Boz's Fruit & Veg

Woking face stern test in first home pre-season encounter

Glen Harrington
10:02am, Thu 11th Jul 2019
Woking vs Oxford United
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 13th July


The Cards return to the Laithwaite Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon when League One side Oxford United come to town in our first pre-season home game of the new season.

It will be the first time that Woking have played in front of a home crowd since the National League South Promotion Final victory over Welling United back in May, with Alan Dowson and his team looking to build on Tuesday’s pre-season opener, which ended in a 3-1 win over Badshot Lea.

Woking

Dowse used 22 players in mid-week, including 13 players already announced as having signed for the new season, as well as seven trialists. In addition, there were appearances from Moussa Diarra, who was subsequently announced as having joined the club on a permanent basis on Wednesday following his successful loan move last season, and academy defender Joe Morrison. Paul Hodges was the only player not involved with the squad.

In the first-half the Cards started with Craig Ross in goal, a back four of Nathan Collier, Josh Casey, Ben Gerring and new signing Manny Parry, a midfield of Kane Ferdinand and one of two trialists, with Jack Skinner, Max Kretzschmar and the second trialist playing in advanced roles behind Dave Tarpey. Ferdinand gave the visitors the lead on the half hour mark before Badshot equalised from the penalty spot.

In the second-half, Dowse introduced Diarra, Morrison, Sam Howes, Jack Cook and Godfrey Poku, along with five further trialists, but it was Skinner, the one survivor from the first period, who restored Woking’s lead. He was replaced for the final quarter by striker Jake Hyde, who netted a third with his first touch to round off a comfortable win, and ensure the perfect start for Dowse and his team.

Oxford United

The U’s, managed by former Milton Keynes Dons and Charlton Athletic boss Karl Robinson, finished 12th in League One last season. They struggled for much of the campaign and looked to be embroiled in a relegation battle, only to end the year as one the division’s form teams, eventually finishing a comfortable 10 points clear of the bottom four.

They’ve already played three pre-season games so far, losing 5-0 away to Scottish Premiership side Rangers, beating neighbours Oxford City 5-3, and defeating Hellenic League side Thame United 2-0. Players to look out for include goalkeeper Simon Eastwood, who had a short loan spell with Woking during the 2008/09 season; midfielder Cameron Brannagan, who played three Premier League games for boyhood club Liverpool; and former Scottish international Jamie Mackie who has a huge amount of experience with the likes of Queens Park Rangers, Nottingham Forest and Reading.

On the Day

Ticket prices are £10 for adults, £5 for concessions and £3 for under-16s. Tickets are available online in advance or on the day at the turnstiles. Please note that this fixture will be segregated.

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