Cards looking to get back to winning ways

Chorley vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Saturday 21st September 2019

Chorley and Woking will meet for the first time ever on Saturday as the Cards make the journey north to Victory Park to take on last season’s National League North play-off winners.

Alan Dowson’s side will be determined to get back to winning ways after three consecutive draws. The Cards will have gone away thinking they could easily have taken nine points from the games against Torquay, Hartlepool and Ebbsfleet, with the latter proving a particular sore spot after two late goals saw former manager Garry Hill’s side come back to claim a point at the Laithwaite Community Stadium, in what was an entertaining 2-2 draw last time out. Players and fans will be buoyed at least by the fact that the club has retained its spot as the National League’s unlikely pacesetters, as well as the knowledge that after just eleven games, they are already halfway to the points tally accrued during the 2017/18 relegation season. A nine-match unbeaten streak also remains unbroken.

The Magpies, who like the Cards finished second in the sixth tier of English football last season before winning the end-of-season play-offs, have found it to be a more challenging adjustment to non-league’s top table thus far. They have taken eight points, leaving them just above Ebbsfleet at the bottom of the table, whilst their 10 goals scored and 23 goals conceded are the joint-worst and outright worst records in the division respectively. However, like the Fleet, they should not be underestimated – they have picked up one win and five draws so far, including four points from their last two fixtures, which have seen a 3-0 win over Stockport County and a 1-1 draw at Dover Athletic. So, whilst they’ve had a couple of shockers, including a 6-1 home defeat to Solihull and a 5-1 thrashing at Notts County, that kind of result seems to be well and truly behind them.

The team would really appreciate your support once again this weekend so please make the trip if you can and cheer on the boys to a hopefully successful afternoon!

Woking Team News

Dowse will be hoping that Ben Gerring won’t be joining Shaun Donnellan on the list of absentees, after the defender was forced off against Ebbsfleet after picking up an injury. The boss will be pleased that Max Kretzschmar, Jake Gray and Joe Felix all made it through unscathed in a mid-week friendly win over Millwall’s Under-23 side, but unless there are any late additions this week, then we could well be looking at much the same side that finished against the Fleet.

That would mean Manny Parry starting alongside Moussa Diarra at the back, in front of Craig Ross, with two ever-presents so far this season Jack Cook and Josh Casey at full-back. Godfrey Poku and Kane Ferdinand should continue in the middle, with Toby Edser playing ahead of them following the extension of his loan deal from Nottingham Forest, whilst Tyreke Johnson and Dave Tarpey play wide of Jake Hyde up front.

Chorley Team News

There won’t be a huge number of familiar names in the Chorley team for Woking fans. Against Dover the Magpies started with England youth international Billy Crellin, on loan from Fleetwood Town, in goal; in defence was Matt Challoner, ex-Altrincham man Scott Leather, Lewis Baines and veteran captain Andrew Teague who has played more than 300 games for the club.

In midfield was Courtney Meppen-Walter, who has experience in the Football League with Carlisle United, Josh O’Keefe who has also featured at a higher level for both Walsall and Lincoln City, along with Jake Cottrell; the forwards were Alex Newby, former Macclesfield Town and Wrexham dangerman Chris Holroyd, and Marcus Carver. One relatively familiar name on the bench was attacking midfielder Louis Dodds, who spent almost a decade in the Football League with Port Vale, making more than 330 appearances and scoring over 50 goals in all competitions.

On the Day

The ground can be found on Duke Street; the postcode is PR7 3DU – a drive of around three hours and 50 minutes from the Laithwaite Community Stadium. Chorley Railway Station is situated around a half mile away from Victory Park and takes about 10-15 minutes to walk. The station is served by trains from Preston, Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria, the latter is about a 40-minute train journey away. There is no supporters coach running for this game.

Ticket prices are £15 for adults, £12 for concessions, £7 for a young adult (aged 18-21), £5 for a youth (aged 12-17) and £1 for those under-12.

Next Up

The Cards are back in action on Tuesday evening, when they face the hugely challenging prospect of a trip to unbeaten Bromley, who are managed by former Woking player, captain and fan favourite Neil Smith. Our next home game is the following Saturday against Boreham Wood.