Laithwaite Independent Financial Advisers

Academy Bulletin | Week Twenty One

Ian Tilley and Holly Porter
12:20pm, Mon 13th Jan 2025
Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 13th January 2025

Monday 13th January

19: 45 - Metropolitan Police U18 v Woking U18; Isthmian League - Central Division

Imber Court Sports Club, Ember Lane, KT8 0BT.

Wednesday 15th January

14:00 – Boreham Wood U19 v Woking U19; National League Academy – South Division

Meadow Park, Broughinge Road, Borehamwood, WD6 5AL.

Thursday 16th January

19:30 – Woking U21 v St Albans City Reserves; Suburban Football League – Premier Division

Knaphill FC, Redding Way.

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

Information is also available on the fulltime.thefa.com website.


Match Reports and Team Details – Week commencing 6th January 2025

Monday 6th January

Metropolitan Police U18 P - P Woking U18; Isthmian League - Central Division

Imber Court Sports Club, Ember Lane. Match postponed.


Wednesday 8th January

Woking U19 2 – 0 Dorking Wanderers U19; National League Academy – South Division

Surrey Sports Park, Richard Meyjes Road

Report from Ian Tilley

A new year, and a chance for the under 19s to improve their standing in the Academy South Division. A new venue, with Westfield not available, and a well earnt victory, on a cold day where much of the second-half was played in 45-degree sleet.

Dorking threatened in the early exchanges, but it was Woking who came closest to going ahead. Stan Kyle, Ryan Scott and Tom Dryer all brought saves out of Louie Sullivan, before a Kyle drive from the edge of the area hit the crossbar.

However, Dorking had the clearest opportunity to take the lead on 21 minutes, Leo Christopher’s challenge on Luke Bejashvili was judged to be a penalty, but Bejashvili’s stuttering run-up seemed to put himself off more than Mikey Verga, and the Woking ‘keeper saved the underhit shot, falling to his left.

Undeterred, Dorking continued to press forwards and Verga made two very good saves to keep the score level. But in an end-to-end game Woking also had chances, Dryer seeing his goalbound effort saved by the ‘keeper’s outstretched leg.

It was Woking who would break the deadlock, shortly after a fine recovery challenge from James McLeod had thwarted Kyle when he looked to be in on goal, Tom Dryer had the reward for the Cards’ persistence. A goalmouth scramble from a corner, which included Lucas Boxall heading against the bar, saw Dryer score with a close-range tap-in, giving Woking a lead going to the break.

Half-time: Woking 1 – 0 Dorking Wanderers

In the worsening conditions, Woking had the upper hand, with Lucas Boxall, Henry McDonald and Ben Mitchell all testing Sullivan, the ‘keeper closing the angle well before saving from Mitchell.

Dorking continued to counter, but Verga was equal to everything they could offer and the matter was settled on 79 minutes. Mitchell did well on the right side of the area, and the accuracy of his cross beyond the Dorking defence found Dryer who fired home from 12 yards.

Dryer nearly had a hat-trick two minutes later, but shot in to the side-netting from a much more difficult angle. A Dorking goal would have made the closing stages (with 5 minutes of added on time) more tense, but Aidy Silverstein recovered well from a lapse in concentration with a good challenge which meant Woking could see out the victory. With Tommy Seale retaining the ball well in midfield.

With games in hand over their rivals Woking are now in a good position to climb the table and challenge for the upper positions.

Woking: Mikey Verga, Ryan Scott (Jack Lewis 67), Tom Gardner (c), Aidy Silverstein, Jacob Farr, Jermaine Young (Henry McDonald 73), Leo Christophers, Ben Mitchell (Tommy Seale 84), Lucas Boxall, Tom Dryer, Stan Kyle (Jalil Page 67). Unused sub: Charlie Sweeney.

Goals: Dryer 41, 79

Dorking Wanderers: Louie Sullivan, Neo Wooster (c), Jay Richardson, Charlie Pepper, Liam Trevatt, James McLeod, Ted Sullivan, Seb Tauta-Caballero, Gabriel Jacks, Miles Straker, Luke Bejashvili. Subs: Bertie Baker, Jacob Todman, Denny Daniels, Avpril Joselon-Deuga, Liam Manby.

Referee: Adam Hanrahan.


