Academy Bulletin | U18s extend lead at top of the league

Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 25th March 2024

Wednesday 27th March

11:30 – Woking U17 v Dartford U17; National League Alliance – Division E

Woking College, Rydens Way

14:00 – Woking U18 v Cloughbawn AFC; Friendly

Woking College, Rydens Way

Thursday 28th March

19:30 - Woking U23 v St Albans City U23; Suburban Football League

Knaphill FC, Redding Way

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

Match Reports – Week commencing 18th March

Monday 18th March – Hampton & Richmond Borough U18 2 - 3 Woking U18

Isthmian Football League – Youth West Division; Bedfont Sports FC, Hatton Road, Feltham

Woking put further pressure on Camberley Town by extending their lead at the top of the league table to five points.

Hampton & Richmond are a tougher opponent than their league table position suggests and took the lead through Isaac Taylor Brown on 24 minutes. With Byron Mitchell getting Woking’s equaliser on 37 minutes, to make the scores level at half-time.

Louis Pask gave Woking the lead on 60 minutes, but Hampton were not yet beaten and equalised through Joseph Knight on 74 minutes.

It took a fantastic goal from Sam Brittain on 83 minutes to win the game for the Cards. The clearance from a corner fell to Brittain, whose first touch took the ball past his nearest marker, before he hit a 25-yard rocket in to the top corner, the ‘keeper beaten all-ends-up.

So, two games left for Woking, and three for Camberley, with the final fixture of the season, between the top two, currently scheduled for 15th April, looking like it may well be a title decider. Updates on both teams progress can be found on isthmian.co.uk and fulltime.thefa.com

Hampton & Richmond Borough: Denzel Baxter-Alleyne, Nicolas Bostan, Isaac Taylor-Brown, Noah Davies, Makai Gayle, Leo Goma-Weinberg, Frederick Greenstreet, Joshua Kelly, Joseph Knight, Marcus Rodgers, Ryan Price: Subs: Jayden Afanyedey, Rylee Blagrove, Uthman Hassan.

Goals: Taylor Brown 24, Knight 74.

Woking: Mikey Verga, Louis Pask (Alvaro Picon 90), Ben Smith, Aidy Silverstein, James Orton; Tommy Seale, Tom Dryer, Lucas Boxall, Stanley Kyle (c) (JJ Young 84), Sam Brittain, Byron Mitchell (Harvey Brook 90 + 2). Subs: Bob Honey, Jayden Smith.

Goals: Mitchell 37, Pask 60, Brittain 83.

Attendance: 29



Wednesday 20th March – Maidenhead United U19 6 - 0 Woking U19

National League Alliance – Academy South

Berkshire College of Agriculture, Hall Place, Burchetts Green Road

A score to reflect the ups-and-downs of football, especially at Academy level. The under 19s went in to this game against the team immediately above them in the table on the back of a 5 – 0 win at Southend. Most of them had also been involved in last week‘s under 23s last minute defeat to Aldershot. As well as a number of changes due to absentees, and the focus given to Monday evening’s under 18s game, events did seem to conspire against the Cards.

Woking could have had the lead on 5 minutes, Jamie Hilton hitting the outside of the post after good build-up play from Aiden Payne-James and Lui Edwards. But matters were soon to go against the Cards.

With 8 minutes gone Tom Gardner gave away a penalty, and was, perhaps a little surprisingly, also given a yellow card, a caution that was shortly to become more significant. Jamie Davies dispatched the spot-kick emphatically.

On 18 minutes a booking for Jamie Hilton, apparently falling a little too dramatically for the referee’s liking, meant that some of the edge was taken off his usual tenacious manner. A minute later Maidenhead were two ahead. Finding more space in midfield than Woking would want him to, Alex Groom played in Enzo Pashaj, who took the chance well. With the Referee calling “same again lads”, to encourage the Maidenhead players to return to their own half as quickly as they had after their first goal. But perhaps a little too much familiarity from a referee who regularly officiates at this venue.

Woking’s task grew more difficult on 23 minutes. One has become rather accustomed to Referee’s giving a ‘final warning’ when a player already on a caution commits another foul, so it was a surprise to see Gardner dismissed, even if it was a challenge he should have resisted making. Woking reorganised, with Ollie Mason moving to centre-back alongside Charlie Robertson, but Maidenhead clearly had the upper hand.

