Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 6th October 2025
Wednesday 8th October
12:00 – Woking U19 (EDS) v Boreham Wood: National League Academy – South Division
Westfield FC, Woking Park
12:00 – Chatham v Woking U18; National League Alliance – Division F
Maidstone Road Sports Ground, Bourneville Avenue, Chatham ME4 6LR
19:45 – Bromley v Woking U18: Suburban Football League – Premier Division
Hayes Lane, Bromley BR2 9EF
Thursday 9th October
19:30 – Woking U17 v Horsham YMCA: Isthmian Youth League – Central Division
Knaphill FC, Redding Way
For up-to-date information on fixtures please refer to the Woking Football Club Academy ‘X’ page.
Information is also available on the fulltime.thefa.com website.
The Academy website is wokingcitc.org
Match Reports and Team Details – Week commencing 29th September 2025
Wednesday 1st October
Dartford U19 5 – 3 Woking U19 (EDS); National League Academy – South Division
Princes Park, Dartford
Report from Holly Porter
A third consecutive away game saw six changes made to the starting XI, including a first appearance of the season for Cockwell, a maiden start for Solecki, and a new face in the backline as Wilson partnered the returning Rangel. After his debut goal against Maidenhead, Mpoy earned a start as the no.9 in place of the absent Trickett, and Hudson-Odoi returned to the squad after his opening day injury.
A quick start from Dartford saw Cockwell forced into a save with his feet in just the 2nd minute. Woking also created some strong chances before the opener, most notably with Mpoy’s 20th-minute edge-of-the-area effort, which dragged just wide.
The opener fell for the hosts just a minute later, after possession was cheaply given away, and an effort from outside the box simply nestled into the bottom corner. Despite going a goal down, the visitors did manage to create a number of chances in the moments that followed.
In the 24th minute, a dangerous delivery from Parkes looped towards Rangel at the back post, but the first contact from Dartford eliminated his threat. The ball bounced awkwardly for Mpoy on the follow-up, which allowed for a second, more effective clearance from the hosts.
Solecki connected well with Hayati’s cross in the 33rd minute, but the header flew over the bar, and Parkes fired another set-piece into the goalmouth moments after, but this time the keeper was able to collect.
Dartford’s attacking threat remained ever-present, and the 42nd minute saw the advantage doubled for the hosts, with the ball being picked up on the edge of the area, smashed against the inside of the post, and into the back of the net to increase Woking’s half-time deficit.
Half-time: Dartford 2 – 0 Woking
An early second-half goal increased the uphill battle, with a 50th-minute effort from the edge of the penalty area seemingly catching the visitors off-guard, flying into the net, leaving Cockwell only to watch.
In the 54th minute, immediate impact from substitute Dryer saw him thread a ball through to Mpoy, whose run split the defence, and allowed him to slot back across goal, getting one back for the Cards.
As the game entered the final 30 minutes, strong chances for both sides threatened both keepers. Firstly, a 60th-minute corner from Dartford dropped at the back post, with the touch falling narrowly wide.
Three minutes later, Boxall tried to squeeze an effort in at the near post, but the Dartford no.1 did well to get across and hold on to the skipper’s effort.
The three-goal lead was restored by Dartford in the 72nd minute, with a ball which was spilt in the box, allowing a follow-up shot to be buried, with Cockwell taking a knock to the shoulder in the affair, triggering Verga’s off-the-bench appearance.
A fifth and final goal for Dartford shortly followed, with a 76th-minute ball delivered to the back-post being touched in.
Woking didn’t stop the hunt, and an almost identical pass from Dryer split the defence once again, with Mpoy’s 82nd-minute run seeing him through on goal. This time, he took a couple of touches before firing home to score his 3rd in 2 fixtures.
Following his two assists, Dryer got his name back on the scoresheet after a free-kick fell initially to Mpoy, who didn’t get the connection that he wanted, but the follow-up from Dryer made no mistake, and the substitute fired home in the 88th minute.
