Match Report | Cards off to winning start

Met Police 0-2 Woking

Pre Season Friendly

12th July 2025

Woking’s first pre-season friendly of the season saw them visit Met Police, with a 21-strong squad including a trialist and several academy players.

With temperatures around the 30c mark, a slower paced game was expected, and the opening ten minutes saw both sides try to slowly settle into the game. Woking’s first nice move of the game saw Josh Osude pick out Sam Ashford, whose header was straight into the Met keeper’s arms. Good play from the hosts’ number nine saw him control past his defender before firing a shot well wide as the game started to liven up.

Another good cross, this time from Jack Turner, found Ashford inside the box, but his prodded effort at goal was brilliantly saved by the keeper.

Drinks were taken 25 minutes in, with the game having settled down from a busy ten minute period.

Osude was finding joy down the flank, and a cutback to Luke Hall saw the former Worksop man fire just over from inside the box with the first half nearing a close.

Ashford was fed beautifully by a through ball splitting the Met defence, but his low effort was stopped by the advancing keeper. The first half came to an end with the Cards, as expected, having the majority of the ball and the chances, but unable to beat the impressive Met keeper or to keep their cool in front of goal.

Woking made ten changes for the second half, with only Chin Okoli staying on the pitch. After good work from O’Brien down the flank, Effiong’s shot from close range was well blocked as the Met defence stood firm.

Somehow the Cards still couldn’t make the breakthrough with O’Brien denied again as well as Beautyman on the rebound.

Finally, after 68 minutes, Woking had the opener when the initial shot from O’Brien was saved and Effiong had the simple task of tapping home from a yard.

Effiong would double his and Woking’s tally 15 minutes later when a great cross from academy graduate Parkes gave him another simple finish. That would be the last of the action as Woking ran out comfortable winners despite failing to convert a number of chances.

Next up, Championship side Portsmouth at the Laithwaite on Tuesday night.

First Half: Ross, Drewe, Akinola, Okoli, Richards, Boxall, Turner, Osude, Hall, Trickett, Ashford

Second Half: Jaaskelainen, Hinds, Okoli, Odusina, Parkes, Andrews, Ward, O’Brien, Beautyman, Effiong, Trialist

Goals: Effiong 68’, 83’