Jacob Greenwood

Thanks to a brilliant performance in Chester we now have our first three points on the board and we even scored a few goals!

Woking now return to Kingfield for the visit of newly promoted Welling United who recently took over as the new champions of the Conference South. We spoke to Mark Doig (@MarkDoigFC) to find out the latest at Park View Road.

Hi Mark,

First of all welcome to the Conference Premier. You’ve had somewhat of a baptism of fire playing Wrexham, Cambridge and Grimsby in your first three games. Despite the difficult start on paper, you’ve taken four points from those three games, you must be delighted?

It’s a promising start. After conceding a late winner at Wrexham we needed to get something out of the two home games, even if they were against full time clubs. The game against Cambridge was one of those rare games that I went home saying I enjoyed, even though Welling didn’t win (drew 2-2).

The Grimsby game was different but getting the first win was crucial and it was deserved.

After a very successful campaign last year, which saw you claim the Conference South title, are your realistic ambitions just to establish yourself in the league this season?

Probably, although a cup run to go with it would be good.

Do you look at how Woking and Dartford performed last year and take hope from that?

Not just those two. Any part time team who have established themselves in the Premier without splashing huge amounts of cash can give hope to others.

You’ve become Woking’s bogey side over the past few years including a victory at Kingfield in the FA Trophy last season, has Jamie Day got Garry Hill worked out?!

We lost at Kingfield two seasons ago so that would suggest Welling are not Woking’s bogey team. The trophy game last season and the 5-0 two years before that are the only times I remember us winning at Woking since we were last in the Conference.

A lot of Woking fans will be familiar with Loick Pires, how has he returned on his returned to Park View Road and who else should we be keeping an eye out for on Saturday?

I’m not sure that Loick Pires will start on Saturday. Welling’s success last season was built on a team ethos rather than star players however I’m looking forward to seeing how new signing Harry Beautyman fits in. He is the first player for whom Welling have paid a fee for a long time.

Last of all, what is your score prediction?

It’s a tough one to call. Until the league has started to take shape, I think I’ll back out of making any predictions.

Photo by David Holmes. The full set can be found at wokingfc.co.uk