Academy Bulletin | Mixed penalty shootout results

Academy Bulletin as of 12th January 2024

Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 15th January 2024

Wednesday 17th January

11.30 – Woking U17 v Barking U17, National League U19 Alliance – Division E

Woking College, Rydens Way

14:00 – Eastleigh U19 v Woking U19, National League U19 Alliance – Academy South Division

Ganger Farm Sports Park, Eastleigh

Thursday 18th January

19:45 – Badshot Lea Colts U18 v Woking U18, Surrey Youth Midweek County Cup, 2nd Round

Badshot Lea FC

Saturday 20th January

15:00 – Hartley Wintney U23 v Woking U23, Suburban Football League – Premier Division

Hartley Wintney Memorial Ground, Green Lane



Match Reports – Week commencing Monday 8th January

Monday 8th January, Leatherhead U18 2 - 2 Woking U18; Penalties, Leatherhead 3 - 5 Woking

Isthmian Youth League Cup, Quarter-Final; River Lane, Leatherhead

Having beaten Carshalton Athletic, Glebe, and Walton & Hersham, Woking now faced Leatherhead, from the Central Division. Woking welcomed back Charlie Sweeney in to central midfield, following his absence with the dislocated knee he suffered at Charlton in early December.

Leatherhead had failed to take their best chance of the early exchanges, with Ryley Merrett narrowly missing the target with a well-taken free-kick, when Woking took the lead on 22 minutes. Lucas Boxall winning the ball in midfield and teeing up Ellis Byrne to hit a sweet 30+ yard lob over the stranded Adam Withers in the Leatherhead goal.

The next significant action unfortunately led to a bad injury for Ellis Byrne. As he ran with the ball towards his opponent’s penalty area, he was brought down by a challenge that earnt a yellow card. After receiving treatment Ellis left the field of play with what an X-ray would reveal to be a broken fibula. We wish Ellis a speedy, and complete, recovery.

Harrison Stevens took over as Captain, and with Byron Mitchell coming on to replace Byrne, and Lucas Boxall taking a deeper midfield role, play got back under way. There were opportunities, a number from free-kicks, at both ends, before Leatherhead had their equaliser shortly before half-time. There didn’t appear to be any real danger as Merrett received the ball outside the corner of the Woking penalty area, but his cross-shot found its way over Mikey Verga and in to the net.

Half-time: Leatherhead 1 – 1 Woking

The open nature of the game, helped throughout by very good refereeing, continued and Stefan Van Wijngaarden, who had been on Woking’s books, gave Leatherhead the lead on 53 minutes. Sweeney was unfortunate to see his interception of an opposition pass play Van Wijngaarden in on goal, and he took the chance well, firing low past Verga.

Both sides continued to create chances, Woking pressing for an equaliser, and Leatherhead counter-attacking purposefully. It was starting to look as if Leatherhead would see out the victory, but there was to be another twist, unfortunately through an injury to Leatherhead’s Morgan Conroy. An 80th minute corner saw Conroy challenging for the ball but requiring lengthy treatment as a consequence. He was, thankfully, able to walk from the field of play, but visibly appeared to be suffering from concussion.

In the time added on for the treatment Woking were able to draw level. Stanley Kyle’s close dribbling skills drawing a foul challenge and earning a penalty. And Byron Mitchell making no mistake from the spot. There was still time for further half-chances, but the most significant action in the closing stages was the introduction of Harry White in the Woking goal, shortly before the final whistle brought us to penalties to decide who would progress to the semi-finals.

Woking went first and would go on to complete a perfect set of 5 confidently and well taken penalties. Harry White got fingertips to Leatherhead’s first penalty without saving it, but their second penalty saw White save well low to his left, ultimately giving Woking the victory.

Penalties:

Woking Leatherhead

Mitchell Y Searle Y

Kyle Y Neil-Gray X

Dryer Y North Y

Brook Y Hams Y

Boxall Y



With the remaining three quarter-finals still to be played, Woking await confirmation of their semi-final opponents.



Leatherhead: Adam Withers, Morgan Conroy (Leo Hams 87), Toby North, Tolga Dinc (Louie Prendergast 73), Archie Searle, Billy O’Donoghue ©, Bailey Neil-Gray, Ryley Merrett, Zach Vize, Ollie Hayman, Stefan Van Wijngaarden (Ciaron Lyle 62). Unused subs: Pharell Boateng, Jahneil Gilbert (GK).

Goals: Merrett 45, Van Wijngaarden 53.

Woking: Mikey Verga (Harry White 90+8); Alvaro Picon, Harrison Stevens, Harrison Wood, Jacob Farr; Charlie Sweeney (Ben Smith 79), Ellis Byrne © (Byron Mitchell 30), Lucas Boxall; Louis Pask (Harvey Brook 75), Stanley Kyle, Sam Brittain (Tom Dryer 75).

