Academy Bulletin | U18s Continue Winning Start

The Under 18s continued their fine start to the season last week with a confident victory away to Bracknell Town.

Upcoming Fixtures - W/C 6th November

Wednesday 8th November

11:00 - Woking U17 vs. Bromley U17
Woking College

12:30 - Oxford City U19 vs. Woking U19
Marsh Lane

Thursday 9th November

19:30 - Woking U18 vs. Raynes Park Vale U18
Knaphill FC

Saturday 11th November

15:00 - Harrow Borough U23 vs. Woking U23
Harrow Borough FC

Match Reports and Results - W/C 30th October

1st November, National League U19 Alliance - Division E
Hertford Town Whites 2 Woking 3; Hertingfordbury Park

Starting XI: Mikey Verga, Sean Bull, Ben Smith, Aidy Silverstein, James Orton, Tommy Seale, Roshaun Cooper, Ollie Saword, Saadiq Bangura-Kerr, Stefan Van Wijngaarden, Jack Bashford

Substitutes: Bob Honey (GK), Jayden Smith, Kylian Akoutey, Jiyah Kapotwe.

Woking Goals: Van Wijngaarden, Bashford, Saword.

3rd November, Pitching In Isthmian Football League - Youth West Division
Bracknell Town 1 Woking 3; The SB Stadium, Bottom Meadow, Sandhurst

On an autumnal night, with various firework displays an amusing distraction, Woking made it 5 wins out of 5 as they stretched their lead at the top of the table.

Woking’s biggest difficulty in this division could be their own complacency, and after 5 minutes Aidy Silverstein made an uncharacteristic mistake, given his excellent play in the previous game, and having been caught in possession needed Harrison Stevens to provide cover.

This promising start for Bracknell soon turned to a more familiar pattern of play. Woking’s domination was yielding chances and they took the lead after 20 minutes. Stanley Kyle closing down Bracknell as they tried to play out from the back, with Tom Dryer the beneficiary providing a neat finish.

Woking were dominant in stopping Bracknell from playing out, and controlled in midfield with Ellis Byrne and Lucas Boxall a most effective partnership. Woking continued to press, with Liam Manby’s fine shot from 25 yards forcing a tip on to the bar from Nicolo Tero in the Bracknell goal.

With more quality Bracknell may have punished Woking’s rare mistakes, Josu Smith under hitting his attempted lob straight at Harry White after Liam Van Der Ross had missed his kick.

Woking’s second came on 40 minutes, Bracknell failing to clear Ellis Byrne’s corner, and Stanley Kyle passing the ball calmly in to the bottom corner from just inside the area. Although there was a hint of a misjudgement from Tero, who may have left a ball he thought was going wide.

Rather against the run of play, Bracknell got one back shortly before half-time, Archie Bulman (I think, Bracknell had two number 4s!), dribbling skilfully through Woking’s midfield and Callum Beehyam taking the chance well.

Half-time: Bracknell Town 1 Woking 2

Play resumed with Woking once again pressing forwards but their momentum was broken by a five-minute delay to play around the hour mark. A rare Bracknell threat in Woking’s area led to a scramble which saw White injured and needing treatment, before being replaced as a precaution against any possible concussion - Bob Honey the more than capable replacement.

The re-start saw Bracknell playing a more prominent part, and starting to believe they may be able to get the equaliser, with Van Der Ross booked when his late challenge thwarted one promising Bracknell move. But their resurgence was not to last long.

Woking sealed the victory on 73 minutes, with another Kyle goal. Harily Taggart’s control let him down and Kyle, running in on goal, finished emphatically. More Woking chances came and went, and with them the opportunity for a much greater scoreline.

Apart from the brief spell when Woking nearly let Bracknell back in to the game this was a relatively straightforward victory, with Woking having the better quality in both general play, and the finishing of goalscoring opportunities.

Bracknell Starting XI: Nicolo Tero, Ethan Mosdell, Harry Pashley, Patrick Mair, Joshua McMenemy, Harily Taggart, Archie Bulman, Josu Smith ©, Lorenzo Prosdocimi, Ejiro Abbey, Callum Beehyam

Substitutes: Jacob Turner, Anton Watson, Jack Victca, Jake Hyde

Woking Starting XI: Harry White (Bob Honey 61’); Liam Van Der Ross, Harrison Stevens ©, Aidy Silverstein; Liam Manby, Lucas Boxall (Tommy Seale 63’), Ellis Byrne, Louis Pask (Jacob Farr 83’); Sam Brittain; Stanley Kyle, Tom Dryer

Substitutes: Harvey Brook, Byron Mitchell.

Referee: Richard Harris