Woking News and Mail

Garry Hill and Woking say farewell to handful of players

By: editor
Published May 11, 2013, in Sport

DEPARTED – Adam Doyle is the most notable player not to be offered new terms at Kingfield

GARRY HILL’S Woking has said goodbye to a handful of players as the Kingfield chiefs plots his second season in the top-flight of non-league football.

Defender Adam Doyle, strikers Loick Pires and Jack Mazzone, midfielders Gavin McCallum Josh Griffiths, and keeper Elvijs Putnins have not been offered new deal after the club’s 12th-place finish in the Blue Square Premier this year.

Doyle is the most notable departure having spent three seasons at Kingfield.

A statement on the Cards’ website said: “The club would like to thank them all for their efforts and wish them every success in their future careers.”

Three-asy does it for hat-trick hero Bradley Bubb

By: editor
Published March 19, 2013, in Sport

Woking 5
AFC Telford 2

HAT-TRICK hero Bradley Bubb helped see Woking over the 50 point line in a game that threatened to turn sour.

Bubb fired Woking into a third minute lead before a Jayden Stockley strike doubled Cards’ advantage.

Bubb struck again before the break to the hosts a seemingly insurmountable three goal cushion but goals from Steve Jones and Aaron Williams meant Woking were sweating heading into time added on.

It all looked too close for comfort until Telford keeper Ryan Young fouled Jack Parkinson and Bubb completed his hat-trick from the spot.

Kevin Betsy added a coat of gloss to the score line when he intercepted a back pass and rounded Young to make it five and wrap up all three points.

Hill was thrilled to see his side smash the 50 points barrier which he believes will keep them in the division.

“That’s what me and Steve Thompson set out as number one,” explained Hill. “It is a good achievement there is no doubt about that.

“It’s guaranteed us going forward to next year and there’s still nine games to play so another 27 points on offer.”

“We made hard work of it. I can’t be too disappointed because we’ve got three points and five goals but we’ve played better this season and not got points out of matches.

“At the end of the day it’s a results business and we got what we needed.”

Seb Brown error hands Cambridge all three points

By: editor
Published March 10, 2013, in Sport

Cambridge United 1
Woking 0

A heartbreaking late winner dashed Woking’s hopes of edging closing to the 50 point survival target manager Garry Hill set at the start of the season.

It seemed as though the Cards were heading for a first at Cambridge – a first 0-0 draw of the season.

The last time they recorded that score was way back in October 2011 against Salisbury City, but Tom Shaw capitalised on Seb Brown’s error to hand the U’s all three points deep into added time.

The home side’s goal rubbed more salt in Woking’s wounds as moments before the Cards should have been awarded a penalty after Jayden Stockley was brought down.

Ref Robbie Whitton’s decision not to point to the penalty spot left Hill furious. He said: “You could see quite clearly from our end that the Cambridge player grabbed him (Jayden Stockley).

“I cannot believe what I have seen in respect of the referee just waved his arms as if nothing had happened. Why didn’t he book him for diving? It was a very, very bad decision from the referee. Any person in the ground today would say that it was an out and out blatant penalty. I just cannot believe what I have seen.”

Cambridge had all of the play in the first 15 minutes. Nathan Blissett’s flicked shot was held by Brown at his near post before the former Kidderminster man, who had troubled Woking at Kingfield earlier this season, headed wide from eight yards.

Lee Sawyer returned to the starting XI following his four game ban but even the exuberant creative midfielder couldn’t weather the U’s early storm.

But the former Chelsea and Southend youngster put in a put in a good performance to satisfy his boss.

Hill said: “He’s a good player (Lee Sawyer) and everyone knows that. There’s no secret about it, Lee let himself down in a bad way. He’s been disciplined by the club, disciplined by myself and he’s taken his punishment and accepts it.

“We’ve had a meeting and a chat with him and told him the standards we expect and need on and off the field.”

John Nutter put in a low cross out of Sawyer’s reach which was as close as Woking struggled to have an impact in the opening 45.

Hill knew his side were in good shape to come away with three points going into the second periods but rued his side’s missed chances.

The gaffer moaned: “I felt confident we could go on and win the game. Second half we had some good opportunities and we were trying to win the game, there’s no doubt about that.”

Kevin Betsy should have put Woking ahead when he found some space at the back stick – but his effort only found the side netting.

Then came the game’s flash point as Cards were denied a spot kick after being bundled to the ground when free in the box.

Hill was seething at Whitton’s decision and waited around at full time for an explanation.

He raged: “I’m disappointed with the referee. I’ll go and see him but that’s not going to achieve anything. I’d like to know how he’s made his decision, why he’s made his decision and if he can explain it to me I’d like to hear what he says.”

And it went from bad to worse for Woking in the third of three added minutes when Brown failed to punch the ball clearCurtis Haynes-Brown’s cross.

