Lovetts
Friendly
3:00pm - SaturdaySat 27th JulyJul 2013
The Laithwaite Community Stadium

Woking
Woking
3 - 0

Gillingham
Gillingham

Cards take on the Gills

Brian Caffarey
9:26am, Thu 25th Jul 2013
Woking v Gillingham
Pre-season friendly
3pm on Saturday 27 July 2013

The Cards welcome the Gills on Saturday afternoon for Woking’s fourth pre-season friendly after an encouraging performance against AFC Bournemouth last weekend. The Gills were the champions of League 2 last season and can be expected to provide tough opposition for Garry Hill’s side.

WOKING

The Cards’ pre-season friendlies have so far produced a defeat at Staines Town (3-2) and wins at Dover (1-0) and at home to AFC Bournemouth (2-1). The results are much less important of course than signs of developing team work and fitness – and on those fronts Garry Hill and Steve Thompson can presumably feel satisfied with how things are coming along. Not surprisingly, given how many of last season’s defence and midfield have been retained, there is an established look about those areas of the side, even though we’ve yet to see Kevin Betsy back in action. Nevertheless Garry has strengthened midfield with the signings of Josh Payne and the hugely-experienced Gavin Williams. Up front, there’s a lot to play for still, with only Gez Sole, recovering from a long lay-off, and Gavin McCallum, re-signed this week, on the books. The game against AFC Bournemouth produced another run-out for the young Wycombe striker Ollie Taylor, who grabbed the winning goal, and winger Anthony McNamee.

GILLINGHAM

The Gills, managed by Martin Allen, ran away with the League Two title last season and should be capable of surviving reasonably comfortably in League One. Striker Danny Kedwell, formerly with AFC Wimbledon and Welling, is a familiar figure. Other players to look out for include pacy Myles Weston (if recovered from a hamstring injury), Chris Whelpdale and Cody McDonald, who has re-joined the club after previous successful loans spells when at Norwich City and Coventry City. Other new signings so far include the burly Adebayo Akinfenwa, returning to the Priestfield Stadium from Northampton Town; Amine Linganzi, a French midfielder from Accrington Stanley; and Stuart Nelson, a keeper who was with Martin Allen at Brentford and Notts County.

The Gills lost at home 1-3 to Millwall in a pre-season friendly last Saturday. Martin Allen was disappointed with a below-par performance but was much happier on Tuesday evening even though the Gills went down 0-3 at home to Crystal Palace.

The Gills’ line-up against Palace was as follows: Stuart Nelson, Matt Fish (Stephen Butcher 83), Joe Martin (Bondz N’Gala 89), Leon Legge (Callum Davies 68), Adam Barrett, Amine Linganzi (Harry Grant 86), Chris Whelpdale, Bradley Dack (Steven Gregory 56), Charlie Allen (Sam Muggleton 83), Danny Kedwell (Antonio German 72), Bayo Akinfenwa (Cody McDonald 56) Unused sub – George Howard

Gillingham start their season at home to Colchester United on Saturday 3 August.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults £8. Concessions £3. Seafare will be open under the main stand, so why not treat yourself to some of their excellent fish and chips.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

The Club has prepared a programme, priced at £2, to cover the three home friendly games, including pre-season thoughts from Garry Hill and an interview with Darryl Flahavan.

REMAINING FRIENDLY GAMES

Tuesday 30 July: Eastleigh v Woking (k.o. 7.30pm)
Saturday 3 August: Woking v QPR XI (k.o. 3pm)

The Cards start their league campaign on Saturday 10 August at home to Lincoln City.


Come on, you Cards!

Cards defeat League opposition

Jacob Greenwood
12:00am, Sat 27th Jul 2013
Woking 3 Gillingham 0
Pre-season friendly
27th July 2013

An impressive attacking performance, which included goals from Gavin McCallum, Gavin Williams and Anthony McNamee, saw Woking ease past a strong Gillingham side.

After a cagey start, Woking had the first real opportunity of the game when John Nutter played through trialist John Akinde. The ex-Portsmouth striker’s shot lacked power, however, and was saved by Stuart Nelson in the Gillingham goal.

Woking found themselves ahead on 34 minutes when McCallum scored his third goal of pre-season as he latched on to a long ball, which was misjudged by the Gills defence, and allowed the forward to cooly chip the ball over Nelson and into an empty net.

Half-Time Woking 1 Gillingham 0

After a lacklustre first-half performance, Gillingham came flying out of the traps at the start of the second half and could have been level within minutes of the restart when Chris Whelpdale played in Cody MacDonald. However, Aaron Howe narrowed the angle and forced MacDonald to square the ball, which was subsequently cleared by the Cards’ defence.

Woking contained the attacking pressure being created by the Gills and then found themselves 2-0 up after 52 minutes when Akinde was clipped in the area as he looked to play the ball in from the by-line. Gavin Williams stepped up and smashed the ball high above the outstretched Nelson to double Woking’s lead.

The League One side fought hard to get back into the game and should have hit the target when Adebaayo Akinfenwa brought down a forward ball and set-up Whelpdale, who smashed the ball high and wide from 12 yards out. The Gills also went close with five minutes remaining but Charlie Allen couldn’t find enough power in his shot to trouble Howe in the Woking goal.

Woking sealed an impressive victory with virtually the last kick of the game as substitute Anthony McNamee found himself in plenty of room on the right-hand side, cut back and curled the ball into the top left-hand corner of the goal.

The win was Woking’s second in a week against League opposition and a number of positives will be taken from the free-flowing attacking play against strong opposition as they prepare for a trip to Conference South side Eastleigh on Tuesday evening.

Woking: Aaron Howe, Adam Newton (Daniel Thompson 75), John Nutter, Mark Ricketts (George Frith 57), Jack Parkinson (Joe McNerney 57), Brett Johnson (Mike Cestor 57), Lee Sawyer (Giuseppe Sole 67), Josh Payne (Niall Wright 75), John Akinde (Ollie Taylor 67), Gavin Williams (Rene Steer 75), Gavin McCallum (Anthony McNamee 67).

Unused subs: Sam Beasant.

Goals: McCallum (34), Gavin Williams (52), Anthony McNamee (90)

Gillingham Team included: Stuart Nelson, Matt Fish, Joe Martin, Amin Linganzi, Leon Legge, Stephen Gregory, Antonio German, Chris Whelpdale, Cody MacDonald

Attendance: 654

Shop Online

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