Academy Bulletin | Week Five

Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 16th September 2024

Wednesday 18th September
14:00 – Woking U17 v Eastleigh Blues; National League Alliance – Division E
Woking College, Rydens Way

14:00 – Aldershot U19 v Woking U19; National League Alliance – Academy South
River Lane, Leatherhead

Saturday 21st September
15:00 – St Albans Reserves v Woking U21; Suburban Football League Premier Division
Clarence Park, St Albans

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

Match Reports and Team Details – Week commencing 9th September

Wednesday 11th September
Woking U19 5 - 3 Dartford U19; National League Alliance – Academy South
Westfield FC, Woking Park

As the scoreline suggests, this was a game of many twists and turns, although a strong start from Dartford belied what was to follow. As early as the first minute, Dartford’s passing had Woking on the backfoot, and Albie Knapp saw his shot saved on to the post by Lewis Mouland.

The respite was brief, as Dartford took the lead on four minutes, Blu Husthwaite firing in to the bottom corner from the edge of the area, with Mouland looking wrong-footed. Henry Griffin nearly doubled the lead on 8 minutes, hitting the bar after Woking failed to clear.

With Husthwaite dictating play in midfield, Woking were getting outpassed, and a repeat of the opening day defeat at Dorking looked likely. However, Woking had a passing move of their own, and on 14 minutes Tom Dryer saw his shot from Jack Lewis’ pass go narrowly wide.

The following change in the game was marked, Dartford suddenly bereft of purpose and Woking taking the upper hand. This was to be Dryer’s afternoon, and on 19 minutes he earnt his team a penalty, fouled as he ran in to the area. The penalty was to be taken 3 times, twice by Byron Mitchell, and then by Tommy Seale. Josh Atkinson saved all three diving to his left, after the linesman twice raised his flag for the ‘keeper encroaching off his line.

On 27 minutes Atkinson blocked Lewis’ shot following great dribbling from Woking’s wing back, but Woking were level a minute later. Mitchell with the through ball and Tom Dryer netting the rebound, despite the best efforts of the covering defender, after his first shot was saved.

Two minutes later Dryer gave Woking the lead, a fine finish from 25 yards in to the bottom corner, benefitting from his own determined running and skilful control. Within minutes it was nearly three, Stanley Kyle and Lewis combining neatly for Mitchell to shoot narrowly wide. Woking looked to be on top, but another twist was coming.

On 34 minutes Kai Jeffrey equalised with an emphatic finish from 6 yards after a free-kick to the far post had been headed back to him. On 44 minutes Dartford re-took the lead, Knapp lobbing Mouland expertly from the edge of the area, although he was given too much time, as was the colleague whose long-ball found him, Woking paying the price for not closing down their opponents.

There was still time for Woking to equalise before half-time. JJ Young and Lewis were involved in the build-up, and Dartford paid heavily for their hesitation, Dryer getting in front of the defender as the ball bounced, and heading past the onrushing Atkinson who had left it too late to come off his line. Dryer’s hat-trick goal sending the teams to the break with the scores even after a half of fluctuating fortunes.

Half-time: Woking 3 – 3 Dartford

Mitchell was replaced by Stefan van Wijngaarden for the second-half, in which Woking would have a more straightforward path to victory. Henry McDonald hit a shot over from the edge of the area after 53 minutes, before van Wijngaarden gave Woking the lead on 57 minutes. Dryer’s run taking him in to the box, before he squared to the far post, where Kyle pulled the ball back for van Wijngaarden to pass in to the net.

Dartford responded, and Mouland saved well after Woking failed to clear, but their threat was diminished and chances few and far between. At the other end, van Wijngaarden and fellow substitute Louis Pask combined well to win a corner, and Dryer nearly had his fourth, his shot from Young’s corner hitting the defender on the line and spinning up and over the bar.

George Galea-Elston saw his shot well saved from Young’s free-kick, and Mouland was called in to action to preserve Woking’s lead, before an off-the-ball incident which the referee deemed unworthy of anything more than a firm talking to for the players concerned, although Woking were adamant that an opponent had kicked out.

On 70 minutes Dryer got his fourth, finishing with a tap-in after van Winjgaarden had failed to get a decisive touch on his chance. There was still work for Woking to do to complete the victory, Galea-Elston covering well as Dartford attacked, and Mouland saving from Griffin, but Woking saw out the game, their passing game serving them well.
Although a game exemplifying the inconsistencies of academy football, still one to restore confidence to the Woking team with the return to winning ways.

Woking: Lewis Mouland, George Galea-Elston, Tom Gardner (c), Aidy Silverstein, Jack Lewis (Louis Pask 59), Tommy Seale, Jermaine Junior Young, Henry McDonald, Tom Dryer, Stanley Kyle (Harvey Brook 75), Byron Mitchell (Stefan van Wijngaarden 46). Unused subs: Mikey Verga (GK), Sam Brittain.

Goals: Dryer 28, 30, 45+1, 70, van Wijngaarden 57.

Dartford: Josh Atkinson, Luke Mandry (Joseph Kpaka 70), Kai Jeffrey, Hugo Taylor, Todd Biland, Fletcher Carnell-Davis (Louis Britten 52), Blu Husthwaite (c), Richie Atkins (Alfie Hobbs 77), Henry Griffin, Ashdon Day, Albie Knapp.

Goals: Husthwaite 4, Jeffrey 34, Knapp 44.

Referee: Fidelis Akangaf.

Dorking Wanderers U17 0 – 3 Woking U17 (HT 0 – 3); National League Alliance – Division E
Redhill FC, Kiln Brow, Three Arch Road, Redhill

Woking: Aaron Zziwa, Connor Thomas (c), Mason Drew, Kai Baverstock, Pranish Gurang, Joe Scanlon (Jack Owen 80), Luca Di Manno (Brian Rai 60), Roshan Kigozi (Zackaria Rhioui 70), Frankie Bushby, Hayden Vally (Tyrell Ejakita 60), Jojo Ampah. Unused sub: James Moore (GK).

