Academy Bulletin | Week Twenty Two

Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 20th January 2025

Wednesday 22nd January

11:30 – Woking U17 v Charlton Athletic Trust U17; National League Alliance – Division E

Woking College, Rydens Way

Thursday 23rd January

19:30 – Woking U18 v Kingstonian U18; Isthmian League – Central 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 13th January 2025

Monday 13th January

Metropolitan Police U18 2 - 1 Woking U18; Isthmian League - Central Division

Imber Court Sports Club, Ember Lane

Report from Holly Porter

An exciting top-of-the-table clash unfolded on Monday evening, as the young Cards travelled to face Metropolitan Police in the hope of extending their lead at the top of the league. At the start of the day, Woking sat two points ahead of their opponents but, having played one extra game, they needed a win on the road to reinforce their place in the top spot.

The home side put them under immediate pressure, getting through on goal within the opening 30 seconds of the fixture, calling Lacey into early action. Lees played in White, and coming out to meet the shot, Lacey did well to save with his hands, but it was not long until he was called into action again.

Shortly after Akinwalere’s cross was blocked at the other end in the 2nd minute, Lacey reacted quickly to a ball over the top from Met Police, coming out of his box to clear with his feet before the home side could have a shot at goal.

An early opener for Met Police quickly followed, with the advantage gained in the 6th minute. After a poor clearance the ball fell back into the path of the Police attack, Basaranoglu played the ball through Woking’s defence into Blenkley, who made no mistake and slotted past Lacey, giving the ‘keeper no chance.

Woking did not let their heads drop after the early setback, creating plenty of chances to level the scoreline, but Met Police certainly continued to look threatening on the attack as well. Woking charged forward in the 8th minute, Vally went down in the box, with penalty shouts from the travelling side, but with a clear view, the referee waved the appeal away. At the other end Lacey was forced to come out of his box again and clear the threat moments later as Met Police attempted a quick move forward.

In the 12th minute, Boyle was brought down just outside the box, which earned his side a free kick in a very promising position. Malhotra stood over the ball, delivering a cross that forced the keeper to make contact. The punch from Dean did not eliminate the threat, but the subsequent cross back in was well defended by Met Police, and the possession turned over once again.

In the 15th minute, the home side earned a free kick in a dangerous position, with the attempted defensive header from Woking going towards goal. Lacey, however, was once again there to eliminate any threat.

The closest that Met Police came to a second in the first 20 minutes was when Morton put in a troubling cross over the top of the Woking defence, with a runner at the back post getting a touch. The contact wasn’t enough to beat a diving Lacey, with the flag raised for offside anyway.

The rest of the first half was much the same as the first 20 minutes, with action at both ends, plenty of turnover of possession, good attacking play from both sides, and a goal for the home side.

Another good chance for Woking fell with a free kick in the 22nd minute, which Malhotra took once again. This time, he played it short to Boyle whose cross cleared the box, with the ball then being controlled on the far side. The subsequent shot went over the bar, but Woking continued to apply the pressure as they searched for the equaliser.

Another free kick presented another chance for Woking to equalise Met Police’s early opener. Malhotra’s delivery was defended by the home side at the first time of asking but they consequently conceded a corner in the 29th minute. Malhotra stood over the set piece again, and this time the ball was headed out and away from goal without too much trouble.

In the 31st minute, an excellent ball from Christophers found Akinwalere running into the box, one-on-one with the keeper. Dean, however, did excellently to come out of his goal, meeting the shot and making a crucial block to keep his side in the lead.

Straight back down the other end, Met Police nearly doubled their advantage, when Morton showed his attacking threat again, driving into the box and finding Campbell, whose shot hit the bar on its way over.

After this, it did not take long for Met Police to get their second of the evening. The ball, initially squared into the box, was half-cleared by Woking, but the second delivery in quick succession proved to be costly, as Basaranoglu headed into Lacey’s net in the 36th minute.

Woking carried on creating their chances going forward, and just three minutes after the second goal was netted, Akinwalere headed goalward, but the ball looped just wide of the left post before the flag was raised for offside.

Still, a strong showing going forward, Kigozi was the next to get into a promising position in the box. Despite a lot of defensive pressure from Met Police, Kigozi did well to keep hold of it, but in the end the ball went out for a goal kick.

