Academy Bulletin | U17s stage late comeback

Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 26th February 2024

Wednesday 28th February

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

Westfield FC, Woking Park (Venue and Kick-off time subject to change on pitch inspection)

Thursday 29th February

19:30 – Woking U18 v Beaconsfield Town U18, Isthmian Football League – Youth West Division

Knaphill FC, Redding Way

Friday 1st March

11:30 – Woking U19 v Bromley U19, National League Alliance – Academy South

Woking College, Rydens Way

For up-to-date information on fixtures refer to the Woking Football Club Academy twitter page.



Match Reports – Week commencing 19th February

Tuesday 20th February, Worthing U18 3 - 2 Woking U18, Isthmian Youth League Cup, Semi-Final

Sussex Transport Community Stadium, Worthing

The week started badly for the U18s, with Camberley Town taking Woking’s place at the top of the Isthmian League West with a 2 – 0 victory over Bracknell Town on Monday evening. Worthing are top of the South table.

Both teams had reached the semi-final with penalty shoot-out success in the quarter finals, Harry White’s penalty save making the difference for Woking against Leatherhead, in a game where Ellis Byrne had suffered a broken fibula. Ellis had hoped to be back for this game, but it came too soon for him to play a part.

Unfortunately, it was Worthing who were to win through to the final against Cray Valley PM, who had defeated Tonbridge Angels 2 – 1 in their semi-final the evening before.

Woking started well, taking the lead in the sixth minute through Byron Mitchell, and holding Worthing until they equalised in the 42nd minute. Luca Allen was brought down just outside the box, and Zac Jeanes beat Mikey Verga with the free-kick. Woking using their taller players to guard against a cross, when they may have been better placed in the defensive wall.

Half-time: Worthing 1 – 1 Woking

Worthing started the second-half well, and Woking were only able to resist the pressure until the 62nd minute. Jack McLelland sliding it past Verga to make it 2 – 1. The third followed within a minute, Evan Hoarty firing home from the edge of the area. The Worthing side now brimming with confidence.

Woking pressed for a way back in to the game but were struggling to create chances. They did pull one back on 77 minutes through Stanley Kyle, but could not complete the comeback, and Worthing finished an entertaining game between two strong sides victorious.

Worthing: Daniel Gibson, Zachary Jeanes, Ben Royall, Danny Jordan, Ben Cheverton ©, Harry Merritt-Blann, Evan Hoarty, Luke Harrison, Luca Allen, Jack McLelland, Stan Berry. Subs: Samuel Southgate, Kristen Murphy, Cameron Joste, David Castanheira, Frankie Spiteri.

Goals: Jeanes 42, McLelland 62, Hoarty 63.

Woking: Mikey Verga; Alvaro Picon, Harrison Stevens, Aidy Silverstein, Jacob Farr; JJ Young, Tommy Seale ©, Sam Brittain; Tom Dryer, Byron Mitchell, Lucas Boxall. Subs: Ben Smith, Harry White, Stanley Kyle, Harvey Brook, Liam Manby.

Goals: Mitchell 6, Kyle 77.

Referee: Mark Spence.



Wednesday 21st February, Woking U17 4 - 2 Dorking Wanderers U17

National League Alliance – Division E; Westfield FC, Woking Park

Following last weeks’ 0 – 5 reverse at Chatham, a much better performance was required, and Woking applied themselves well, although they still had to come from behind in a game they largely controlled.

Dorking had a couple of half-chances before Woking took the lead on 13 minutes. Jayden Smith dribbling skilfully before cutting inside, and his shot forced a good save from Jack Parker, but in the wet conditions he could only parry the ball to Harvey Brook, who took a touch to steady himself before slotting home.

Woking were passing the ball well, but a mistake nearly cost them their lead. Sean Bull misjudged his sliding tackle and would have been relieved to see Louie Sullivan diving smartly to his left to save Harvey Janaway’s penalty.

The wind and rain were making for a rather scrappy affair, but Woking were to be caught out by a turnaround against the run of play. Firstly, on 37 minutes, Oli Scovell struck a fine drive from outside the edge of the area in to the top corner, beyond the reach of Sullivan. And before the half ended, Janaway side-footed home from Max Boehme’s cross. Woking left the field for the break puzzled as to how they were behind in a game they had been dominating.

