Match Day Thread Pre-Season Friendly: Woking 2 Pompey XI 4

Brett Pitman and Oli Hawkins both net twice in final friendly

Brett Pitman and Oli Hawkins both bagged a brace, as Pompey wrapped up their pre-season schedule with a comfortable win at Woking.

The former converted an early penalty he had won himself and soon doubled the lead from a free-kick.

It was Hawkins’ first action of the summer and the striker added a goal in each half, while Manny Parry and Moussa Dierra both netted for the National League hosts.

There were plenty of first team players involved, with Hawkins and James Bolton both returning from injury.

The heavy rain had subsided by the time kick-off came around and Pompey took an almost immediate lead.

Moussa Dierra brought down PITMAN inside the box, with the skipper dusting himself down to coolly slot home.

It was a bright start from the Blues and Ben Close fired over following a neat and patient passing move.

Hawkins then raced onto a long pass from Haji Mnoga and was cleaned out by Cards keeper Sam Howes.

Referee Charles Breakspear might have reached for a red card in a competitive fixture, but instead stuck with awarding a free-kick.

But there was further punishment for Woking, with PITMAN drilling a 20-yard shot into the bottom corner.

And the visitors found themselves three goals ahead with just 19 minutes on the clock after Andy Cannon had done well to win possession.

The ball was eventually played out to Bolton on the right and he drilled a low cross into the box, with HAWKINS sliding in to score.

Chances started to dry up following that early goal flurry, although Matt Casey did well to block Dave Tarpay’s effort.

But Woking reduced their deficit just before the break after a Josh Casey free-kick had caused chaos in the Blues box.

The ball was stabbed towards goal and Alex Bass made a smart save, with Parry following up to convert from close range.

Half Time: Woking 1 Pompey 3

Pitman had a cheeky attempt to secure a hat-trick straight from the kick-off, with his effort dipping over the bar.

Pompey’s skipper then thought he should have had another penalty after hitting the turf when trying to reach Brandon Haunstrup’s cross, although this time his appeals fell on deaf ears.

There were not an abundance of clear-cut openings, but Mnoga made a well-timed challenge to deny Jake Hyde from inside the box.

The game continued to drift along, with a number of substitutions for the hosts not doing anything to help the flow.

Pompey were looking comfortable in possession, though, and content to pass the ball around without providing much of a threat.

Hawkins did send a dangerous ball across the face of goal on 78 minutes, but neither Mnoga or Josh Flint could get on the end of it.

Cannon then teed-up Pitman for a blocked shot, with the midfielder collecting the loose ball and being frustrated in his attempts to find space for a shot.

The Blues soon managed to add a fourth goal of the evening, however, with HAWKINS sliding in at the back post to convert Pitman’s pass.

But it was Woking who had the final say, as Dierra glanced home Max Kretzschmar’s corner at the near post for a consolation.

Woking (3-4-1-2): Howes (Ross 46); Parry, Gerring (Trialist 65), Dierra; Cook (Collier 46), Donnellan (Trialist 65), Poku (Kretzschmar 46), Casey (c); Ferdinand; Tarpey (Trialist 65), Hyde (Hodges 79)
Goals: Parry 45, Dierra 89
Subs not used: Skinner, Morrison

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Alex Bass; James Bolton, Haji Mnoga, Matt Casey, Brandon Haunstrup; Andy Cannon, Ben Close; Richard Brindley, Brett Pitman (c), Aiden Flint (Leon Maloney 88); Oli Hawkins
Goals: Brett Pitman 3 (pen), 14, Oli Hawkins 19, 83
Subs not used: Leon Pitman, Harry Kavanagh, Joe Hancott, Ethan Robb, Alfie Stanley

Referee: Charles Breakspear

Attendance: 1,603 (393 away fans)

 

Match Highlights:-

http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/994763526?-11209:804