Woking vs Portsmouth

Woking started brightly. Ashley Clarke forced a deflection wide inside five minutes after being found by Sean Adarkwa, and Harrison Sohna was denied one-on-one by Portsmouth goalkeeper Lukas Schmid in the 14th minute.

Against the run of play, Portsmouth took the lead in the 28th minute. A delivery into the box was met first-time by Colby Bishop, whose close-range volley beat Will Jaaskelainen.

Woking responded within nine minutes. Harrison Sohna collected the ball 20 yards out and arrowed a low strike into the bottom corner — his second goal in as many pre-season games after scoring against Sholing on 11 July.

The sides went in level at 1-1.

Portsmouth made a full XI change at half-time, and the fresh legs told quickly. Thomas Waddingham slotted into the bottom corner in the 55th minute to restore the visitors' lead. Woking then made nine substitutions of their own on the hour mark — only Timi Odusina and Caleb Richards staying on.

Chances came at both ends in the final half-hour. Woking substitute Josh Ayres dragged wide, Portsmouth rattled the crossbar from range, and Tariq Hinds forced a stoppage-time save from Portsmouth goalkeeper Killip. The corner was gathered, and Pompey held on.

Portsmouth's mass half-time change injected pace and shape that Woking's defence struggled to track. Waddingham's goal arrived within ten minutes of the restart — the Championship side's movement sharper, their passing crisper. Woking's delayed response (nine subs on 61 minutes) came too late to stem the tide.

Colby Bishop (Portsmouth) — took his one real chance with a crisp volley and led the line effectively before being withdrawn at half-time. Still the man Pompey's attack revolves around.

Harrison Sohna (Woking) — the standout home player. Won the ball in midfield, drove forward, and scored a composed finish from distance. His energy caused problems for Pompey's first-half XI.

Thomas Waddingham (Portsmouth) — the 55th-minute winner was a proper striker's finish: calm, precise, decisive. A strong statement for more minutes this season.

Will Jaaskelainen / Craig Ross (Woking) — the two goalkeepers shared the game and neither could be faulted on the goals. Ross made a smart save to keep it 2-1 late on.

The match page shows a flurry of substitutions (10 for Woking, 0 for Portsmouth in the official record, though Portsmouth changed all 11 at half-time). The first half was competitive — Woking had the better chances before Bishop's opener, and Sohna's equaliser was deserved. The second half tilted toward Pompey's fresh legs. Woking's 1.5 shots on target from open play underscores their first-half threat, while Portsmouth's two goals came from just three first-half chances and a rapid second-half breakthrough.

For Portsmouth, this is a functional start to pre-season under John Mousinho — a win, game time for 22 players, and no injuries reported. The Championship season begins in August, and these minutes are about building fitness and sharpness.

For Woking and Jermain Defoe, a narrow loss to a side two divisions higher is respectable. The former England striker, appointed in April 2026, has his National League side organised and competitive. Their next pre-season fixture is against Forest Green Rovers on 19 July. Portsmouth face neighbours Havant & Waterlooville on 16 July.

A textbook pre-season friendly: competitive without being frantic, packed with substitutions, and decided by the Championship side's superior depth. Woking's first-half performance offered genuine encouragement for the National League campaign ahead. Portsmouth got the win and the run-out they needed.