Tasmin Miah reports from Park View Road

Welling United fell to a 1-0 defeat to National League outfit Woking in a pre-season friendly at Park View Road on Saturday afternoon.

The match was played in wet and gloomy weather throughout, providing an excellent test for both sides in trying conditions. 

It was a quiet but interesting first half, with the Wings showing plenty of early promise. A few corners and free kicks resulted in some half-chances which were well dealt with by the Cards.

At the other end, there were three fantastic saves from the hosts’ trialist keeper to save the Wings and keep it goalless, while Tunji Akinola nodded narrowly wide for the visitors. 

Danny Bloor made two substitutions ahead of the second half with Cameron Andrews coming on for skipper James Vaughan, who received a minor knock in the first 45 minutes, while Enoch Muwonge replaced fellow academy youngster Ayo Lugboso.

A great effort from Wings trialist B was saved by Will Jaaskelainen on 50 minutes and it wasn’t long before the ball hit the back of the net courtesy of Muwonge from Will Wood’s cross, but his celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s flag.  

Just before the hour mark, Reece Grego-Cox put Woking ahead, which proved to be the winner, tapping home from a low left-wing cross.

The rest of the second-half was played out with both sides making a raft of further changes – Trialist C looked to catch the Cards’ keeper off his line with an attempted lob, while Padraig Amond and Rhys Browne both hit the woodwork for the away side late on, but the solitary goal would be the difference as Woking claimed victory. 

With two weeks to go until the season starts, pre-season continues with a trip to Beckenham Town next Saturday.

Welling United: Trialist A (Pitterson 85), Lugboso (Muwonge 46), Trialist B (Trialist D 58), Wood (Royal 58 (Kamara 88) ), Olomowewe (Balarabe 81), Bramble, Vaughan (c) (Andrews 46), Papadopoulos, Trialist C (Trialist E), White (Adom 58), Burchell. 

Woking: Jaaskelaninen, Moss, Casey, Cuthbert, Koroba, Grego-Cox, Amond, Robinson, Wakefield, Oyeleke, Akinola

Subs: Trialist, Taylor, Wilkinson, Lewis, Browne, Trialist, Habergham

Goal: Grego-Cox 56

Att: 351

(Photo: Keith Gillard)