OXFORD United suffered their first defeat in pre-season as they went down to John Goddard's header for a well-organised Woking.

The only goal of the game arrived ten minutes into the second half, when the lively forward put the finishing touch to a rapid counter-attack.

It came just after United's best chance of the game, when Ryan Taylor's close range header was well saved by goalkeeper Jake Cole.

At the other end his opposite number, Sam Slocombe, had to make several excellent stops to keep out a lively Woking side.

Taylor recovered from a minor groin problem, allowing Michael Appleton to name the same XI which began their tour match at SC Wiener Neustadt a week earlier.

But it was Woking who looked the brightest before the break and Slocombe had more to do in the first half than in the previous two friendly matches.

On 16 minutes he turned a stinging shot from Joe Jones round the post after Liam Sercombe was caught in possession.

The U's midfielder was quickly involved at the other end, racing forward to meet George Baldock's ball and sending in a cross on the run which an off-balance Alex MacDonald fired wide.

While United retained the ball well at times, openings came more easily for Woking.

Giuseppe Sole spun sharply before shooting weakly, before, on the half hour mark, Keiran Murtagh volleyed into the side netting at a corner.

Slocombe was fully extended six minutes later, flying to his left to keep out a fizzing drive from Chris Arthur.

Cole had less to do, although Taylor rose well just before the break to nod MacDonald's cross a fraction over.

The striker had a better chance two minutes after the restart, but Cole blocked well to save the header from Joe Skarz's cross.

The game began to open up and a goal duly arrived on 55 minutes - for the hosts.

Former U's striker Scott Rendell sent Jake Caprice clear and his cross was nodded in by Goddard.

It took another excellent save from Slocombe to prevent substitute Kouassi Evans making it 2-0 with 15 minutes remaining.

United pushed late on for an equaliser, but could not find a way through Woking's rearguard.

Woking: Cole (Hamann 62), Caprice, Arthur (Smith 62), Ricketts, Yakubu, Saah (Poku 62), Jones, Murtagh (Brown 62), Goddard, Sole (Banya 62), Rendell (Beccles 77).

Oxford Utd: Slocombe, Baldock, Mullins, Wright, Skarz, Roofe, Collins, Sercombe, MacDonald, Hylton, Taylor. Subs used: George (Taylor 64), Humphreys (MacDonald 80), Unused subs: Brown, Hawtin, Ashby, Grant, Cundy.

Referee: J Singh.

Attendance: 817.