Lovetts

The Cards prepare to battle the elements at Meadow Lane

Glen Harrington
12:00am, Thu 13th Feb 2020
Notts County vs Woking
Vanarama National League
Saturday 15th February 2020


The Cards return to league action on Saturday afternoon, travelling to promotion-chasing Notts County for what promises to be a challenging outing for more than one reason.

It’s been two weeks since Woking’s last National League fixture, an underwhelming 2-0 loss at Eastleigh, and with such a poor away record over the last few months the prospect of a trip to the Meadow Lane could not really have come at a worse time for Alan Dowson’s side, who also face the prospect of heavy rain, strong winds and disrupted travel throughout the day as Storm Dennis sweeps across the country. The Cards have struggled for some time to build on their hugely positive home form, which has seen them lose just once in the league since facing Notts County back in October. In fact, following defeats to Ebbsfleet and Eastleigh, they have now failed to win on the road since beating Maidenhead in mid-November, losing seven straight games in all competitions. Nonetheless, the Cards will hope to thrive in their role of underdogs, as they have many times this season, including the last time they faced a team chasing promotion, Yeovil Town, with Shaun Donnellan’s goal enough to see off the Glovers late last month.

County, a League One team as recently as 2015, have steadily adapted to life in non-league football after being relegated to the National League for the first time at the end of last season.
After recovering from a relatively slow start they currently sit in eighth place, with 50 points from their 32 games, one point adrift of the top seven, and with two games in hand on the two teams directly above them – Solihull Moors and Bromley. Neil Ardley’s side have done reasonably well since the turn of the year, winning four, drawing two and losing one of their last seven matches in all competitions, although two of those wins have come in the FA Trophy. They are unbeaten at home since a 3-0 loss to league leaders Barrow in mid-November. Their last league game saw them beat Chesterfield by the same scoreline with a second-half brace from Kyle Wootton and a goal from Enzio Boldewijn.

This will be a new ground for many and an opportunity for the Cards to test themselves against one of the biggest names in the National League – so please come along if you can and cheer on the boys!

Woking Team News

Dowse has rotated his squad across the last two games, a 3-0 friendly win against Hanworth Villa last weekend, plus Tuesday evening’s 1-0 defeat in the Surrey Senior Cup to Dorking Wanderers. The boss should have a full compliment to pick from on Saturday with several key decisions to be made.

At the back, only goalkeeper Craig Ross and captain Josh Casey’s places look secure, with a choice to be made between Donnellan and Jack Cook at right-back, with two of Manny Parry, Moussa Diarra and Ben Gerring lining up in the middle. In midfield, new loan signing Ben Dempsey could make his league debut after joining from Charlton Athletic, most likely alongside either Kane Ferdinand or Jayden Harris, with Godfrey Poku returning in the anchor role. Further forward, Josh Neufville has been a regular starter of late at the top of the midfield, with Jake Hyde, Dave Tarpey, Alex Wall and Jamar Loza jostling for two positions up front.

Notts County Team News

Against Chesterfield, the Magpies started with Ross Fitzsimons in goal, although the keeper has subsequently moved on loan to the Spireites, so new signing Joe McDonnell, a recent addition from AFC Wimbledon, could be between the posts. In defence was Connell Rawlinson, a Welsh league champion with TNS who was with Port Vale last season, Dion Kelly-Evans, who has Football League experience with Coventry City, Alex Lacey, who was signed in the summer from Gillingham, and Richard Brindley, part of the Bromley setup last term.

In midfield was the experienced Jim O’Brien, best known for his spells with Motherwell, Barnsley and Coventry, Mitch Rose, brother of England international Danny, who was last with Grimsby Town, and Cal Roberts, a promising young wide player previously with Newcastle United and recently signed from Blyth Spartans. The forward line consisted of Boldewijn, who had two successful years with our near-neighbours Crawley Town before joining County last season, Wootton, who recently turned his loan deal from Scunthorpe United into a permanent one, and Wes Thomas, a summer addition from Grimsby.

Last Time Out

Woking 0-4 Notts County – National League (26th October 2019)


The Cards’ joint-heaviest defeat of the season. The visitors were in a clinical mood at the Laithwaite Community Stadium as they put their hosts to the sword with two goals in each half. Boldewijn and Thomas scored two apiece and whilst Woking showed flashes of promise they couldn’t muster a consolation. Josh Casey was man-of-the-match.

On the Day

For those travelling directly, the ground is located on Meadow Lane, postcode NG2 3HJ – approximately two-and-a-half hours from the Laithwaite Community Stadium – although supporters should allow plenty of time for the likely poor weather conditions. The ground is 10 minutes' walk from Nottingham train station.

There is a supporters’ coach running for the game which leaves from the Laithwaite Community Stadium at 10.00am. Please arrive by 9.45am. The price for members is £25 for adults and £20 for under-16s, and £30/£25 for non-members. Those looking to attend should contact Adam Bowyer (adam.bowyer@cardstrust.co.uk) or call the club shop for more information.

Ticket prices are £20 for adults, £14 for seniors (65+) and those aged 18-21, £7 for under-18s, £5 for under-16s, £1 for under-12s and free for under-7s.

Next Up

Woking have two upcoming home matches, against Stockport County next Saturday (22nd February) and against Maidenhead United seven days later, with our next away trip at FC Halifax Town at the start of March.

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