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
