesday full back Courtney Wildin. Liam Hearn is on loan to Harrogate Town for the rest of the season.
Matt Rhead, the subject of a declined five-figure bid from Barrow a couple of months ago, is top scorer with 22 goals.
GETTING THERE
Sincil Bank Stadium
Lincoln
Lincolnshire
LN5 8LD
Official website: www.redimps.co.uk
The Cards Trust is not running a coach to this game.
By car
Exit the A1 at sliproad Lincoln A46. Follow the A46 into Lincoln (which leads onto the High Street) and the ground is indicated from there. There is plenty of street parking in the numerous side streets in the Sincil Bank area.
By train
The nearest station is Lincoln Central, which is a 10-15-minute walk from the ground. Trains from London KX involve at least one change. The 11.03 would get you to Lincoln, via a 30-minute wait at Newark for a connecting train, at 13.30. The 11.35, via a shorter change at Peterborough, is due in at 14.03, while the 11.48, via a change at Retford, gets in a minute later. The first train back after the game is the 17.22, arriving at KX at 19.42 via a change at Retford.
To get to the ground, turn left out of the station and left again at the main road (High Street) going over the level crossing. Take the seventh turning on the LHS (Scorer Street), and first right into Sincil Bank.
ADMISSION PRICES
Adults: £18
Over 60/Disabled: £13
U18s/18-21 with student card: £7
The club runs an ‘early bird’ ticket purchase arrangement, giving a £2 reduction on adult tickets and £1 on other tickets: see the Lincoln City website for details.
Away supporters are housed in the Stacey West Stand.
LAST TIME OUT
Woking 3 Lincoln City 1
Vanarama National League
5 December 2015
Another superb home display saw Garry Hill’s side register an emphatic win over high-flying Lincoln City. Bruno Andrade, with some outrageous tricks, John Goddard and Dan Holman vied for the conjuror-in-chief title but there were fine performances throughout the side, with perhaps a special mention too to Matt Robinson, who caught the eye in midfield. Holman and Joe Quigley put the Cards two goals up by half-time, with Holman grabbing another, after a scintillating run and cross from Andrade, in the second half. The visitors got a late consolation goal before having a man sent off in extra-time.
Woking: Jake Cole, Jake Caprice, Joey Jones, Brian Saah, Cameron Norman, Bruno Andrade (Keiran Murtagh 95), Mark Ricketts, Matt Robinson, John Goddard, Joe Quigley, Dan Holman (Terell Thomas 89)
Unused subs: Nick Hamann, Kadell Daniel, Jimmy Keohane
Goals: Dan Holman 6 and 68, Joe Quigley 40
Lincoln City: Paul Farman, Bradley Wood, Luke Waterfall, Jack Muldoon, Alan Power (Craig Stanley 58), Matt Rhead, Terry Hawkbridge (Greg Tempest 45), Lee Beevers, Matt Sparrow, Callum Howe, Nathan Blissett (Conner Robinson 69)
Unused subs: Aiden Grant, Chris Bush
Goal: Matt Rhead 76
Sent Off: Lee Beevers
Attendance: 1432
NEXT GAME
The Cards’ final game of the season, against play-off chasing Eastleigh, kicks off at 5.30pm next Saturday, 30 April. Come down to the Laithwaite Community Stadium to show your appreciation for the efforts of the management team and players in what has been a difficult season at times. Don’t forget that the End of Season Awards Dinner takes place in the Geoff Chapple Lounge after the game: see the news item of 8 April for full details.
Come on, you Cards!