Academy Bulletin | U23s run continues

Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 4th March 2024

Wednesday 6th March

11:00 – Eastleigh U17 v Woking U17, National League Alliance – Division E

Ganger Farm Sports Ground, Jermyns Lane, Romsey

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

Len Salmon Stadium, Bowers & Pitsea FC, Crown Avenue, Pitsea

Thursday 7th March

19:30 – Woking U23 v Hartley Wintney U23, Suburban Football League

Knaphill FC, Redding Way

Saturday 9th March

11:30 – In House Game (1st Year only - U17), Woking College, Rydens Way

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


Match Reports – Week commencing 26th February

Wednesday 28th February, Woking U19 4 - 1 Aldershot Town U19

National League Alliance – Academy South, Westfield FC, Woking Park

With two games in three days this week, a number of changes were made from last week’s 1 – 1 draw at Bromley. Jack Matton coming in at centre-back, with Ethan Gold moving to left-back and Jayden Wynter dropping out, Jamie Hilton coming in for Harry Newbould, Ben Mitchell for Keion Vassell and Tom Dryer for Aiden Payne-James.

Woking started well, and Dryer had already hit the post when Matton put Woking ahead in the sixth minute. Ryan Scott’s corner volleyed in from twelve yards at the far post, a well controlled side-foot.

Lewis Mouland’s mishit clearance called Matton to the rescue, and Aldershot had a number of corners, but there did not appear to be any real danger until Aldershot equalised on 23 minutes. A long-ball was flicked on smartly by Toby Nelson, and Marc Nouble found the top corner with a fine drive from just inside the area.

Both sides had chances before Woking made it 2 – 1 on the cusp of half-time. The danger for Aldershot started with a free-kick won by Mitchell, and when the ball came to Scott inside the penalty area his pass found Lui Edwards who side-footed home from six yards.

Half-time: Woking 2 – 1 Aldershot Town

As it was towards the end of the first-half, there were chances for both sides before Woking made it 3 – 1 after 53 minutes. Tom Dryer picking up the long-ball clearance from an Aldershot corner midway inside the Aldershot half, and running with the ball as opponents missed their challenges, before finishing from six yards with a neat dink angled inside the far post.

Within 61 minutes Woking had clinched the result, Mitchell’s penetrating run to the byline and subsequent pull-back setting up Edwards to finish emphatically from six yards.

Woking saw out the rest of the game soundly, with little cause for alarm, and Scott and Edwards could have added more gloss to the scoreline with more accurate finishing.

As is always the case, it was good to win well against our friends from across the border, and the U19s continued their recent good run with each player making a solid contribution to a fine team performance, moving within one point of Aldershot in the league table.

Woking: Lewis Mouland; Ryan Scott, Tom Gardner, Jack Matton, Ethan Gold ©; Alex Rihoy, Ollie Mason (Charlie Robertson 83), Jamie Hilton (Harry Newbould 72); Ben Mitchell, Lui Edwards, Tom Dryer (Lewis Myrtollari 78). Unused subs: Harry White (GK), Aiden Payne-James.

Goals: Matton 5, Edwards 45 + 1, 61, Dryer 53.

Aldershot: Oliver Kabeer; Lucas Turner, Morgan Elliott, Kaden Hughes (Krystian Komosinski 56), Eddie Cooper, Reece Mather © (Lewis Hillary 72), Maddox McMillan (Stanley Broadway 72), Wilf Douglas (Naman Gurung 56); Marc Nouble (Milo Derham 56), Danny-James Carter, Toby Nelson.

Goal: Nouble 23.



Thursday 29th February, Woking U18 P - P Beaconsfield Town U18

Isthmian Football League – Youth West Division; Waterlogged pitch at Knaphill FC, Redding Way



Friday 1st March

11:30 – Woking U19 2 – 0 Bromley U19, National League Alliance – Academy South

Woking College, Rydens Way

Having played two days earlier, a number of changes freshened things up. Aidy Silverstein came in at left-sided centre-back for Jack Matton, Charlie Robertson started at left full-back for Ethan Gold, (picking up from where he had left off as a substitute on Wednesday), Harry Newbould played a slightly unfamiliar left-midfield role, with Tom Dryer moving to the right, and Ben Mitchell, due to play for Guildford City in Jersey on Saturday, moved to the bench. Stanley Kyle took Lui Edwards place leading the attack, joining Silverstein in stepping up from the under 18s.

