Reece Grego-Cox scored the only goal as Welling United were defeated by National League Woking in a well contested pre-season friendly at Park View Road.

Last season, Woking finished fourth in the table before losing to Bromley in the play-offs, and they will be expecting to challenge again this season. Only two players were missing from the team who could feature in Darren Sarll’s opening league game so Welling knew that they would be in for a tough assignment.

Danny Bloor was again without injured captain Mitchell Dickenson, Crossley Lema and Dominic Odusanya. They were joined in the treatment room by Taylor Curran while Lee Worgan was absent on holiday.

Early on, Padraig Amond hit a free kick into the defensive wall and two members of the back four showed their resolve with brave blocks as it came back out. Grego-Cox then headed wide from Woking’s short corner routine.

Another Woking free kick, this time taken by veteran Josh Casey, flew well over before Ricky Korboa fired wide of the near post. A further free kick from a dangerous position was struck well by Manny Oyeleke but Welling’s trialist goalkeeper made a good diving save, and he was again in action to keep out Charlie Wakefield’s shot with Ayo Lugboso alert to make a crucial clearance.

Scott Cuthbert headed over for Woking then Greco-Cox burst clear only for the Welling custodian to delay him. The Woking striker re-set and shot drawing another good low save out of the goalkeeper.

There was one last chance in the first half for Grego-Cox when he attempted a forty yard chip that flew just wide.

After the break, Welling came out with more attacking intent and their trialist left back hit a powerful drive that Will Jaaskelainen could only palm into the air before punching it away from Enoch Muwonge as the Wings’ sub looked to pounce.

Will Wood then struck a shot through a forest of Woking legs and it hit one which deflected it just wide with Jaaskelainen a mere spectator. Welling thought that they had broken the deadlock shortly after when live-wire Muwonge met Wood’s cross at the far post and finished confidently only to be thwarted by an offside flag.

However, it was Woking who went ahead ten minutes in. Amond caught a defender in possession and squared for Greco-Cox to tap in.

Both teams made changes and one of Woking’s substitutes, Dennon Lewis, shot wide of the near post then Wakefield shaped to shoot but Jack Burchell got back to make a crucial last ditch challenge.

Amond came close to adding a second with ten minutes remaining but his header came back off the bar.

Rhys Browne had one last chance when intercepting a back pass. Although he rounded Welling substitute goalkeeper Javarn Pitterson, the young stopper forced him wide enough to ensure that he didn’t have a good enough angle to find the net.

Welling United: Trialist (Pitterson 85), Lugboso (Andrews 46), Trialist (Adom 56), Vaughan (Muwonge 46), Olomowewe (Aarons-Royal 82 (Kamara 88)), Burchell, Wood (Balarabe 82), Papadopoulos, Trialist (Trialist 72), Bramble, White (Trialist 56).

Goalscorers: None

Woking: Jaaskelainen (Trialist 61), Moss (Lewis 61), Casey (Habergham 46), Oyeleke (Taylor 61), Cuthbert (Wilkinson 61), Akinola, Korboa, Wakefield, Grego-Cox (Trialist 61), Amond, Robinson (Browne 61). Subs included: Trialist

Goalscorers: Amond (55)

Referee: Nick Dunn

Assistants: Ben Al-Shaikh and Ben McDonald

Attendance: 351

Images courtesy of Dave Budden