Vincenti signs for Woking
Posted by sgmboro on 30/07/2009
Peter Vincenti has left the club to join Woking. The Cards have confirmed that the Jersey born midfielder/striker will join the Blue Square South club on a three month loan deal. It makes sense for all parties involved really. Although Westley gave Vincenti a new contract at the beginning of the summer, the former Millwall player doesn’t look likely to be in the first team plans at Broadhall Way. Woking need players and in Vincenti they’ve got someone who is always 100% committed. He may just find his level down there.
We’ve seen flashes of PV’s potential in the 18 months or so he has been here. Fantastic goals against Woking and Crawley stand out, while late winner’s against Kettering and Ebbsfleet in the FA Trophy Semi-Final also seem to be Vincenti’s trademark. Since Peter Taylor signed him from Millwall he has become a sort of cult hero at Broadhall Way. The supporters admired his professionalism in handling being told by Westley he wasn’t needed and the way he forced himself back into the first team, ending the season starting the Trophy Final at Wembley. However, for all his commitment, PV isn’t the most technically gifted of players. He also lacks a bit positionally and may suit BSS football better.
Funnily enough his first game as a contracted Woking player could be against Boro on Saturday when Graham Westley’s side travel to Kingfield for their last pre-season friendly. It’s amazing to think that the new season is just 9 days away. It doesn’t seem long ago at all we were celebrating winning the Trophy at Wembley against York. To be honest, this year’s pre-season has flown by. The first game against Chelmsford only seems like it happened yesterday, but it is now over two weeks ago. Boro seem to have had a more compact pre-season this year than in previous years, opting to play less friendlies. I wonder if that will have a positive effect on the team’s start to the new campaign?
Before the Woking game though there is a game on Friday night against Southend United at Broadhall Way. Boro will be looking to bounce back after 2 straight defeats and 3 games without a win. Of course results aren’t that important when it comes to pre-season friendlies, but the team will not want to go into the Tamworth game on the back of a run of defeats. Southend will also be looking to finish their pre-season campaign on a high. It’s the Shrimps’ last game before they open their League 1 season at home to Huddersfield Town.
Overall, it’s been a positive pre-season for Steve Tilson’s side. They began with 4 straight victories, although they were all against non-league teams. Two defeats followed against Ipswich Town and more disappointingly Dagenham & Redbridge. However, they bounced back with a 1-0 win in mid-week over scum Barnet. A late goal from Francis Laurent was enough to give the Essex side victory over their weaker opponents. I expect Southend to be at full strength tomorrow night. That may mean that Tilson hands debuts to new loan signings Matt Heath and former Boro loanee John White. Other familiar names to the BHW crowd will be another former Stevenage loanee in Lee Barnard and ex Woking striker Kevin Betsy.
Stevenage will be without Mitchell Cole, who was stretchered off in the 2-0 defeat by Peterborough United on Tuesday night. Cole is suspected to have broken a bone in his foot, although the club haven’t confirmed anything regarding his latest injury. It’s a disappointing blow for both Boro and Cole, but what Stevenage have this year is strength in depth and either Joel Byrom or Yemi Odubade look likely to profit from Cole’s absence. Other than Cole’s injury, Boro have had a healthy pre-season, so far! However, Graham Westley will not want any more names added to the Stevenage treatment room ahead of the Tamworth game next week. I expect Westley to put his first eleven out for the Southend game, before playing his ‘fringe’ players at Kingfield on Saturday.
Stevenage Squad
Ashley Bayes, Chris Day, Lawrie Wilson, Scott Laird, Ronnie Henry, Jon Ashton, Mark Roberts, Mark Albrighton, Eddie Odhiambo, Michael Bostwick, Stacy Long, Peter Vincenti, David Bridges, Chris Doyle, Darren Murphy, Andy Drury, Joel Byrom, Yemi Odubade, Jerome Anderson, Lee Boylan, Charlie Griffin, Chris Beardsley
Prediction: Boro 1-2 Southend