Goals: Vally (2), Ampah.

Thursday 12th September
Aldershot Town U18 0 - 4 Woking U18; Isthmian Youth League Cup 24-25, 2nd Round.
Knaphill FC, Redding Way (although Aldershot were the ‘home’ side, the venue was switched)

A game of two halves for Woking tactically, the high press of the first-half establishing a 3 – 0 half-time lead, and playing deeper in the second-half to negate Aldershot’s tactical changes and secure the well-earned victory.

Aldershot matched Woking in the early exchanges, Jools Lacey in the Woking goal doing well to cut out Euan Moss’ cross, but Woking’s high press was soon overwhelming Aldershot’s attempts to play out from the back. Jack Tricker, Seyi Akinwalere and Calum Mathieson all pressing well and Aldershot conceding corners.

Woking had the lead after 16 minutes. Leo Christopher, Tricker, Mathieson and Akinwalere all involved in a fine passing move, with Akinwalere aware to set up Louie Boyle with an unselfish pass which Boyle dispatched home from 15 yards.

On 20 minutes Aldershot could have conceded again, Mathieson closing down Louis Knight’s clearance, with the goalkeeper relieved to see the ball go out for a goal kick. Woking’s midfield allowed Aldershot no time on the ball when the Shots did progress that far up the field, and on 25 minutes Christopher, complementing the industry and skill of Will Ledbury in centre-midfield, cut inside and shot wide, but the lead would soon be doubled.

Aldershot continued to try to play out from the back, and on 27 minutes it cost them the second goal. Under Woking’s press Aldershot’s passing broke down, and when the ball fell to Bruno Dackombe just outside the penalty area he hit a powerful lob over the stranded Knight and in to the net.

The pattern of play continued, with more chances for Woking, and Woking holding a very good defensive line on the occasions Aldershot did get forwards. On 37 minutes it was 3 – 0, the ball breaking to Akinwalere after more closing down from his colleagues, and the Woking number 9 finishing emphatically from 15 yards.

Woking finished the half well, with Thomas Ward, Dillan Davies and Joel Jennison-Leppa all strong in defence, winning the ball well when called upon, and confident to then step out of defence with the ball. Having anticipated a stronger display from Aldershot, Woking were worthy of their lead going in to the break.

Half-time: Aldershot 0 – 3 Woking

Aldershot made 3 changes for the second-half, and pushed up, playing just 2 out-and-out defenders with a third sitting in front of them in deep midfield. The change gave them a more competitive edge, but Woking were content to play a little deeper and use their energies in midfield, and Aldershot could not gain back control of the game.

Woking continued to press forward well, and maintained the upper hand, although Davies was called upon to make a good defensive tackle, and Lacey was forced in to two good saves. Woking refreshed their midfield, bringing Amario Malhotra on for Ledbury, and Jalil Page came on to give Akinlawere a well-earned rest.

Aldershot had done well to make the game more competitive, but fell further behind on 74 minutes. It had looked like Aldershot had avoided any further mishaps in defence, but Knight passed the ball straight to Tricker, who dribbled in to the area, checked back out from his run when the defenders covered him, and crossed for Page to control and knock in from 3 yards.

Woking made two further changes, Hayden Vally getting a run-out having bagged his second brace of the season against Dorking in Division E the day before, and showing great maturity keeping possession under pressure. Whilst Kai Baverstock came on for Davies, partly to ensure that any further dissent did not earn the centre-back any greater punishment than the yellow card he had already received.

The ten minutes of additional time added by the referee were not enough for Woking to embellish the scoreline with a fifth goal, but the final scoreline was emphatic enough reward for a fine performance.

Woking: Jools Lacey, Thomas Ward (c), Dilan Davies (Kai Baverstock 90), Joel Jennison-Leppa, Louie Boyle, Will Ledbury (Amario Malhotra 59), Leo Christopher, Jack Tricker, Bruno Dackombe, Seyi Akinwalere (Jalil Page 64), Calum Mathieson (Hayden Vally 77). Unused sub: Jack Roles (GK).
Goals: Boyle 16, Dackombe 27, Akinwalere 37, Page 74.

Referee: Nick Pye.

Saturday 14th September
AFC Dunstable U21 2 - 3 Woking U21 (HT: 1 – 2); Suburban Football League Premier Division
Creasey Park Community Football Centre, Dunstable

Woking: Mikey Verga, Harrison Stevens, Tom Gardner, Aidy Silverstein, Jack Lewis (Louis Pask 44), Tommy Seale, Henry McDonald, Jermaine Junior Young, Tom Dryer, Stanley Kyle (Byron Mitchell 75), Stefan van Wijngaarden (Harvey Brook 75). Unused subs: Sam Brittain, George Galea-Elston.

Goals: Kyle 20, 36, van Wijngaarden 51.

Referee: Mark Bowring.

Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:

Friday 13th September

Lui Edwards, Forward, – Westfield: Played until 90 + 1 minutes of the 1 – 0 victory at Sutton Common Rovers in the Isthmian League - South Central Division.
Saturday 14th September
Ben Mitchell, Forward, 3rd year - Knaphill: Played the first 60 minutes, and scored the equalising goal on 59 minutes, knocking home a rebound, in the 2 - 1 victory over Tadley Calleva in the Combined Counties Premier Division South.
Ollie Mason, Centre Midfield, 3rd year – Ascot United: Played the first 67 minutes (going off when it was 2 – 0), of the 3 – 0 victory over Metropolitan Police in the Isthmian League - South Central Division.