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Cards looking for strong September after near-perfect start

Glen Harrington
6:42pm, Mon 2nd Sep 2019
Woking vs Torquay United
Vanarama National League
Tuesday 3rd September 2019


The Cards will be reacquainted with rivals Torquay United on Tuesday evening as last season’s two promoted teams from the National League South clash again at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.

Woking will be aiming to extend a six-game winning run, the club’s best run in five-and-a-half-years, knowing that victory will not only keep them top of the National League table but also mark the Cards’ best run of league results since April 2010 – when Graham Baker’s side won seven straight matches. It’s certainly been an incredible start to the season for Alan Dowson and his team, who have picked up 21 points out of a possible 24 from what looked a tricky August fixture list, and they’ll now be looking to continue that form into September. Dowse, the players and supporters of Woking will certainly be familiar with the threat Torquay have to offer following the club’s three meetings and extended rivalry last season, but will be buoyed by the fact that the Cards have lost just one of their last 12 meetings against the Gulls in a run stretching back to March 2015.

Torquay were comfortably the standout team from those that the Cards faced last season and Gary Johnson’s side were well deserving of both their league title and promotion alongside Woking – who were, of course, forced to go through the play-offs. After strengthening this summer, most notably adding former Cards’ loanee Armani Little, they were tipped by many for another promotion push. Whilst their results haven’t quite reflected that thus far, they have nonetheless started strongly by the normal standards of a promoted team and find themselves within touching distance of the top seven at this early stage. Their current record is 11 points from eight games, with three wins, two draws and three defeats; victories have come at home to Boreham Wood and Aldershot, as well as away to Dover, with losses at Solihull, at home to Maidenhead, and on Saturday at home to Hartlepool.

This promises to be another great game between these two teams and after last year’s six-goal thriller at Kingfield what more reason do you need to come along and support the boys?

Woking Team News

Dowse will be forced into at least one change for the first time in four games. Kane Ferdinand is suspended after picking up five yellow cards and he’ll likely be replaced in midfield by either Godfrey Poku or new signing Jake Gray, who’s still awaiting his debut as he works on his fitness with coach Christian Jolley. There could be a further enforced absence in the shape of Ben Gerring, arguably the Cards’ standout performer so far this season, who was forced off with an injury during the first-half of Woking’s win over Barrow on Saturday. Moussa Diarra would be the natural replacement.

Elsewhere, the Cards’ will be conscious of nursing the fitness of strikers Jake Hyde and Dave Tarpey, who have eight goals between them already this season. Fellow striker Ibrahim Meite should be available if called upon with the loan for the Crawley Town frontman having been extended for an additional month.

Torquay United Team News

Jamie Reid’s fifth goal of the season wasn’t enough as the Gulls fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat at home to Hartlepool on Saturday. Their team included Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Covolan Cavagnari; in defence were Ben Wynter, the experienced Liam Davis, who has previously been with Northampton Town and Oxford United amongst others, Kyle Cameron, who joined the club last summer from Newcastle United, and Frenchman Jean-Yves Koué Niate.

In midfield were Little, scorer of Woking’s winning goal in the play-off final back in May, Asa Hall, previously of Luton Town, Oxford United and Barrow, and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, back for a third loan spell from Bristol City; further forward were Kalvin Lumbombo Kalala, scorer of 10 goals last campaign, and Jake Andrews, signed this summer from Bristol City after a successful loan spell last season; Reid was the focal point up front as he continued his fine scoring run for the club. One player to look for from the bench is towering Dutch centre forward Manny Duku who joined the club from Cheltenham Town this summer.

Last Time Out

Woking 3-3 Torquay United – National League South (6th April 2019)


The Cards went into the game knowing that only three points would keep alive their fading title hopes and delay what appeared to be Torquay’s inevitable march towards the title. The home side started superbly, taking the lead through Greg Luer, who then scored a second after Jamie Reid had briefly brought the visitors level. Kieron Cadogan netted a superb solo third goal only for Torquay to strike with a late sucker-punch – Saikou Janneh pulling one back before Ben Wynter scored a stoppage time leveller. Ben Gerring was also sent off in the final stages in a game that had everything.

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 travel to Hartlepool United on Saturday evening for a late kick-off. If you can’t make the game you can also watch it live on BT Sport. Our next home game is seven days later against Ebbsfleet United when we’ll welcome former manager Garry Hill back to Kingfield.

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