Payne-James and Ben Mitchell had half-chances for Woking but couldn’t make the most of them, and then some treatment for Payne-James gave Woking time to change to a 3-4-2 formation for the last ten minutes of the half.

The change in approach was effective and on the stroke of half-time Woking nearly had one back, Oliver Burger-Williams saving with his legs as Edwards sought to direct the ball in to the bottom corner, following Alex Rihoy’s astute through pass.

Half-time: Maidenhead 2 – 0 Woking

To guard against going down to 9 men, Lucas Boxall replaced Jamie Hilton for the start of the second-half. Maidenhead felt they could continue with a 3-1-4-2 formation to make the most of their numerical advantage, and this was to prove to be the case.

Woking were not yet out of it, Aiden Payne-James twice taking aim from 25 yards, but both efforts going comfortably over from Burger-Williams' perspective. Woking were competing well, but could not apply any real pressure on their opponents goal.

However, it would not be long before the game got away from Woking. On 58 minutes Pashaj scored with a powerful header from Bradley Mapfumo’s cross after a Woking mistake had cost them possession, and it was four on 62 minutes, Davies arriving unmarked at the far post to slot home.

Woking nearly had a consolation on 74 minutes, Louis Pask almost diverting Keion Vassell’s fine header across goal, in to the net. And Pask was involved again, with Harry Newbould, in good Woking play that at least reminded the players of how well they can play.

But Maidenhead were to finish in style, two great strikes from outside the area from Sam Sanderson sealing an emphatic victory. The result a come down after the high of Monday evening for Pask, Boxall and Brittain, and a reminder to all of how consistency is born of hard work and application.

Maidenhead: Oliver Burger-Williams, Bradley Mapfumo (Kane Ainsworth 62), Ethan Kitching, Josh McMenemy, Joe Ulasi; Joseph Reid, Luca Lombardi (Sam Sanderson 71), Soul Hale (Finlay Vioto 71); Alex Groom (Marco Skivington 62), Enzo Pashaj, Jamie Davies.

Goals: Davies 8 (pen), 62, Pashaj 18, 58, Sanderson 79, 88.

Woking: Lewis Mouland, Louis Pask, Tom Gardner, Charlie Robertson, Jayden Wynter; Ollie Mason (c), Alex Rihoy (Harry Newbould 63), Jamie Hilton (Lucas Boxall 46); Ben Mitchell (Keion Vassell 69), Lui Edwards, Aiden Payne-James (Sam Brittain 63). Unused sub: Harry White (GK).



Thursday 21st March – Woking U23 v AFC Dunstable U23

Suburban Football League; Knaphill FC, Redding Way

Match postponed due to floodlight failure before kick-off.



Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:

Tuesday 19th March.

Aiden Payne-James. Forward, 2nd year – Sevenoaks Town: Came on as a late substitute in 4 – 2 defeat at Broadbridge Heath.

Saturday 23rd March.

Owen Crawford, Goalkeeper, 3rd year – Camberley Town: Played the full game in the 0 – 0 draw with Alton Town.

Jack Matton, Centre Back, 2nd year – Binfield: Has now been transferred from Woking to Wycombe Wanderers, ending his registrations with both Woking and Binfield.

Ollie Mason, Centre Midfield, 2nd year – Ascot United: Came on as 68th minute substitute in 2 – 1 defeat at Marlow.

Lui Edwards, Forward, 3rd year – Sandhurst Town: Did not play in 2 – 1 defeat at Tooting & MItcham.

Harry White, Goalkeeper, 1st year – Sandhurst Town: Did not play in game at Tooting & Mitcham.

Aiden Payne-James. Forward, 2nd year – Sevenoaks Town: A non-playing substitute in 2 – 1 victory at Herne Bay.

Ben Mitchell, Forward, 2nd year - Guildford City: Scored both his sides goals in 3 – 2 defeat at Fleet Town. The first from the penalty spot, and the second that put Guildford ahead on 80 minutes, only for them to concede in 90 + 3, and 90 + 9.

Jamie Hilton, Centre Midfield, 3rd year - Guildford City: Played in 3 – 2 defeat at Fleet Town.

Keiondre Ellis-Vassell, Forward, 2nd year – Guildford City: Did not play in 3 – 2 defeat at Fleet Town.

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