A moment of controversy followed, as Woking went through on goal in the 3rd minute of injury time, but the whistle had gone before the net was rifled, which pulled the ball back for an edge-of-the-area free-kick. Dryer’s effort took a deflection, which fell to Boxall, but the captain’s shot dragged wide, thus meaning the result ended 5-3.
Reflecting on the game, Academy Manager Matt Winter said: “It’s a game that we probably didn’t deserve to get anything out of in the end, and quite difficult to take. The performance was really lacking from the get-go and, ultimately, if you concede 5 goals anywhere, you’re not going to take any points home”.
Woking: Sam Cockwell (Mikey Verga 73’), Bailey Cotton, Sonny Parkes, Cameron McQueen, Chris Rangel, Kemall Wilson, Lucas Boxall ©, Josh Solecki, Malachy Mpoy, Kooshan Hayati (Tom Dryer 51’), Jayden Hudson-Odoi (Jack Lewis 51’). Unused substitutes: Freddie Greenstreet, Yousef Mezenner.
Goalscorers: Malachy Mpoy 54’, 82’ & Tom Dryer 88’.
Merstham U18 4 – 1 Woking U18; FA Youth Cup Second Qualifying Round
Merstham FC, The Hybrid Fitness Stadium, Weldon Way, Merstham
Report from Holly Porter
A tough draw in the second qualifying round saw Woking’s 2nd years enter the FA Youth Cup competition with a trip to face Merstham.
A good start from Woking saw a number of chances to go ahead in the opening 10 minutes. The 4th minute saw Christophers strike an effort well, with the shot from the edge of the box taking a deflection before smashing the crossbar. Just a minute later, Christophers’ cross found Vally in the box, but a crucial block from the home defence denied his effort.
The biggest chance of the opening 10 minutes fell to Akinwalere in the 7th minute, who was found isolated at the back post by Boyle’s cross. A touch, however, made it awkward for Akinwalere, and the eventual shot fell wide.
Despite a number of early chances for the young Cards, it was the hosts who struck first, with a free-kick that wasn’t properly cleared, leaving the ball bouncing around in the box, allowing a close-range follow-up shot to be well-taken in the 17th minute.
In almost the perfect response from the visitors, Page won the ball back in the Merstham half and drove goalward, but rather than taking the shot himself, he attempted to square the ball, which was then cut out by the recovering defence.
The 21st minute saw a quick move forward from Merstham, to which they capitalised on by powering a ball into the net on Lacey’s right. Just minutes later, a third seemed certain for the hosts, but Lacey did excellently well to get across to his right and push the ball back out before it rolled into the bottom corner.
Vally led the press from the front and did well to regain possession on the corner flag in the 41st minute, which sparked hope of getting one back before the break. His drive into the box looked promising, but the final shot was blocked in a continued strong defensive display from Merstham.
Half-time: Merstham 2 – 0 Woking
A quick move forward after the restart saw Lacey called into early second-half action. A dangerous ball over the top fell nicely through to Merstham, with Lacey of his line to meet the effort in a good block.
It did not take long, however, for Merstham to get their third, with an excellent edge-of-the-area free-kick which curled into the inside side netting in the 50th minute.
A couple of chances in quick succession followed for the cards, firstly with Malhotra’s free-kick into the goalmouth, with the 55th-minute resulting header going wide. Just a minute later, Akinwalere’s drive into the box saw him attempt to force the ball into the net at the near post, but the keeper was equal to the effort. Vally continued his pursuit forward throughout much of the second half, and in the 61st minute was brought down in the box, triggering penalty appeals. Play, however, was not stopped, and any penalty shouts were waved away.
Woking were able to get one back, courtesy of Page’s thunderous effort, which slotted low into the net in the 80th minute, but it only took the hosts 6 minutes to restore their three-goal advantage. A dangerous delivery was well-connected with, turned in from close range to cement Merstham’s place in the next round.