The delivery fell to Tom Shaw who with all but the last touch of the game headed into the far corner to give the U’s the three points.

Hill made it clear his keeper should have dealt with the situation.

“From where I am he should have dealt with it better. We’ll have a look at it, I’ve got a view at the moment but I’d like to see it again. It does hurt, there’s no doubt about that but when you see the events in the last two or three minutes of the game it is hard to accept.”

Woking: Brown, Newton (Frith, 67mins), Ricketts, McNerney, Parkinson, Bubb (McCallum, 76mins), Betsy, Sawyer, Johnson, Stockley, Nutter.

Attendance: 2054

Woking fan banned from Kingfield after smashing away team dressing room window

By: Tom Oxtoby
Published March 7, 2013, in Sport

Woking 1 Mansfield 2

CONTROVERSY reigned at Kingfield last night after an attack on the away team dressing room.

A Woking fan was believed to have thrown a brick through a window and into the room where Mansfield were celebrating a smash and grab victory over the Cards.

But Woking chairman Mike Smith later issued a statement confirming that no brick had been hurled and the supporter had used his hand to break the glass.

SPOT ON – Bradley Bubb celebrates his penalty leveller Picture by: David Holmes

Mr Smith said: ”Following last night’s Blue Square Bet Premier home game against Mansfield Town, an individual home supporter, who was exiting the stadium broke the window to the away team dressing room with his hand.

“Stories about a brick being thrown are untrue. Mansfield officials and players were inside the room and thankfully, no one was injured.

“For reasons of personal safety and in the interests of wider safety and crowd management, ground operations staff and security removed the individual from the situation, as Mansfield players and officials understandably reacted. Order was quickly restored.

“On behalf of Woking Football Club and its supporters, I apologised to the directors, players and officials of Mansfield Town, which was accepted.

“The individual responsible is known to the club as a season ticket holder and has had the privilege removed. In addition, he has also been informed he is no longer welcome at the club. Woking Football Club has also referred the matter to Surrey Police.

“This kind of behaviour is repulsive and deplorable to all proper fans of football. It has no place in football or at Kingfield.”

Mansfield keeper Alan Marriott, who allegedly suffered a small cut, tweeted: “Something defo came through the window and got me!”

But he also said he didn’t believe the object used to smash the glass was a brick.

Mansfield manager Paul Cox said: “Thankfully Alan was facing the other direction and only suffered a small cut. The shards of glass were huge and someone could have been blinded or scarred for life.”

Cox claimed he had also been spat at and said: “It went straight into my eye. I wouldn’t accept that on the street so I am not accepting that just because I am a football manager.”

Bradley Bubb’s 69th-minute penalty cancelled out Louis Briscoe’s strike but Matt Jones popped up with a winner 13 minutes from time to leave Woking empty handed.

Westfield FC boss John Comer targets maximum points during title run-in

By: editor
Published March 6, 2013, in Sport

Westfield 2 Knaphill 0

JOHN COMER threw down the gauntlet to his Westfield side by telling them to win all their remaining fixtures.

The Yellows dug in to see off a spirited Knaphill on Tuesday night as Rob Jones (below) netted after Matt Steer’s thrice taken spot-kick.

And for boss Comer, the hard-earned three points are just one part of the wider title race picture.

ON THE WRIGHT TRACK – Westfield’s Andy Wright took control as the hosts chalked up a satisfying derby triumph

He said: “To win tonight is a very good response after going down 3-0 to AFC Croydon Athletic at the weekend.

“I thought Knaphill played really well actually. They are a decent side – we are 12 points from 12 in our local games now.

“Local derbies can be a leveller and they are tough matches to be involved in.

“I have told the lads if we win every game between now and the end of the season, we will win the league – simple as that, no one can stop you.”

Steer broke the deadlock for the hosts after 32 minutes when Knaphill’s Matt Edwards was adjudged to have handled in the box.

The referee ordered Steer, who scored at the second attempt but missed his first, to retake

the penalty three times for encroachment in the area.

Going behind sparked the Knappers into life as Ross Murray sent his looping free-kick inches over the bar moments before the break.

Both sides committed men forward in an end-to-end second half and Luke Taylor will feel he could have equalised on 67 minutes, firing over from close range.

Substitute Jones sealed all three points for Westfield with nine minutes remaining after Sam Black weighted a perfect pass for Jones
to slot past Nick McGregor.

The win saw the hosts move up to second but Knaphill’s joint-manager Kevin Bailey was disappointed to be leaving Woking Road empty
handed.

“I am absolutely gutted because in the second half I thought we battered them,” he said.

“The first goal, their penalty, it was their player who hand-balled it, not ours and that rattled us.

“We got upset and shouldn’t have lost our heads but sometimes that just can’t be helped in
football.

