Woking suffered a 2-1 defeat to Portsmouth in their opening pre-season friendly on 15 July 2026, with Thomas Waddingham’s 55th-minute strike proving the difference. The National League side, who sit 10th in the table with 63 points from 46 games, have now lost their last two matches after a 0-1 loss to FC Halifax Town on 25 April 2026. A crowd of 1,012 watched the friendly at Kingfield Stadium, including 272 Pompey fans.
What happened at Kingfield?
Colby Bishop put Portsmouth ahead on 28 minutes, finishing John Swift’s clever rabona cross at the far post. Harrison Sohna equalised seven minutes later, curling a right-footed effort inside the far post past Nicolas Schmid. Waddingham, Portsmouth’s top scorer in the 2025 pre-season with four goals, restored the lead in the 55th minute after a swift interchange with Brandon Downey. His left-footed finish from inside the box beat Woking goalkeeper Chinwike Okoli, who could only watch as the ball nestled in the top corner.
The visitors dominated much of the first half, with Bishop nearly opening the scoring inside four minutes when teed up for a close-range shot. Okoli’s last-ditch block forced a corner and denied the visitors. Woking’s best chance fell to Sohna on 15 minutes, but Schmid’s reflex save kept the score level at the break. Portsmouth, captained by Bishop, led 1-1 at half-time after Swift’s 28th-minute pass set up the opener.
Why it matters for Woking
Woking’s recent form sits at two wins, one draw, and two losses in their last five games, with the defeat extending their winless run to two matches. The Cards have now conceded 54 goals this season and sit 45 points behind league leaders York. Their attack has netted 69 times, but defensive lapses continue to cost them. John Mousinho’s side used 22 players in the friendly, with summer signings Odin Bailey and Eoin Kenny making their first appearances. Bailey nearly added a second-half goal himself, rattling the bar from outside the box.
The defeat follows a 0-1 loss to FC Halifax Town on 25 April 2026, a result that left Woking in the lower mid-table. The side’s 16 wins, 15 draws, and 15 losses have them 10th in the National League, with just 63 points from 46 games. Their recent form reads LWDWD, with the loss to Portsmouth extending their winless streak.
What comes next?
Woking’s pre-season continues as they look to address defensive frailties ahead of their National League campaign. Mousinho’s side will hope to build on the attacking promise shown in the friendly, with Waddingham’s goal providing a timely reminder of their potential. The Cards’ next steps will be crucial as they aim to steady a ship that has leaked goals in recent weeks. With the league campaign looming, every point will matter-especially after back-to-back defeats.
Woking’s next friendly is yet to be confirmed, but their focus remains on shoring up the defence and finding consistency. The defeat to Portsmouth serves as a wake-up call, with the side now under pressure to turn performances around before the league restarts.
