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Cards prepare to renew rivalry with neighbours Aldershot

Glen Harrington
9:36am, Mon 5th Aug 2019
Woking vs Aldershot Town
Vanarama National League
Tuesday 6th August 2019


The Cards will look to continue their perfect start to the new season on Tuesday evening as they host local rivals Aldershot Town at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.

Woking fans could not have wished for better from the first game of a new league season as goals from Kane Ferdinand and Moussa Diarra secured a 2-0 away win against play-off hopefuls Dagenham & Redbridge. The Cards executed their game plan to perfection against the Daggers as they kept things tight at the back, harried and chased everything up front with a relentless press, and took advantage of their superiority at set pieces with both goals bundled in from close range. In fact, the visitors might have scored more, with debutants Tyreke Johnson and Ibrahim Meite, both signed on loan on the eve of the season, looking particularly dangerous after coming off the substitutes bench.

Like Woking, Aldershot find themselves as one of the less fancied teams in the National League this season, with only a reprieve following Gateshead’s demotion preventing them from being relegated to National League South at the end of last season. However, much like the Cards, the Shots will be keen to go out and prove the doubters wrong this season and showed enough during a narrow 2-1 opening day defeat against many people’s tip for promotion, AFC Fylde, to suggest that they could surprise people. Coached by a new manager, former Braintree Town boss Danny Searle, and with a near completely new squad, it could be that they need a few games to gel, but a derby game in just the second match of the season offers the perfect opportunity for the newcomers to quickly endear themselves with the Hampshire-side’s fanbase.

It promises to be a fantastic game and a lively atmosphere on Tuesday so come along if you can and support the team, in this, our first home game back in the National League!

Woking Team News

As many predicted, it was the 5-3-2 formation that started the season for the Cards, which proved to be the perfect choice away from home against tough opposition. There was the odd surprise from manager Alan Dowson, starting in goal, where Craig Ross was preferred to new signing Sam Howes – but performed admirably to secure his well-deserved clean sheet.

In defence, the Cards went with Diarra, alongside Manny Parry and Ben Gerring, with Jack Cook and Josh Casey as wing-backs. Sean Donnellan got the nod ahead of Godfrey Poku in midfield alongside Ferdinand, with Max Kretzschmar in the more advanced role, playing behind Dave Tarpey and Jake Hyde. There are plenty of options for Dowse should he wish to change things and introduce more attacking options, with Johnson, Meite and Paul Hodges all available to him, and it will certainly be intriguing to see how the Cards adjust their line-up for their first home game.

Aldershot Town Team News

Despite having a much-changed team this season there are still plenty of names that will be familiar to Woking fans. Against Fylde, the Shots started with long-time Dover Athletic stopper Mitch Walker in goal; in defence was Robbie Tinkler, an experienced full-back signed from Gateshead, Lewis Kinsella, Alex Finney, who joined from Maidstone United mid-way through last season, and Ollie O'Dwyer, who joined the club this summer from the Crystal Palace youth setup, but was forced off injured on Saturday.

In midfield was Dean Rance, formerly of Ebbsfleet United, and James Rowe, who was with the club last season after moving from Cheltenham Town. Out wide were Alefe Santos, who joined from Yeovil Town, and Harry Panayiotou – previously with Barrow. Up front was Connor Shields, formerly with Sunderland, who scored the Shots goal on Saturday, and Shamir Mullings.

The bench included former Woking loanee Aaron Eyoma, as well as Alfy Whittingham, who scored against the Cards for Hungerford Town last season. They also have young midfielder Ethan Chislett who joined the club from the Met Police.

Last Time Out

Woking 1-2 Aldershot Town – National League (01 January 2018)

The Cards were in dire form as play-off chasing Aldershot came to town, without a win in eight games in all competitions, and just six days removed from a 3-1 defeat in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day. Despite the odds being stacked against them, Anthony Limbrick’s side looked set to claim a point, after Kane Ferdinand had cancelled out Scott Rendell’s opener, only for the former Card to strike again in the dying moments to secure a narrow victory for the visitors.

Admission Prices

• Adults £18
• Over 65s £13
• Disabled (Including carer) £13
• Students (Under 19) £5
• U16s £5

Tickets are available on the turnstiles or in advance online. Remember, our matchday programme will also be on sale for £3. Don’t forget to grab your copy on the way in! You’ll then be able to visit the club shop for more great offers.

Next Up

The Cards are back at home once against on Saturday afternoon against Harrogate Town. This is followed by back-to-back away games against Chesterfield and AFC Fylde.

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