Cards prepare for first friendly

Brian Caffarey
12:51pm, Thu 11th Jul 2013

Staines Town v Woking
Pre-season friendly
3pm on Saturday 13 July 2013

The Cards begin their pre-season programme with a trip to Staines Town this Saturday. At the time of writing Garry Hill has got 13 players on contract for the coming season, so he will presumably see pre-season games as being partly an opportunity to look at players on trial as well as developing fitness and team work.

WOKING

With 12 of the existing squad returning from last season (midfielder Josh Payne being the only new signing so far), Garry has an excellent foundation for this campaign, with a number of younger players no doubt having benefited hugely from their experience of their first Conference Premier season. However, with only one recognised forward on the books, Gez Sole, who will be playing competitive football for the first time since his cruciate ligament injury last August, there is an obvious need to add goalscoring prowess to the squad. If last season is anything to go by â€“ when loan players Bradley Bubb, Jayden Stockley and Billy Knott contributed the lionâ€™s share of goals â€“ the likelihood is that Garry will once again be looking to bring in one or two young League players on long-term loan. But Bubb definitely wonâ€™t be returning, having signed for Belgian club Royal Antwerp. A back-up goalkeeper appears to be needed too.

STAINES TOWN

The Swans just escaped relegation from the Conference South last season, finishing in 18th place. Manager Marcus Gayle has brought in Huw Johnson, one of his protÃ©gÃ©s in the Donsâ€™ reserve side which he used to manage: Johnson is described as a 6â€™ goalscoring midfielder. Returnees include ex-Don striker Louie Theophanous (who had a spell at Bromley too), left back Jordaan Brown, Max Worsfold , Jerel Ifil, Louis Rae Beadle, Troy Ferguson, Lewis Ferrell, Dan Brown, Ashley Lodge and Kyle Merson, a young keeper who is expected to challenge Jack Turner (another ex-Don) for the number one jersey.

Staines returned to training on 4 July and, like Woking, this game will be their first outing.

GETTING THERE

Wheatsheaf Park
Wheatsheaf Lane
Staines
Middlesex
TW18 2PD

By Car

From Woking go over junction 11 of the M25 into Chertsey, turn left onto Chertsey Road at the roundabout, then straight onto the B387 / Fordwater Road. At the end of this road turn right onto the B375 / Bridge Road. After a mile take 1st exit at roundabout onto Littleton Lane. At next roundabout take 1st exit onto B376 / Shepperton Road, then turn right onto the B376 / The Broadway, followed by the next left onto Staines Road. After 1 mile turn left onto Wheatsheaf Lane, and the ground will be on your right.

By Train

Nearest station: Staines

The journey there involves changes at Weybridge or changes at Weybridge and Virginia Water. With changes, the 13.03 from Woking should get you to Staines at 14.02, whilst the 13.33 should get you there at 14.28.

On the way back there are trains at 14 and 44 minutes past the hour direct to Weybridge, with a 20 minute wait for a train to Woking.

The ground is a 15 minute walk from the train station. Type the postcode into www.streetmap.co.uk to see possible routes.

ADMISSION PRICES

Â£8 Adults
Â£4 Concessions

REMAINING FRIENDLY GAMES

The Cardsâ€™ remaining friendly games are as follows:

Tuesday 16 July: Dover Athletic v Woking (k.o. 7.45pm)
Saturday 20 July: Woking v AFC Bournemouth (k.o. 3pm)
Saturday 27 July: Woking v Gillingham (k.o. 3pm)
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!

Mad Dogs and Englishmen

Alan Barnes
12:00am, Sat 13th Jul 2013

Staines Town 3 Woking 2
Pre-Season Friendly
13th July 2013

Woking's first pre-season friendly of the 2013-14 campaign against neighbours and Conference South outfit Staines Town was played in searing temperatures at a sun-drenched Wheatsheaf Park.

The Cards had slightly the better of the opening half hour but two goals from the home side as the interval approached gave them a slightly flattering lead, which they increased a few minutes into the second half. Woking rallied in the final forty minutes and reduced the deficit to one goal but the Swans kept their composure to earn a narrow victory.

With the temperature hitting the 90s, both managers chose to field two completely different teams in each half. There were also a number of substitutes throughout the match.

Woking started with a strong and mainly recognisable side from last season, but also included new signing Josh Payne in midfield and trialists Louis Soares and Anthony McNamee up front. Garry Hill shuffled his pack dramatically in the second half, fielding a team comprising mainly of trialists, John Goddard in midfield being the pick of the bunch. There was also a welcome return for Gez Sole, who was making his first appearance after almost a year out through injury.

As this was the first game of the season for both sides there were a number of misplaced passes as the two teams are still looking for match fitness.
The first chance of the day came for Gavin McCallum whose first time shot from twenty five yards was saved at the second attempt by Merson in the home goal.

There was little goalmouth action of note until the forty first minute whereupon a great turn and pass from Beadle for the home side gave Tailor an easy tap in. Two minutes later Theophanous out-muscled the Woking defence to slot home the second.

Half Time Staines Town 2 Woking 0

The second half started with twenty changes in total, only Joe McNerney and Mike Cestor having previously appeared for Woking. Nick Jupp in goal for the Cards did not make the best start for the visitors when, only minutes into the half, he failed to collect the ball, leaving Garrod to slot in easily for the home side's third goal.

Although the match was only a friendly, Woking clearly did not want to start their preparations for the new season with a resounding defeat and, to their credit, they battled away to the end and pulled back two goals in the sixty- third and seventy- sixth minutes through the impressive Goddard.

This was the first of six pre-season friendlies before the Conference Premier begins on 10th August. No doubt, Garry and Steve will be looking at more new trialists before then as they attempt to strengthen the squad in readiness for the new campaign.

Woking first half team: Sam Beasant, Jack Parkinson, John Nutter, Mark Ricketts, Brett Johnson, Josh Payne, Lee Sawyer, George Frith, Gavin McCallum, Louis Soares, Anthony McNamee.

Attendance; 259

Man of Match: All the players of both sides.