Young Cards Side Defeated

GODALMING TOWN 3 WOKING 1

Pre-season friendly

23 July 2009

The Cards suffered their third defeat in a row but there is very little that can be read into this result as far as Woking fans are concerned, although Gs fans will no doubt have been heartened by some lively forward play, especially in the second half when their side was strengthened. Graham Baker, for his part, selected a side mostly composed of Academy players, with a handful of trialists.

The trialists on show in the first half were Kieran Thorpe in goal, Dean Lovegrove at right back, Jake Reid up front and Lee Hall on the left flank.

The first twenty minutes or so of the game were very uneventful, with both sides struggling to get the ball under control on a hard and somewhat bumpy pitch. Woking’s first real attempt on goal then came from Charlie Moone, playing on the right flank, whose header was tipped over the bar following a nice move involving Billy Hussey, Jake Reid and a cross from Lee Hall. This was quickly followed by a header over from Delano Sam-Yorke. Woking almost took a fortuitous lead when the Gs’ keeper’s attempted clearance rebounded off Reid and went just wide of the post. Hall then fired in a decent effort, which was also just wide.

At the other end, Thorpe had little to do apart from the odd clearance and a few relatively easy saves.

Woking took the lead in the 41st minute when Reid was adjudged to have been fouled in the area. The goalkeeper got a firm hand on Billy Hussey’s spot kick; the ball hit the post and had just enough momentum to creep over the line.

Just as against Fulham, the lead was soon squandered and then reversed as the home side headed in two goals from corners – in both cases seemingly unchallenged by either Thorpe or the Woking defenders.

Half-time: Godalming Town 2 Woking 1

Shortly after half-time the Cards conceded yet another header from a corner to make it 3-1 to the Gs. With a strengthened side, Godalming soon took control of the game and threatened the Woking goal on a number of occasions with some enterprising forward play. The only surprise was that they failed to add to their lead.

Graham Baker introduced three more trialists, two of whom (I think) were Mas Ahmed and Scott Kinge. The third was said to be Nathan (surname unknown). By then, though, the Woking side was looking well beaten, defending scrappily and creating very little at the other end. About the only goal attempt of note was a low drive from Charlie Moone.

No doubt the games against AFC Totton, Aldershot Town and Stevenage Borough will provide much better yardsticks against which to judge our progress.

Woking: Kieran Thorpe, Dean Lovegrove, Gavin Miller, Daniel Sintim, Anson Cousins, Charlie Moone, Matt Powell, Billy Hussey (Mas Ahmed), Lee Hall (Nathan ???), Jake Reid (Scott Kinge), Delano Sam-Yorke

P.S. Don’t forget that the Cards are at home tomorrow evening in a game against Woking and Maybury Sports Club. Entrance is free, with a charity collection for the Joshua Deller Appeal.