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23/1/2003
Sport

Woking dare not lose six-pointer

Although he has never been there, the Cards boss has heard all about the delights of Hilton Park, a windswept, dilapidated Rugby League ground with pitch to match and he has already been making arrangements to get his players accustomed to the conditions.
The Cards will travel up for an overnight stay and Cockerill confirmed: “I’ve heard all about the ground and I have already rung up to ask them to find me similar conditions to those we will play on. The lads will train on Friday and we will be up for it on the day.”
Dean Austin (ankle) is the only doubt for the match with Rob Kember, Anthony Allman and Neil Smith all available after suspension. Chris Collins could also be in contention for a place on the bench.
Cockerill — who has admitted he already has one eye on next season — has already made his mind up on selection despite the options available to him and he is looking forward to the clash.
“It’s a massive game for both teams and we will be going there to make sure we don’t get beaten,” he said.
“I always believe we can get something out of every game we go into now. Sometimes we’ve been hammered and sometimes we’ve been unlucky but there has been a complete change in the character of the lads.
“It’s not the case now that if we go a goal down we lose and there is a real confidence and spirit about the team.”
With Warren Patmore scoring goals for fun, Woking are always in with a chance of a result but Cockerill is not concerned that others aren’t contributing. “I don’t want Warren anywhere other than in and around the 18-yard box and he’s doing great,” he added.
“But I’m delighted with all of them up front. Sharpy and Raph are contributing so much that I’m not worried they’re not scoring.”
With Leigh desperate for the three points themselves — a win could take them out of the bottom three — Saturday’s task will be a huge one for the Cards.
The Railwaymen bounced back dramatically from a run of seven straight defeats with a 1-0 win at Burton Albion last week.
Just as what happened when Cockerill took over at Kingfield, Leigh were lifted by a change of manager at Eton Park, with Mark Patterson taking over the reigns for his first game in charge.
“The players knew me because I was assistant but it often happens that way,” said Patterson this week. “Now we play Woking which is a massive six-pointer. Neither of us can afford to drop more points.”
Patterson believes Leigh can climb away from danger and added: “As long as we keep the same spirit and commitment we showed at Burton we can do it.
“It’s about consistency and getting a run of results but the confidence among the players has come flooding back. I imagine it will be a tense game.”
Leigh have managed to survive among Non League’s elite despite limited resources and Patterson insisted: “It’s made it harder with the play-offs.
“Some clubs in mid-table were happy to be there. Now 90 per-cent of the games are against teams either trying to get in the play-offs or fighting for survival.”
Meanwhile, Cockerill is happy with Ben Townsend who has signed on a month’s loan spell from Wycombe. “I’ve been crying out for a left-back and everybody knows that,” said Cockerill.
“We’ve tracked Ben and we thought he could do that job out there quite comfortably. He’s played a lot of first-team games and he’s only 21.
“I’ve signed him on a loan and we’ll see how he goes. If he does well and the chairman allows it, I might try and get him for the rest of the season.”
l WOKING host Dulwich Hamlet next Tuesday in the Surrey Senior Cup 4th Round, kick-off 7.45pm.
l GEOFF Chapple has denied rumours that he is about to become the new manager of Crawley Town.
The former Cards boss said: “I don’t know how these stories start and I think it must be people just sitting around making them up. I’ve even been linked to the Cheltenham job but there’s nothing in that either.”
l LLOYD Wye is back in football 10 months after leaving Molesey.
The former Woking legend — who is 36 in May — has linked up with former team-mate Laurence Batty at Ryman Leaguers Walton and Hersham.
Batty recently accepted the manager’s job at Stompond

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