Neighbour lies in wait for Woking

Rupert Metcalf
Friday 07 February 1997 00:02 GMT
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Just four days after the end of their exciting but exhausting FA Cup campaign, Woking must turn their attention to the tournament which they have won twice in the last three years. After their heroics against Coventry City, however, when they were desperately unlucky not to claim another giant-killing success, the Cards will have a different role as firm favourites in tomorrow's FA Umbro Trophy second-round tie.

Woking travel to the Icis League Premier Division club, St Albans City, looking to extend an impressive record in the Trophy, which they won in 1994 and '95. Although St Albans will be trying to reach the third round for the first time, they will not be underestimated. They are just the sort of side that could cause an upset, with the skill to impress against GM Vauxhall Conference opposition but not the consistency (or the stadium) to reach the non-League game's top flight.

St Albans are under new management: Jimmy Neighbour, the former Tottenham winger, replaced Alan Randall in December. Before moving to Clarence Park, Neighbour had been a part-time youth coach at Spurs after losing his job as assistant manager at Doncaster Rovers last summer.

Neighbour admits his new team are the underdogs tomorrow, but he is still optimistic. "They're a good side," he said yesterday, "and we've got to be up for it. Everyone is expecting them to win, but if we roll our sleeves up we can get a result."

Just down the road from St Albans, their Icis League rivals Boreham Wood entertain the Conference champions, Stevenage Borough, in a Hertfordshire derby. The home side, who are striving to reach the last 16 of the Trophy for the third season running, have won 14 of the 16 cup ties they have played this season, with their only defeat coming against Luton Town in the FA Cup.

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