This game came just a week after the sides had drawn 1 – 1 at Bromley, and with Woking starting one point behind Bromley in the league table, promised to be another close match, with Woking’s side different enough from the first game to give Bromley a different set of challenges.

Perhaps understandably, Woking started slowly, also disrupted by a ten-minute delay to kick-off caused by the non-arrival of a referee’s assistant, with Louie Sullivan stepping in and doing a very good job. Bromley were creating chances, with Woking making uncharacteristic mistakes.

Woking came in to the game more from the 20 minute point, and were creating chances, although Bromley also came close on 29 minutes, with Dawid Przybylo hitting the outside of the post.

Woking took the lead on 32 minutes. A fine passing move and excellent wing play from Dryer finished with a pull-back across the six-yard box, where Robertson arrived to rocket the ball home. Yassim Wacher, the full-back Dryer had beaten in creating the goal was ultimately forced to leave the field of play with what looked like an injury connected to a displaced contact lens.

Half-chances were created at both ends, before the talking points during the time added on for Wacher’s treatment. Firstly, a Bromley long ball put in Emmanuel Deh, and he knocked the ball past Lewis Mouland before the players collided, but there was not enough in the challenge for a penalty and the ball was easily cleared by the covering defender. Then Jamie Hilton was on a run through the Bromley half and was pulled back, but there were enough covering defenders for it not to be deemed a sending-off.

Half-time: Woking 1 – 0 Bromley

Although Stanley Kyle forced Harry Haines in to a double save, when he should perhaps have scored, it was Bromley who looked the more likely to score as the second-half progressed. Regan Clarke-Salter headed wide when he would have expected to do better, Deh called Mouland in to action as Woking survived a number of corners, and a couple of goalmouth scrambles, with Deh missing the target with another good chance.

Woking countered well, with Dryer especially bright, until he left the field shortly after treatment for an ankle injury. Kyle could have given Woking a cushion but could not get any power in his shot as he stretched for a Dryer cross.

The introduction of Lui Edwards and Aiden Payne-James on 69 minutes re-enlivened Woking, and one particularly inspired turn and through ball from Payne-James nearly put Alex Rihoy in on goal.

Woking’s decisive second came on 84 minutes from a fine corner-kick routine. Ryan Scott’s cross headed back across goal by Jack Matton (on as a substitute in midfield rather than his usual centre-back role), and volleyed home from six yards by Ben Mitchell.

Woking were able to see out the game, although Deh missed another chance to make it a nervous closing period. Whilst Mitchell could have had a second with a more cleanly struck finish.

A great week for the under 19s, with Woking now going above Bromley and Aldershot Town in the table, which looks much more presentable than it did before the Cards recent run of three draws and four wins.

Woking: Lewis Mouland; Ryan Scott ©, Tom Gardner, Aidy Silverstein, Charlie Robertson; Ollie Mason; Tom Dryer (Ben Mitchell 74), Alex Rihoy, Jamie Hilton (Jack Matton 79), Harry Newbould (Aiden Payne-James 69); Stanley Kyle (Lui Edwards 69). Unused sub: Harry White (GK).

Goals: Robertson 32, Mitchell 84.

Bromley: Harry Haines, Malik Shittu, Louis Le Bars (Marley Bell 84), Regan Clarke-Salter, Yassim Wacher (Yuvi Mann 36); Joe Aris ©, Alfie Hilden (Temu Appiah 84); Kaya Hansson, Will Coates, Dawid Przybylo (Eddie Fitzgerald 74); Emmanuel Deh.



Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:

Saturday 2nd March.

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 for 2 – 0 win over South Park.

Lui Edwards, Forward, 3rd year – Sandhurst Town: Scored in the 6 – 2 defeat at Epsom & Ewell.

Harry White, Goalkeeper, 1st year – Sandhurst Town: A hard day for Harry in the 6 – 2 defeat at Epsom & Ewell.

Aiden Payne-James. Forward, 2nd year – Sevenoaks Town: Came on as 88th minute substitute in 1 – 0 defeat to Broadbridge Heath. (The goal a disputed 92nd minute penalty.)

Jamie Hilton, Centre Midfield, 3rd year - Guildford City: Was not in the matchday sixteen at Jersey Bulls.

Ben Mitchell, Forward, 2nd year - Guildford City: Started the 2 - 0 defeat at Jersey Bulls.

Keiondre Ellis-Vassell, Forward, 2nd year – Guildford City: Came on as 87th minute substitute in the 2 – 0 defeat at Jersey Bulls.

Bob Honey, Goalkeeper, 1st year – Spelthorne Sports: No fixture.