Wednesday 8th January

Boreham Wood Blues 1 - 1 Woking U17; National League Alliance – Division E

Meadow Park, Broughinge Road

Boreham Wood goal: Abagana 34'
Woking goal: Vally 3'

Woking: James Moore, Kai Baverstock (Max Goldsworthy 20, Jack Owen 70), Mason Drew, Tyrell Ejakita, Pranish Gurung, George Mattingley (Luca Di Manno 60), Brian Rai, Zackaria Rhioui, Joe Scanlon, Connor Thomas, Hayden Vally. Unused sub: Jack Roles (GK).


Thursday 9th January

Woking U18 2 – 2 Hanworth Villa U18; Penalties - Woking 1 - 3 Hanworth Villa

Surrey FA U18’s Youth Floodlit Midweek County Cup, Second Round

Knaphill FC, Redding Way

Report from Holly Porter

Both clubs had received byes in t he First Round, seeing them through to this hard fought, close match on a frosty evening and an ever-hardening pitch. Hanworth’s under 18s are newly formed for this season, and have struggled to find their feet in the Isthmian League West Division which Woking won last season, so this was a celebrated victory for the visitors.

Both teams started the game well at Knaphill, with chances created for both sides which all lacked the execution of the final shot. Woking’s first real chance of the game came in the 5th minute when Page put in a promising looking cross, but Laci reacted first to collect.

Just moments later, Rigby put a good ball upfield which was well defended by the travelling side, but the positive spell of possession for the young Cards was accompanied by early hints of some promising pieces of play.

The first corner of the game went Woking’s way in the 12th minute, with the clearance from Hanworth being messy and unable to eradicate Woking’s threat. After the initial set play was half-cleared, Kigozi played back out to the left-hand side for a second delivery to be put into the box. Once Villa attempted to clear again, Ledbury headed back into the penalty area, but on the third time of asking Hanworth eliminated the threat.

The closest that Hanworth came to an opener in the first 20 minutes was when Amiri attempted to catch Zziwa out from range. The effort, in which Amiri tried to slot the ball into the far bottom corner in the 18th minute, went just wide of the left post, to leave the deadlock yet to be broken.

Woking rounded off the first 20 minutes with a promising through ball from Ledbury, which split the defence, but ultimately had too much on it, with the ball running all the way through for Laci to collect.

The theme of the first 20 minutes continued throughout much of the first half, with plenty of action at both ends, but a lack of clear-cut chances for either side. In the 21st minute, Villa made another promising move forward, when Gryncewicz showed his strength to keep hold of it in the box. Kigozi did well to track back and put in a good challenge inside the penalty area before Gryncewicz could threaten Zziwa’s goal.

Straight back down the other end, Ledbury had a decent shot from the edge of the area, with the initial ball being cleared, and Malhotra’s follow-up shot was smashed into the travelling defence.

Several set pieces around the 30-minute mark provided great opportunities for both sides to take the lead. Firstly, Katana stood over a free kick for Villa, looking to deliver a decent ball into the box. The cross, however, was mis hit, and the ball rolled out of play without making it into the penalty area.

In the 31st minute, Tricker was taken down on the attack by Gryncewicz, with Bushby stood over the free kick on the edge of the box. The threat was easily cleared by Hanworth who, moments later, earned another free kick just inside Woking’s half, with the ball forward being defended well in the end by the home side.

Hanworth found the back of the net first in the fixture, with Swaby through on goal and slotting past Zziwa in the 41st minute, but the whistle had already gone for offside.

After this, it did not take them long to find an opener that stood. In the 44th minute, Amiri chased a ball down that had split the home defence, and passed the ball into the net to give the travelling side the advantage just before half time.

Half-time: Woking 0 – 1 Hanworth Villa

The second half started with a couple of decent opportunities for Woking, but much like the first half they were lacking the final execution. In the 47th minute, Ledbury found Kigozi just wide of the box, with a ball that split the defence. Kigozi’s cross, however, was fired over the top of the crossbar.

In the 49th minute, Woking earned a free kick in a very promising position to the left of the Villa penalty area. Bushby took the set piece, which was played back out to Kigozi, and Kigozi’s effort to cross was blocked by the Hanworth defence.

A good ball forward for Villa in the 51st minute split the home defence, but Zziwa did excellently to react first and cleared the ball upfield before Hanworth could threaten to double their lead.

Woking came close to an equaliser in the 65th minute, when Page got a decent ball squared to him in the box, which invited a first time shot. However, the touch that was taken first made the shot difficult for the forward, and allowed Hanworth to defend the effort. Tricker took the follow up shot, but the ball was fired over the crossbar.

Vally made a great impact from the bench, and in the 73rd minute chased a long ball down, doing well to get there before the Hanworth defence, but the defender subsequently did well to recover and put in a decent challenge. Tricker was, once again, there to collect and make his own effort on goal, but the shot went wide of the post.

