Academy Bulletin | Week Four

Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 9th September 2024

Wednesday 11th September
14:00 - Woking U19 v Dartford U19; National League Alliance – Academy South
Westfield FC, Woking Park
14:00 – Dorking Wanderers U17 v Woking U17; National League Alliance – Division E
Redhill FC, Kiln Brow, Three Arch Road, Redhill

Thursday 12th September
19:30 – Aldershot Town U18 v Woking U18; Isthmian Youth League Cup 24-25, 2nd Round.
Knaphill FC, Redding Way (although Aldershot are the ‘home’ side, the venue has been switched)

Saturday 14th September
15:00 – AFC Dunstable U21 v Woking U21; Suburban Football League Premier Division
Creasey Park Community Football Centre, Dunstable

Sunday 15th September
14:00 Bournemouth Sports Reserves v Woking Women; Southern Region – Division One South
Bournemouth Sports Club Development, Chapel Gate, East Parley

Match Reports – Week commencing 2nd September
Wednesday 4th September
Woking U17 3 - 2 Hertford Town Whites;
Woking College, Rydens Way
Last season both games between these two sides finished 3 – 2 to Woking. This was another close match, with chances for both sides, but when Hertford went 2 – 0 up halfway through the second-half it looked like they were turning their having the upper hand in to a victory. With time running out it started to look like they had completed the win, but there was a dramatic twist to come.

Hertford nearly had the lead in the first minute, winning the ball with their quick press after Woking’s kick-off, and playing to George Kingham whose shot was well saved by Aaron Zziwa. Within 5 minutes Zziwa would be making another good save down to his right, this time from Dylan Colletti. Colletti went on to trouble Woking throughout with his movement infield from the left side of midfield.

Woking came in to the game more, starting to match Hertford’s passing, getting forwards Roshan Kigozi and Jojo Ampah in to the game, and Ampah dragged his shot wide after good build-up play from Brian Rai and Frankie Bushby. Ampah’s hold-up play helping his teammates out on more than one occasion.

The sides exchanged chances, Colletti set up Lucas Titchmarsh, but Zziwa was equal to his shot. Ampah shot wide when the rebound from Kigozi’s shot fell to him. Zziwa held well from Kingham’s shot, his secure handling proving important throughout. Colletti played in Titchmarsh, who was thwarted by a fine covering challenge from Kai Baverstock.
On 28 minutes Hertford captain Fionn O’Connell was given too much space and his shot from 30 yards hit the top of the bar. Woking were having to work hard to counteract their opponent’s movement, and seemed to be struggling to get their own passing game going, but did create a chance for Ampah although his shot was straight at Sonny May.

Hertford were getting the upper hand as the half drew to a close, Colletti testing Zziwa on 3 further occasions, with Ben Nichols also calling the Woking ‘keeper in to action, and Woking were relieved to see a free kick awarded for a foul on Zziwa when Hertford did get the ball in to the net.

Hertford would go to half-time wondering how they were not in the lead, Zziwa proving a great frustration, especially to Colletti, with whom he seemed to be having something of a personal duel. There was work to be done for the Woking coaching team.

Half-time: Woking 0 – 0 Hertford Town
Woking’s passing improved as the second-half began, but Colletti and Kingham again forced saves from the Woking ‘keeper. Then on 58 minutes, Woking made the first of the substitutions that would lead to the game’s dramatic turnaround. Tyrell Ejakita and Hayden Vally joining the action, with Kigozi playing more off the right-hand side, where he was soon threatening to cause problems.

However, Woking still found themselves doing the greater share of defensive work, and soon after Connor Thomas was relieved to see his deflection of Liam Cruthchett’s shot go wide, Hertford had the lead. On 68 minutes Colletti finally beat Zziwa. Woking’s ‘keeper could not get a strong enough punched clearance as he came out to clear Cruthchett’s corner, and Colletti was able to lob the ball over the crowded penalty area in to the unguarded net.

It looked like the game was only going one way. Colletti and Zziwa continued their personal battle, the Woking ‘keeper thwarting his opponent twice more, before Hertford doubled their lead on 28 minutes. The referee played a good advantage whilst some Hertford players appealed for a free-kick, and Titchmarsh finished neatly from Jed Warwick’s pass.

Whilst Hertford’s substitutions perhaps unnecessarily unsettled their team, Woking’s would prove to be thoroughly game changing. Luca Di Manno and Jack Owen came on on 78 minutes, Di Manno and Vally pushing forward through the middle, with Ejakita now attacking from the left. Momentum was with Woking, but when Warwick missed a chance to make it 3 – 0, what was to follow still seemed unlikely.

On 84 minutes Ampah’s pass wide found Kigozi, whose firm low cross was met at the near post by Vally, neatly side-footing in to the bottom corner. Two minutes later came almost a mirror image. Joe Scanlon playing the ball to Ejakita on the left, and his cross was met by Vally, this time getting enough on a header for it to evade May and nestle in the corner of the net.

