Sutton v Woking preview and match arrangements

19 July 2022

The players of Sutton and Woking will be hoping that temperatures have cooled by the time they kick off at the VBS Community Stadium in the fifth of Sutton's sixth pre-season friendlies on Tuesday evening.

After three away wins, U's returned to home ground on Saturday with a goalless draw against League One Charlton, and manager Matt Gray will be hoping that Tuesday's game, and the last friendly at home to Bromley on Saturday, continue what has so far been a successful pre-season schedule. Omar Bugiel and Donovan Wilson could both feature after missing the last two friendlies with minor injuries.

This is Woking's fourth pre-season game, with a 3-2 win against Arsenal's Under 23s followed by a 4-0 defeat at home to Swindon before a 1-1 draw at Farnborough on Saturday. Their squad is likely to include Ricky Korboa, signed in the summer after leaving Sutton, and recent signings Jim Kellermann from Chesterfield and Sid Nelson from Northampton - Kellermann may also be familiar to U's fans from his time with Aldershot.

There are no advance tickets on sale for the game, which is not segregated. Season tickets are valid for the game, and anyone who has not yet received their hard copy season ticket can show the digital version that was emailed to them. Otherwise admission will be by payment at the turnstiles, card or cash, with prices £10 for adults, £6 for concessions £3 for juniors and free for under 12s if accompanied by an adult or concession.

Supporters should note that there are no Thameslink services through West Sutton with the line closed due to the heat. Southern services through Sutton are expected to run, although they could be subject to delay and cancellation, and buses 80 or 413 run from Sutton station to the ground. Those services also run from Morden Underground station, although again London Underground services may be disrupted.

Sutton supporters who had a car park permit last season can use the club car park for this week's friendlies. Spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis with the car park shutting an hour before kick off. You must display your last season’s permit to show the steward at the Gander Green Lane entrance.

There will be commentary on the game through our Mixlr service, and anyone who hasn't yet bought the programme that covers all three of our home friendlies can order one here, price £2 plus postage.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Match report for Sutton 0 Woking 1

19 July 2022

Sutton suffered a first defeat of the pre-season schedule when a goal midway through the second half by Padraig Amond was enough to give Woking victory.

The game had a disjointed start, with Woking forced in to an early change when Jack Roles received a knock in the back from Craig Eastmond's challenge and had to be replaced by Rohan Ince with barely five minutes on the clock, but they came close to going ahead after a quarter of an hour when Jim Kellermann, a summer signing from Chesterfield, volleyed inches wide when a corner fell to him on the edge of the penalty area, while former U Ricky Korboa had a goalbound shot deflected wide by Eastmond.

In bizarre first half conditions that ended with simultaneous sunshine and rain, Sutton had plenty of the ball but were unable to create clear chances, although Josh Neufville's pace was always a threat.

Sutton, who brought on Jon Barden and new signing Matt Ridley at half time, created chances at the start of a second half that began in torrential rain, Ali Smith's shot deflected just over after Donovan Wilson had burst through on the right and pulled the ball back in to his path, and Neufville's header from Luke Gambin's cross saved by Craig Ross. As the pressure was maintained, Coby Rowe's header from Gambin's free kick was diverted just wide, but U's were forced in to another change when, within ten minutes of his arrival, Barden received a knock on the side of the head and was replaced by Harry Beautyman, and might have been behind a minute later when Dan Moss jinked through and was denied by a superb block by Rowe.

Midway through the second half, after both sides had made changes, it was the visitors who scored the first goal on the ground this season as a clearance was returned quickly back in to the Sutton penalty area and Padraig Amond survived offside appeals to shoot past Brad House.

U's made more changes with a quarter of an hour to go, which included Roman Charles-Cook coming on wearing Korboa's shirt from last season while its previous owner was still on the pitch, and should have equalised with eight minutes to go when Kwame Thomas headed Rob Milsom's deep corner down but Beautyman blazed over the bar from close range and Woking held on to inflict U's first defeat of the pre-season programme.

Sutton: J Rose(sub B House 60), J Kizzi(sub R Charles-Cook 76), S Hart(sub R Milsom 76), C Rowe(sub L John 76), B Goodliffe(sub M Ridley H-T), C Eastmond(sub J Barden H-T) (sub H Beautyman 55), L Gambin (sub E Boldewijn 76), A Smith, O Bugiel (sub K Thomas 60), D Wilson(sub triallist 60), J Neufville(sub W Randall 76).

Match Reports