Having found a good rhythm, Woking created a good chance again, Kigozi’s pass from the left-hand side into the box was played well by Woking across to the right-hand side, where Tricker’s effort went narrowly over the bar.

Involved again, Vally did well to get through on goal in the 75th minute, but Laci came out to meet the shot, and did well to get a glove on the effort, keeping his side ahead.

This, however, did not last long, as in the 78th minute, the young Cards found their equaliser. Malhotra’s free-kick from the left-hand edge of the box was initially saved by Laci. The travelling keeper, however, pushed the ball back into the penalty area, and Vally reacted first to turn the ball in from close range.

Hanworth reacted well to the equaliser, and had a great opportunity to re-establish their lead in the 82nd minute, with the ball being squared into the box, but the first-time shot was fired over the bar.

Tricker completed the turnaround in the 85th minute, doing excellently to keep the ball on the edge of the area before an excellent shot was fired past Laci, which put Woking in the lead for the first time of the evening.

Hanworth didn’t give up, however, and in the 89th minute, they won a free kick midway into the Woking half. In the execution of the set piece, Boucha went down in the box, which earned a 90th-minute penalty for the travelling side.

It was Boucha who stood over the spot-kick and sent Zziwa the wrong way to level the scoreline with only injury time to play.

With no extra time permitted in this competition, the draw at full time saw the County Cup tie settled on penalties, with Woking taking the first kick.

Woking
Kigozi - Saved
Akinwalere - Saved
Vally - Saved
Davies - Scored

Hanworth Villa
Boucha - Missed
Katana - Scored
Swaby - Scored
Bhachu - Scored

Woking Lineup: Aaron Zziwa, Oliver Rigby, Jack Tricker, Amario Malhotra, Dillan Davies, Joel Jennison-Leppa (Thomas Ward 58’), Roshan Kigozi, William Ledbury (Hayden Vally 62’), Seyi Akinwalere, Frankie Bushby, Jalil Page. Unused Substitutes: James Moore (GK), Brian Rai.

Goalscorers: Vally (78’), Tricker (85’)

Hanworth Villa Lineup: Albi Laci, Devan Ghedia, Geri Katana, Zidane Yousuf (George Starr 86’), Theo Curtis (Jack Potter 86’), Farhad Amiri, Bilal Ouardi, Louis Reynolds, Aiden Swaby, Mateo Vucicevic (Ramy Youcef Boucha 71’), Maxymilian Gryncewicz (Kieran Bhachu 71’).

Goalscorers: Amiri (44’), Boucha (90 + 4’ - Penalty)

Referee: Ian Oswald.



Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:

Monday 6th January

Lui Edwards, Forward, 4th year – Westfield: The match against Hartley Wintney in the Isthmian League - South Central Division (Step 4) was postponed.

Tuesday 7th January

Ethan Gold, Defender, 3rd year – Binfield: The match against Aylesbury Vale Dynamos in the Berks and Bucks County Senior Cup was postponed.

Saturday 11th January

Ellis Byrne, Central Midfield, 2nd year - Knaphill: The match against Redhill in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5) was postponed.

Lui Edwards, Forward, 4th year – Westfield: The match at Metropolitan Police in the Isthmian League - South Central Division (Step 4) was postponed.

Ethan Gold, Defender, 3rd year – Binfield: Came on as a substitute at half-time, with the score already 0 – 4, in the 0 – 5 defeat at Moneyfields in the Isthmian League - South Central Division (Step 4).

Oliver Mason, Central Midfield, 3rd year – Ascot United: The match at Ashford Town in the Isthmian League - South Central Division (Step 4) was won 2 – 1 by Ascot, with the winner coming on 90 + 1 minutes. Ollie then came on to see out the victory.

Ben Mitchell, Forward, 3rd year - Knaphill: The match against Redhill in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5) was postponed.

Harry White, Goalkeeper, 2nd year – Sandhurst Town: The match at Chipstead in the Combined Counties League - Premier Division South (Step 5) was postponed.

Shop Online

adidas Laithwaite Financial Services Boz's Fruit and Veg Jewson MKJ Peacock Construction Seymours The National League Vanarama

Woking Football Club Limited
A company incorporated in England and Wales (company number: ‍03329172)
Registered office The Laithwaite Community Stadium, Kingfield, Woking, Surrey, GU22 9AA

Click here to read our Data Protection Privacy Policy
Click here to read our Accessibility Statement