“But we can take a lot of positives from tonight. We played with purpose and had we got the equaliser, I thought we could have gone on and got something out of it.”

The win came hours after Westfield were reinstated in the Surrey County Cup final as Staines Lammas were found to have fielded an ineligible player in their 4-2 victory last month.

Westfield will now face Walton Casuals Reserves at Carshalton Athletic’s ground on March 19.

WESTFIELD: Davis, L Beale, Hollins, Coppard, O’Connor, A. Beale, Steer, Wright, Brown , Black, Cheeseman. SUBS: Hennessy, Pasley, Jones, Keer. KNAPHILL: McGregor, Felgate, T. Taylor, Edwards, Doble, Pilley, L. Taylor, Roissetter, Wetheral, Murray, Johnson. SUBS: Bennison, Biggs, Ponstance, Ruggles.

Ripley’s Papercourt Sailing Club crowned kings of the waters

By: editor
Published March 5, 2013, in Sport

THE commodore of Papercourt Sailing Club says he was “stunned and delighted” after the Ripley-based organisation were crowned king of the waters on Saturday.

Peter Wadham was left open mouthed after Papercourt was announced as the winner of the Royal Yachting Association’s Club of the Year award.

He said: “We are absolutely thrilled. It’s a fantastic club and really is a credit to all those who work so hard making a success of sailing at Papercourt.

“The award is testament to the enthusiasm members voluntarily put in all year round, not just organising sailing but also running the estate which is a valued benefit to the local community.”

ALL HANDS ON DECK – Commodore Peter Wadham (right) and vice-Commodore Frank Brown receive the club of the year award from Kate Macgregor

Team GB’s Kate Macgregor was on hand to present the award at London’s Alexandra Palace on the weekend.

Ripley’s popular club, home to 1,200 members, was picked as overall winner from a five-strong shortlist of finalists.

The win caps a wonderful year for the club who secured a legacy for sailing in the area by successful bidding to buy the 45 acres lake on which it has sailed for more than 50 years. Peter now hopes the club will hold even more sway in the immediate community.

“We hope more local people will now think about taking up sailing and seeing what Papercourt can offer them with our programme of training, racing and social events.

“It wasn’t an over night success and we can’t forget that any success we have now is built on the shoulders of our predecessors.”

Jackie Bennetts, who coordinates RYA Club of the Year added: “Papercourt Sailing Club are very worthy winners of this year’s award.

“They have demonstrated exceptional ability bringing club members together while continuing to run a full and very varied programme of events. In doing so they have secured this site for future sailors both young and old to enjoy.”

Garry Hill says one point earned, not two dropped

By: Tom Oxtoby
Published March 4, 2013, in Sport

Woking 1 Lincoln City 1

CARDS failed to build on Brett Johnson’s second-minute opener and were forced to share the spoils with Lincoln City.

Johnson got Woking off to a flying start, meeting ex-Imp John Nutter’s cross to head home.

But Cards didn’t have it all their own way and City got back on terms through Vadaine Oliver in the 25^th minute.

ON YER ‘ED – Cards celebrate taking the lead

A share of the points means Woking now only need two more to reach Garry Hill’s magic 50 target.

But they’ll have to wait until Wednesday’s game with Mansfield for another bite at the cherry.

Hill had no complaints about the result, he said: “It was a point won today. I thought we did enough to win it but when you look at the week, we’ve taken four points out of six against Forest Green and Lincoln City which is a good return.”

“It is disappointing not to have won but managers, players and supporters get greedy when you’ve been on a good run.”

Former Lincoln skipper Nutter revealed his frustration at full time.

He said: “They’re fighting for their lives but it wasn’t to be. They made it hard for us but once we got the ball down and started playing we looked the better side.”

“We’ve been on a decent run and we’ve had a draw today which isn’t something we’ve had much this season. Sometimes a point is good to pick up and we’ll see how many points we can now get.”

Bradley Bubb’s spectacular acrobatic was as close as Woking came to finding a winner but Paul Farman was a match with an equally good save.

Good news for the Cards came at the end of the week as Hill secured the services of Billy Knott for a further month from Sunderland.

It is hoped that he will be returning to the action soon following a hamstring injury.

WOKING: Brown, Newton, Cestor, Ricketts, McNerney, Parkinson, Bubb, Betsy, Johnson (McCallum 45mins), Stockley, Nutter.

ATTENDANCE: 1766

Jack Parkinson puts Woking on cloud nine and boss Garry Hill pledges his future to the Cards

By: Tom Oxtoby
Published February 27, 2013, in Sport

Woking 2 Forest Green Rovers 0

JACK PARKINSON thundered in a second-half beauty to lift Cards up to ninth on a night when Garry Hill was quizzed about the vacant manager’s post at former club Dagenham and Redbridge.