After the affair, Academy Manager Matt Winter stated: “I’m really, really proud of the boys, we knew how tough a test it would be […] We did a lot right, and that was the frustrating thing at half-time. Our shape was excellent, we forced them to change, and we did really well in those moments”. “I’m massively proud. The way that our boys have represented the football club tonight, and in the build-up to this game, has been excellent”.
Woking: Jools Lacey, Louie Boyle © (Brian Rai 84’), Joel Jennison-Leppa, Amario Malhotra (Frankie Bushby 68’), Oliver Rigby, Dillan Davies, Jack Tricker (Calum Mathieson 58’), Leo Christophers, Jalil Page, Hayden Vally (Joe Frawley 90+5’), Seyi Akinwalere (Timothy Francis 78’). Unused substitutes: James Moore (GK), Thomas Ward.
Goalscorer: Jalil Page 80’.
Saturday 4th October
Metropolitan Police Reserves 4 – 4 Woking U18; Suburban Football League – Premier Division
Imber Court, Ember Lane
Woking: James Moore, Louie Boyle (Joel Jennison-Leppa 8, Timothy Francis 80), Thomas Ward, Dillan Davies, Joe Frawley, Amario Malhotra, Leo Christophers, Frankie Bushby, Hayden Vally, Jalil Page, Calum Mathieson (Jack Tricker 70).
Goalscorers: Page x3, Mathieson.
Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch
Tuesday 30th September
Tom Dryer, Midfield, EDS – Westfield: Played the first 71 minutes of the 4 – 1 victory over Harrow Borough in the Isthmian League South Central Division (Step 4). Once again Tom was to the fore. He nearly gave Westfield the lead on 20 minutes, the referee rather surprisingly playing on after Tom had rounded the ‘keeper and was tripped before he could tap home. But he was not to be denied two minutes later, a fine dinked finish finding the top corner. The scoring had been completed when Tom was replaced, a game with the EDS to come the next day.
Luke Staight, Midfield, EDS – Broadbridge Heath: Played the full game in the 4 – 2 victory over East Grinstead Town in the Velocity (League, Alan Turvey Trophy) Cup Second Round.
Saturday 4th October
Tom Dryer, Midfield, EDS – Westfield: Played the first 82 minutes of the 1 – 2 defeat to Brentwood Town in the FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round. Tom gave Westfield the lead on 32 minutes, slamming the ball home when the ball fell to him after a goalmouth scramble, but two second half goals saw Brentwood through to the next round.
Jack Lewis, Defender, EDS – Fleet Town: Was an unused substitute for the 2 – 1 victory at Camberley Town in the Combined Counties Premier Division South (Step 5).
Sonny Parkes, Defender, EDS – Hayes & Yeading United: Was an unused substitute in the 0 – 0 draw with Walton & Hersham in the FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round. Walton & Hersham won 4 – 3 on penalties.
Luke Staight, Midfield, EDS – Broadbridge Heath: Played the full game in the 1 – 3 defeat to Billericay Town in the FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round.
Sunday 5th October
Joden Trickett, Forward, EDS – Ascot United: Was not in the squad for the 1 – 2 defeat at Bognor Regis Town in the Isthmian League South Central Division (Step 4).
League fixture (home) details for the 2025/26 season
EDS, National League Under 19 Academy South Division. Midweek, daytime, at either Westfield Football Club or Woking College.
Woking play in the Premier Division of the Suburban Football League. Whilst there is not an age limit for this League most teams view it as a predominantly youth league, and Woking field a team based on second years, with some first years, and some from the EDS. Knaphill FC, 19:30, Thursday.
The National League structure also offers Woking a place in Division F of their Alliance Leagues. This team is largely made up of second years, with opportunities for ‘progressing’ first years. Woking College, Wednesday, daytime.
Woking continue in the Central Division of the Isthmian League Youth system. The league is for under 18s, although in recent seasons Woking have fielded a team largely made up of first years. Knaphill FC, 19:30, Thursday.