Woking’s winner came one minute later. When Di Manno laid the ball back to Bushby twenty yards out there didn’t seem to be a lot of danger, until he transferred it on to his left foot and fired the ball in to the far top corner. Woking celebrated while Hertford looked at each other in disbelief. The game had been turned on its head in 4 minutes.

Hertford rallied well, and as the game reached 6 minutes of added time Colletti had a chance to add a final twist to the tale, but hit the ball over the bar when it fell to him 12 yards out. Kigozi and Ejakita moving wide had proved crucial, and the Hertford defenders left the pitch discussing how the crosses for the first two Woking goals had been allowed to come in to the area.

Woking: Aaron Zziwa, Connor Thomas (c), Mason Drew, Kai Baverstock (Jack Owen 78), Zackaria Rhioui (Tyrell Ejakita 58), Brian Rai (Hayden Vally 58), Pranish Gurung (Luca Di Manno 78), Frankie Bushby, Roshan Kigozi, Jojo Ampah. Unused sub: James Moore (GK).
Goals: Vally 84, 86, Bushby 87.

Hertford Town: Sonny May, Jack Heaton, Christian Swaby, Liam Cruthchett, Timmy Adewale-Banks, Fionn O’Connell (c), George Kingham, Dylan Colletti, Ben Nichols, Lucas Titchmarsh, Jed Warwick. Subs: Razzi Ahmed, Desmond Yobouet, Harry Chetwood, Harry Foot, Harry Boorer.
Goals: Colletti 68, Titchmarsh 73.
Referee: Gary Whapshott

Dorking U19 4 - 1 Woking U19; National League Alliance – Academy South
Meadowbank, Mill Lane, Dorking

In the opening exchanges of the first Academy South fixture of the season Woking competed well with the hosts. Woking created chances of their own before Ollie Rawlins gave Dorking the lead on 22 minutes. Lewis Mouland had already made great saves from Rawlins and ex-Card Liam Manby, but could not prevent the Dorking opener.

Dorking soon doubled their advantage, a Rawlins shot hitting the post and going in off the unfortunate Mouland to make it 2 – 0 after 25 minutes. Woking responded well and Louis Sullivan made further saves to maintain his sides lead at half-time. Although it could have been different if Woking had been awarded a penalty for a trip on Tom Dryer.

Woking started the second-half well, before Mouland was called in to action to keep Woking in the game. On 70 minutes Woking halved the deficit, Stan Kyle heading home from close range from a corner. But they were not to complete the comeback, and on 82 minutes Ted Sullivan finished off a good Dorking move to make it 3 – 1.

With the game in added time Dorking had a fourth, Miles Straker adding a little gloss to the scoreline. Having finished just two points behind Dorking last season Woking will look to respond positively to this early setback.

Dorking: Louis Sullivan, Chris Ewen, Henry Gunay, Jay Richardson, Joel Brown, Neo Wooster (c), Mason Myles (Donny Daniels 73), Gabriel Jacks (Ted Sullivan 46), Tom Bland (Brandon Engstrom 73), Liam Manby (Jacob Todman 46), Ollie Rawlins (Miles Straker 62).

Goals: Rawlins 22, 25, Sullivan 82, Straker 90 + 3.

Woking: Lewis Mouland, Jack Lewis, Harrison Stevens, Charlie Sweeney, Max Goldsworthy (Jayden Smith 75), Jermaine Junior Young, Tommy Seale (c), Tom Dryer, Lucas Boxall (Harvey Brook 62), Byron Mitchell, Stanley Kyle. Unused subs: Mikey Verga (GK), Bobby Lawrence, Roshaun Cooper.

Goal: Kyle 70.

Referee: Mario Gellard.

Thursday 5th September
Abbey Rangers U21 P – P Woking U21; Suburban Football League – Premier Division
Addlestone Moor, Addlestone. Match postponed due to waterlogged pitch.

Sunday 8th September
Woking Women 1 - 1 Abbey Rangers Women; Southern Region – Division One South

Laithwaite Community Stadium, Kingfield, Woking

For a match report for this fixture please see the Woking FC website.

For up-to-date information on fixtures please refer to the Woking Football Club Academy twitter page, and the Woking Football Club Women’s twitter page.

Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:

Tuesday 3rd September
Ben Mitchell, Forward, 3rd year - Knaphill: Played the full game, and scored the second goal, dribbling from the half-way line before shooting in to the bottom corner from the edge of the area, in the 3 - 0 victory over Sandhurst Town in the Combined Counties Premier Division South.
Friday 6th September
Ollie Mason, Centre Midfield, 3rd year – Ascot United: Played the first 61 minutes (going off when it was 4 – 0), of the 5 – 0 victory over Merstham in the Isuzu FA Trophy First Qualifying Round.
Saturday 7th September
Lui Edwards, Forward, – Westfield: Played the first 64 minutes of the 4 – 0 victory over Metropolitan Police in the Isuzu FA Trophy First Qualifying Round.
Ben Mitchell, Forward, 3rd year - Knaphill: Played the full game in the 0 – 1 defeat at Redhill in the Combined Counties Premier Division South.