Parkinson, usually known for his defensive qualities, rattled home a 79th-minute gem after Kevin Betsy had drilled Woking into a 1-0 lead.

JACK THE LAD – Parkinson celebrates his wonder strike

And after claiming a sixth win in eight games to gatecrash the top half of the table, Hill moved quickly to assure fans his future lies at Kingfield.

The gaffer said: “Dagenham is a club I have had some great times with and some great memories. All chapters move on in life and I’m very happy with where I am.”

Hill had nothing but praise for his industrious team who ran themselves into the ground to secure back-to-back wins.

He added: “There is a big gulf between part-time and full-time in this league, but if you’ve got heart and if you want it bad enough, it’s surprising how far you can go.”

Full report and pictures in this week’s News & Mail – out Thursday.

Big freeze fails to cool Woking fans’ burning passion

By: Tom Oxtoby
Published January 25, 2013, in Sport

SOMEONE up there did not want this game to be played.

Despite the unparalleled effort of fans, the expert and precision decision making of the ground staff, plus all the will in Woking, Cards could not fulfil their Blue Square Premier meeting with Newport County on Tuesday.

A blanket of snow was carefully rolled off the Kingfield turf on Tuesday and, when match officials arrived at the ground at around 5.30pm, the pitch was deemed playable.

But a violent and unrelenting snow storm arrived to ruin the party, undoing all the volunteers’ efforts in a matter of minutes.

By 7pm the game had been chalked off – just the latest casualty in a long list of matches to be claimed by the freezing temperatures.

Garry Hill’s hopes were dashed as the green turf disappeared under a fresh coat of powder.

He also expressed his gratitude to the fans who helped give this fixture a fighting chance.

He said: “I feel so sorry for the supporters and everyone who have put in so much hard work earlier in the week. What I have learned at Woking is that we are all in it together.

“You’ve seen that response and that effort in the fans trying to get this game on. They all played their part and that is an encouraging sign for Woking.

“It’s unfortunate because there has been a lot of work put into this game by everyone connected with the club.

“The chairman, the directors, the supporters – everyone has put in such a great effort – and the groundsman has done brilliantly to get the pitch in perfect playing order at 6pm. It looked a treat – but all of a sudden the sky opened and the snow came down.

“It’s disappointing that we’ve now got to arrange the game for a later date.”

Hill’s primary concern is the prospect of a trip to in-form Kidderminster on Saturday, having not played a competitive game since the 1-0 win over Ebbsfleet on January 13.

Steve Burr’s Harriers will not be the same team who shared the spoils at Kingfield in November – but Hill urged fans not to forget Cards’ recent run heading into Saturday.

Kidderminster have rocketed up the table after losing their first five games of the season.

Burr’s side now occupy the final play-off place, and sit just six points off top spot.

But Hill pointed to the Cards’ recent upturn in fortunes and said: “They are a good side and are arguably as good as any we’ve played this season.

“It will be a very tough game for us because I think they’ve only lost something like two in their last 20 league games.

“They are flying but we’re not going too badly ourselves at the moment so hopefully we’ll get a good result.”

Super Woking make Hatters mad with brilliant Kingfield display

By: Tom Oxtoby
Published January 2, 2013, in Sport

Woking 3, Luton Town 1

BILLY had the Hatters tied in Knotts as magnificent Cards capitalised on Luton’s New Year’s Day hangover to avenge their Boxing Day blues.

With no trace of a celebratory hangover, Woking exploded into action and took the game to their promotion-chasing visitors at a relentless tempo.

BILLY THE KID – Knott celebrates his second goal of the afternoon again Luton. Picture by: David Holmes

Billy Knott produced a third-minute screamer to give Woking a surprise lead but Aaron Howe’s mistake allowed Andre Gray to equalise five minutes later.

Howe redeemed himself with a game-changing save and two goals in five minutes made it three wins from Cards’ last four matches.

Knott was the hero, stabbing home in the 73rd minute after Mark Tyler had palmed away Bradley Bubb’s low shot.

And super-sub Jayden Stockley eased the tension with a third five minutes later as Woking gained total revenge for their 3-1 defeat at Luton on Boxing Day.

Sunderland loanee Knott said: “I’ve seen the ups and the downs since I’ve been here and hopefully the club can move on.

“Everyone is together and they all want to play for each other. I’ll take that battle and that desire to win games from Woking because it means something to everyone here.

“When we got amongst them Luton didn’t really fancy it. They got a bit worried and it was a good performance from the lads

“It’s great getting games, the fans have been great with me and I just want to thank everyone.”

Full report and reaction in Thursday’s News & Mail.

« Older Entries

Sport

Garry Hill and Woking say farewell to handful of players

GARRY HILL’S Woking has said goodbye to a handful of players as the Kingfield chiefs plots his second season in the top-flight of non-league football.