Half-time: Woking 1 – 2 Dorking Wanderers

Woking were to dominate after the break too, and could have equalised straight away, Brook just failing to connect to a cross with his header. Undeterred, his excellent work rate continued as Woking pressed forwards.

Fynn Lawrence, relishing the opportunity to start a game, and playing well in central midfield, was to become increasingly involved as the half went on. On 51 minutes his through ball released Stefan Van Wijngaarden to run in on goal, but a heavy touch let him down before he could get his shot away.

Woking continued to seek the equaliser, and on 68 minutes somehow managed to hit the underside of the bar without the ball crossing the line. But this was to prove only a temporary reprieve for Dorking. Substitute Roshaun Cooper was to come on to great effect. A fine passing move saw Cooper find Brook, and his excellent touch teed up Harrison Wood to fire home from 6 yards, the scores levelled after 76 minutes.

Dorking had gone close with a well-saved free-kick before Woking completed the turnaround in time added on. Another quality Lawrence pass set Brook free, and as Parker came out of his area Brook tried to knock the ball one side of the ‘keeper and run the other. Parker blocked well, but the ball broke to Cooper 35 yards out, and his calm and skilful chip sailed in to the net.

On 45 + 5 minutes Brook nearly made it four, rounding the ‘keeper but finding the side-netting as he tried to shoot pass the covering defender. The tireless Brook was involved again as Woking did seal the victory, his cross-shot forcing a save that fell to Cooper to tap in from 6 yards.

A well-deserved win, and a positive response to the under-performance of the week before.

Woking: Louie Sullivan: Sam Cook (Ben Smith 60), Harrison Wood, George Elston, Sean Bull; Stefan Van Wijngaarden (Roshaun Cooper 70), Fynn Lawrence, Charlie Sweeney ©, Jayden Smith; Bruno Dackombe (Saadiq Bangura-Kerr 81), Harvey Brook. Unused subs: Bob Honey (GK), Jiyah Kapotwe.



Goals: Brook 13, Wood 76, Cooper 90 + 2, 90 + 7.



Dorking Wanderers: Jack Parker, Max Old, Phelan Matheson ©, Ben Grigg, Paolo Sturt; Brandon Engstrom, Harvey Janaway, Oli Scovell (Markos Panoutsos 70), Max Boehme (Isaac Daniels 81); Oli Weller (Beau Purnell 70), Ayden Wright.



Goals: Scovell 37, Janaway 45 + 2.



Referee: Charles Sherred.





Wednesday 21st February, Bromley U19 1 - 1 Woking U19

National League Alliance – Academy South; Bromley FC, Hayes Lane

Woking took the lead in the second-half, Lui Edwards put through on goal by a misplaced Bromley pass, running clear of the chasing defenders and beating the ‘keeper from the edge of the area.

The equaliser came late on from the penalty spot, Mouland in the Woking goal sent the wrong way by the taker.

Woking: Lewis Mouland; Ryan Scott ©, Tom Gardner, Ethan Gold, Jayden Wynter; Ollie Mason, Alex Rihoy, Harry Newbould; Keion Vassell, Lui Edwards, Aiden Payne-James. Subs: Harry White (GK), Charlie Roberston, Alfie Sandon, Lewis Myrtollari, Sam Wright.



Saturday 24th February, Hartley Wintney U23 P – P Woking U23

Suburban Football League, Hartley Wintney Memorial Ground, Green Lane



Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:

Wednesday 21st February.

Jamie Hilton, Centre Midfield, 3rd year - Guildford City: Played in the 1 – 1 draw with Spelthorne Sports.

Ben Mitchell, Forward, 2nd year - Guildford City: Played in the 1 – 1 draw with Spelthorne Sports.

Saturday 24th February.

Owen Crawford, Goalkeeper, 3rd year – Camberley Town: No fixture.

Jack Matton, Centre Back, 2nd year – Binfield: No fixture.

Ollie Mason, Centre Midfield, 2nd year – Ascot United: Unused sub in 2 – 2 draw with Corinthian Casuals.

Lui Edwards, Forward, 3rd year – Banstead Athletic: Was not involved in 1 – 2 defeat to Seaford Town.

Aiden Payne-James. Forward, 2nd year – Sevenoaks Town: Was not involved in 1 – 0 defeat at Chichester City.

Guildford City did not have a fixture.