Kingstonian 2-0 Woking
K'S PLAY THEIR CARDS RIGHT

Two goals in the first half sealed victory for Kingstonian as they played potentially their hardest game so far of the summer schedule.

But with Woking choosing to give a number of trialists a run-out - some of whom will not feature when the club resumes the coming season in the Blue Square South after a stay of almost 20 years at the pinnacle of the non-league pyramid - and the home side following suit in the second half the completive edge to the match fizzled out after half time.

Inevitably Bobby Traynor was on the score sheet and after only 15 minutes, picking up a looping cross from Lewis Cook to side-foot it into the back of the net from the right. Nine minutes later, poacher became provider after another long cross, albeit lower from Simon Huckle, found him and then a short pass to the advancing Carl Wilson-Denis saw the visitors' rearguard breached.

Photo: Chris Hatton - Kingstonian FC

Photo: Chris Hatton - Kingstonian FC

It could have been more too as within a minute of the game starting Liam Collins scooped the ball over the bar from within the area. However Woking's class began to turn things around with a headed effort from Harry Arter went over in the eighth minute followed by Guiseppe Sole then beating Luke Garrard, only for Francis Duku to shepherd the ball away and behind to the left.

However a goal was not too long in coming and Traynor duly obliged on the quarter hour. Within minutes both sides then had a chance with Sole whistling the ball over from outside the box followed by Tommy Williams inadvertently blocking a shot on goal in the area from Cook.

Photo: Chris Hatton - Kingstonian FC

However this was soon forgotten as Wilson-Denis doubled the scoreline soon after. Cook then sent a free kick 25 yards out which went just past the diving Ross Worner and his far post. And then with Wilson-Denis on the ground injured, Tommy Williams tried a speculative shot from 20 yards which cleared the bar just.

Once again it was Sole who really only threatened Garrard's goal. A free kick 25 yards out hit a defender on the head before bouncing up and hit the top of the net. The resulting corner went wide.

The second half saw a complete change of players for Woking, with only Worner remaining after the half time break. K's manager Alan Dowson held off for another seven minutes before bringing on Tom Dilloway, Rob Sheridan and Luke Naughton, before proceeding to bring on another six players in the next 10 minutes.

In fact it was not until the latter stages of the game that any move was made towards any goal. It came from Woking's Delayno Samuel's shot going over the bar. This was quickly followed by a header from Joe McNerny.

At the other end Ks saw a double save from Worner, with Dilloway denied and then a great reaction save from Christian Jolley.

One more Woking substitution saw Samuel off after only 35 minutes play, before McNerny had one more crack at the goal, only to see the ball go over.

Then in the dying minutes Worner dropped an easy shot but Scott Simpson was unable to do anything about it.

Whilst Kingstonian were deserved winners here, creating more of the chances and playing better; it was inevitable - even more than a Traynor goal - that the revolving door of players onto the pitch would take its toll on the game. It only really settled down some time after the last exodus of players to the dugout. However for the managers of both teams it would have been a useful exercise in comparing players for the new season.