Goals: Byrne 22, Mitchell 90+6 pen.

Referee: Craig Griffiths.



10th January, Woking U19 P – P Oxford City U19

National League U19 Alliance – Academy South Division

Match Postponed, frozen pitch at Westfield FC, Woking Park



11th January, Woking U23 2 - 2 Flackwell Heath U23; Penalties, Woking 10 – 11 Flackwell Heath

Michael Bidmead Challenge (League) Cup, 1st Round

Knaphill FC, Redding Way

Whilst Woking’s players may have been disappointed with the final outcome, they did extremely well against a strong Development squad, including as many as 8 members of Flackwell Heath’s large first team squad. Indeed, if Flackwell had taken up the option of joining Woking in the Suburban Premier Division this season, they would surely have acquitted themselves well.


Flackwell Heath missed a good chance to take the lead as early as the first minute, Abdel El Jalaoui shooting wide when he would have expected to at least hit the target. And the pattern of Woking managing to keep the scores level continued as Heath had more of the play.


Marcus Mealing was leading the Heath attack well, but tried the Referee’s patience once too often and found himself taking ten minutes in the dissent ‘Sin Bin’ - Temporary Dismissals (for dissent) operating in a number of Surrey FA competitions. His absence coincided with Woking taking the lead on 39 minutes. Harry Newbould emphatically dispatching the penalty after Ben Mitchell had been tripped.


The lead lasted until Mealing returned to the field of play on 43 minutes, taking the opportunity to side foot home when Woking failed to clear and the ball fell to him 15 yards out.


Half-time: Woking 1 – 1 Flackwell Heath



Flackwell had already had one goal disallowed, the flag up for offside before Jamie Ayres netted, when Mealing’s 50th minute free kick gave Heath the lead. It looked like Louie Sullivan in the Woking goal may have it covered, but the shot from the edge of the area crept in to the bottom corner.



Woking were level within five minutes, with a goal of much endeavour. Owen Sims (the coach taking his place in the team to bring some experience) beating opponents as he dribbled out of defence, before putting Lui Edwards on the attack. Heath could not clear the danger and Ollie Mason was able to turn and shoot from the edge of the area in to the bottom corner.


Both teams continued to create chances, but the goalkeepers were equal to their opponents’ best efforts, with one tip-over save from Sullivan particularly eye-catching. The closest we came to a goal was Mealing hitting the crossbar from close to the half-way line, but a breakthrough was not forthcoming. With the game well in to injury-time Woking made a change to their goalkeeper in preparation for penalty kicks, Bob Honey taking his place between the sticks.


The penalties were taken at the clubhouse end, and all of the players to finish the game were to be involved. Flackwell Heath went first, and Mealing led the way with a ferocious drive. The penalties were of good quality, although Woking did have a chance to win the tie with their final penalty of the first five. Honey made a good save from Heath’s fifth penalty, diving low to his left to save from Ayres, but Matt Farrelly placed Woking’s fifth kick over the bar.


Flackwell Heath were perhaps the more clinical with their penalties, but successful conversions continued until all 22 players had taken their turns. Mealing made no mistake as his turn came around again, and this was to prove decisive, Lewis Myrtollari seeing his kick hit the outside of the post.



Penalties:



Flackwell Heath Woking



Mealing Y Myrtollari Y

McGuinness Y Sims Y

Avery Y Edwards Y

Essex Y Bailey Y

Ayres X Farrelly X

Beeton Y Mason Y

Fraser Y Rihoy Y

Russell Y Gardner Y

Costa Y Robertson Y

El Jalaoui Y Honey Y

Gibbs Y Murphy Y

Mealing Y Myrtollari X



Woking: Louie Sullivan (Bob Honey 90+4); Charlie Robertson, Tom Gardner, Owen Sims ©, Jayden Wynter (Bradley Murphy 57); Harry Newbould (Matt Farrelly 66), Ollie Mason, Alex Rihoy; Ben Mitchell (Lewis Myrtollari 80), Lui Edwards, Sam Wright (Kjay Bailey 84). Unused Sub: Keion Vassell.


Goals: Newbould 39 pen, Mason 54.



Flackwell Heath: Luke Gibbs; Ryan Avery, Sean McGuinness, Louis Endean (Charlie Beeton 75), Kieran Jordan (Nicholas Fraser 46); Jamie Ayres, Jamie Essex ©, Sam Coles (Evan Russell 68); Abdel El Jalaoui, Marcus Mealing, Jayden Moore (Francisco Costa 57).


Goals: Mealing 43, 50.



Referee: Neil Rolland.