Thomas Waddingham sends timely reminder to inspire Portsmouth win at Woking

Thomas Waddingham picked up where he left off last summer with another goal-scoring friendly performance.

As ever with the talented Australian, though, it’s about keeping him injury-free and available when the Championship campaign starts next month.

Waddingham was the Blues’ leading scorer in the 2025 pre-season with four goals - and it took him just 10 minutes to open his account this time around.

Among 11 half-time changes against Woking, the 21-year-old accepted Brandon Downey’s pass on 55 minutes and produced a smart left-footed finish into the far corner.

It proved to be the winner in a 2-1 success for John Mousinho’s men against Jermain Defoe’s National League outfit, watched by a crowd of 1,012, including 272 Pompey fans.

Earlier, Colby Bishop had handed the visitors a 28th-minute lead, converting John Swift’s clever pass.

However, Harrison Sohna levelled nine minutes later to ensure the scoreline was 1-1 entering at the break.

The second half would mark the introduction of summer signings Odin Bailey and Eoin Kenny, with the former hitting the bar with a shot from outside the box.

And it was another half-time change, Waddingham, who secured victory in their opening friendly as Mousinho utilised 22 players against the Cards.

The Blues were without 12 players, including new signing Rocco Shein, who on Monday night was confirmed as their third signing of the summer.

Others absent included Terry Devlin, Keshi Anderson, Josh Murphy, Franco Umeh, Ebou Adams and Makenzie Kirk.

However, they still managed to name a 22-man squad, bolstered by Academy graduates Chinedu Agu, Michael Ani and Nathaniel Chioma, plus second-year scholar Brandon Downey.

The likes of Regan Poole, Jordan Williams, Colby Bishop and John Swift started the first half, with Ibane Bowat featuring at left-back in the absence of Connor Ogilvie and Jacob Farrell.

They were skippered by Bishop, who had a great chance after four minutes to open the scoring when teed up for a right-footed shot from just inside the box.

However, Woking defender Chinwike Okoli flung himself at the ball to deflect it for a corner and avert the danger.

The hosts themselves had a golden opportunity on 15 minutes when Harrison Sohna was put clean through, yet his right-footed shot was saved by the feet of Nicolas Schmid as the Blues survived.

The deadlock was broken on 28 minutes when Swift produced a delightful rabona at the far post to tee up Bishop for a close-range finish to make it 1-0 to the Blues.

It was a touch of class from Swift, lighting up a dull first half, and the midfielder deserved the adulation which accompanied his pass.

Woking responded by going straight up the other end, with Sean Adarkwa drawing a smart save from Schmid at the far post, although the striker should, in truth, have finished it.

However, it was 1-1 on 37 minutes when Sohna’s strike from just outside the box crept inside the right-hand post, past Schmid’s dive.

That remained the scoreline until half-time, with Mousinho subsequently making 11 substitutions, which had been pre-arranged.

The Blues’ second-half team was captained by Marlon Pack and also included Hayden Matthews, Conor Shaughnessy, Adrian Segecic and Josh Knight.

There was also the first opportunity to catch a glimpse of new signings Bailey and Kenny in action, while Chioma filled in at left-back.

On 49 minutes, Segecic’s free-kick from the left was met by Matthews, who, despite having a free header in a hugely-promising position, couldn’t connect properly and it was easily cleared.

Pompey regained their lead on 55 minutes in a move started by Knight from right-back.

He pushed the ball inside to Downey coming in from the left, and he slipped in Waddingham, who held off his man before firing a smart left-footed finish into the far corner of the net.

The Blues were well in control and, on 68 minutes, should have increased their lead when Matthews’ ball into the right channel set Kenny away.

He squared to Segecic, only for the Australian to surprisingly drag a left-footed shot wide of the target when faced with just the goalkeeper to beat.

There was agony for Bailey on 73 minutes when Woking had trouble keeping out a sustained Pompey attack, with the newcomer pouncing on a loose ball to crash a right-footed shot from outside the box against the bar.