Boz's Fruit & Veg

Penny, Kandi in sweet Woking win at Gosport

Alfie Gates
1:52pm, Sun 17th Jul 2016
Gosport Borough 1 - 2 Woking
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 16th July 2016

With Woking being very busy in the transfer market on Friday, many fans were excited to see the new signings show their skills. It was also a good game for Garry to see the new trialists in action.

The away side (Woking) lined up in a 4-4-2 formation which changed during the game to a 3-5-2 and a 4-5-1 formation, as a number of subs were brought on. It was a hot summer’s day where fans rolled in through the gates and the smell of coffee did tempt Mr Garry Hill!

Gosport won the coin flip and we were ready to go under a clear sky and with a light breeze. The home side kicked off in impressive style; new Gosport striker, Bentley, struck a powerful volley outside the box only for it to make contact with Keiran Murtagh’s face. The midfielder didn’t let it affect him as he stood his ground and carried on. It was all action in the opening minutes when Bentley - the ex-Winchester striker and Southern League golden boot winner - drilled a shot outside the box towards the right hand side of the goal Mr. ‘In-Form’ (i.e. Michael Poke) dived athletically towards his right and saved the ball with his fingertips.

Gosport midfielder, Sam Pearce, also had a golden chance when he turned inside the box after a lovely pass by Dawson. Pearce turned and volleyed only to be met by the big Michael Poke who held the ball with no trouble; a wasted opportunity by Gosport.

New boy Fabio Saraiva had a chance from a free kick; the ex-Merstham midfielder curled it in past the wall where the ball was waiting to be met by a Woking player, but instead it went wide of Rice’s goal.

With Woking now being more dominant and fluent in the game, ex-Wycombe man Kretzschmar had a low shot parried by Rice after great work by the 22-year-old; he kept the ball low and to the right hand side where Rice did well to get it away.

Gosport were becoming a bit less impressive than they were very early in the game. It came as a surprise when Bentley did well to reach and control his keeper’s goal kick. The striker took Poke on but shot straight at him; Poke did well to gather the ball on the ground, and the score stayed at 0-0.

Bentley - who was phenomenal this game - had another chance. He controlled the ball inside the box after great interplay by Gosport; the striker had his low shot swerve too much and just missed the post.

Although Woking were dominant in possession, Bentley opened the defence up on many occasions. On the 42nd minute he had the best chance of the game where he was 1-on-1 with the keeper; in plenty of space and with plenty of time, he panicked and hit it horribly wide from close range. Michael Poke was looking very relieved after that!

Goal! Charlie Penny finessed the ball past Rice after great work from Sam Yorke, who ran down the centre pushing away defenders and played a through ball in to Penny, and the young lad didn’t mess up.

Half time: Gosport Borough 0 - 1 Woking

Goal! Bentley played a through ball into Josh Carmichael who got 3 yards from goal and chipped trialist Brandon Hall, the England C goalkeeper. A well worked goal!

Delano Sam Yorke could have retrieved the lead if it wasn’t for the ever-present Pearce. Delano received the ball from Gordon and curled it past two defenders and the keeper; the fans got ready to cheer only to see the leg of Pearce raised high in the air and volleying the ball off the line; great shot and even better clearance!

Woking got a goal very soon after, as the lively Fabio Saraiva flicked the ball high over one defender and volleyed in a cross which was met by the young Chike Kandi. He controlled the ball and hit it low past the keeper; really good play from Woking.

With the game full of action now, Ben Wright came rushing towards Hall and tried to hit it around the keeper, only for Hall to spread himself out and save it well, keeping Woking in the lead.

Kandi - who was very busy in the second half - created the last real chance of the game as he crossed the ball into the dominant Max Kretzschmar; he hit the ball low and the keeper had to get down low to push it behind for a corner.


Gosport: Martin Rice, TJ Cuthberson, Tom Bird, Ben Harding (Ollie Bailey 71), Joe Oastler (Adam Brice 77), Sam Pearce, Aaron Dawson (Charlie Gunson 71), Josh Carmichael, Warren Bentley (Cameron Murray 71), Chris Flood (Ben Wright 45), Dan Wooden (Adam Wilde 61)

Subs not used: Sam Lanahan, Mike Carter, Lewis Watch

Goals: Carmichael (50)

Woking: Michael Poke (Brandon Hall 45), Jake Caprice, Ryan Sellers (Ben Gordon 45), Joey Jones, Brian Saah, Ismail Yakubu (Michael Onuvwigum 45), Fabio Sairava (Jaydon Thorbourne 79), Keiran Murtagh (Charlie Carter 62), Delano Sam Yorke (Aaron Smith-Joseph 70), Charlie Penny (Chike Kandi 45), Max Kretzschmar (Charles Banya 62)

Subs not used: Gozie Ugwu

Goals: Penny (43), Kandi (53)

Attendance: 250 (60 Woking fans)

Referee: Gary Parsons

MOTM: Max Kretzschmar was my MOTM. He showed accuracy in passing, he was lively throughout the game - even throwing himself into some good tackles - he didn’t let the pressure off Gosport and he even had a few shots (of which some did test the keeper). Also well done to Kandi, Murtagh and Saraiva who were very impressive today.

Shop Online

adidas 1/4 Zip Training Top

adidas 1/4 Zip Training Top

BUY NOW »
adidas 2023/24 Away Shirt

adidas 2023/24 Away Shirt

BUY NOW »
adidas 2023/24 Home Shirt

adidas 2023/24 Home Shirt

BUY NOW »
adidas Laithwaite Financial Services Boz's Fruit and Veg Jewson MKJ Peacock Construction Seymours The National League Vanarama

Woking Football Club Limited
A company incorporated in England and Wales (company number: ‍03329172)
Registered office The Laithwaite Community Stadium, Kingfield, Woking, Surrey, GU22 9AA

Click here to read our Data Protection Privacy Policy
Click here to read our Accessibility Statement