In the 43rd minute, a threatening cross from Met Police was well read by Boyle, who not only did well to get the first touch but also made the second contact to clear the ball for a throw as opposed to a corner. The throw-in resulted in Met Police having a shot from range, which Lacey was equal to, but this was not their last attack before half-time.

In the first minute of stoppage time, Woking had to block a shot from close range in a crowded box to deny the home side a third before the half-time whistle, Rigby with the block. Successfully cleared, the damage was limited before half-time, but nonetheless with work to do for the young Cards in the second half.

Half-time: Metropolitan Police 2 – 0 Woking

An early second half chance for Woking fell in the 46th minute, with another Malhotra free-kick. The ball into the box lacked the final execution from Woking, but a poor clearance from Met Police saw Christophers eye up a shot on the edge of the box. Although the shot went over the bar, it was a promising start to the second half from the travelling side.

Met Police also started the second half well. In the 47th minute, they flashed a ball across the face of Lacey’s goal, which reestablished their attacking threat early in the half. In the 50th minute, Newbold put a good ball through for the home side, but Rigby was in the right place and blocked the subsequent cross. One last cross in this attacking phase from Met Police was deep, and looked to be heading towards the top right corner, but in the end went wide.

It didn’t take the Cards long to get themselves back into the fixture, courtesy of a neat Vally finish. Lacey’s quick and accurate kick out to Page saw an excellent drive forward down the right wing, followed by a well-executed pass to Vally, who controlled and fired past Dean to get one back for the travelling side.

Woking came close to drawing level in the 56th minute. After Malhotra’s free kick from the left-hand side of the box was parried for a corner by Dean, Rigby’s header from the corner smashed into the crossbar, and the search did not stop there.

In the 59th minute, Kigozi placed a good through ball, but in the end it had too much on it and rolled through for the home keeper to collect. Moments later, Kigozi attempts another through ball, and after the initial effort was defended, Malhotra was there to complete the pass, but Met Police read the game well and were able to get back and defend before the attack became too much of a threat.

Much like Woking in the first half, in the 65th minute, Met Police appealed for a penalty, which was once again waved away by the referee. This did not silence the Met Police attack, however, with Lacey called into action again in the 66th minute. This time, the shot was straight at him, but he held it well.

In the 71st minute, Malhotra played an excellent ball to Kigozi, who was running forward, but his shot went over in what was to be his last kick of the game.

Yet another free kick was awarded to Woking in the 73rd minute, as Bassey sent Page flying down just inside the Met Police half. Malhotra took once again, but Page could not make contact in the box, and Met Police subsequently regained possession and played out.

In a spell of strong Woking pressure, Malhotra took another free kick, this time from the right-hand side, but Dean punched away to eliminate the threat in the 74th minute. The home keeper also made a strong claim in the 78th minute, getting above everyone else to catch the ball from Malhotra’s corner before any Woking contact.

In the 79th minute, Vally ran forward, finding Tricker unmarked on his left, but the shot from the substitute was straight at the keeper. Moments later, Tricker was involved again, but this time his cross went over the bar. A defensive involvement for Tricker shortly followed. He read the ball well in the 82nd minute, and intercepted the through ball on a Met Police attack, extending his impact from the bench.

In the 83rd minute, Akinwalere’s shot from outside the box was stopped by Dean, who got down and held the ball well to take some of the momentum out of the Woking attack.

The search for the equaliser continued into the five minutes added on, most notably with Vally’s executed shot after the travelling side did well to hold possession and cross it into the box. The shot, however, was once again met by Dean, and at full-time the young Cards were denied any points on the road.

Metropolitan Police Lineup: Harry Dean, Levi Samuels, Frankie Morton, Jose Atiencia (Charlie Bailey 62’), Ted Wallis, Freddie Lees (Josh Bassey 46’), Christian Newbold, Kassa Campbell (Max Rhodes 71’), Oliver White (Jojo Stanley 89’), Daghan Basaranoglu ©, Liam Blenkley (Jacob Landau 80’).

Goalscorers: Blenkley (6’), Basaranoglu (37’).

Woking Lineup: Jools Lacey, Louie Boyle © (Frankie Bushby 87’), Ollie Rigby, Dillan Davies, Joe Frawley, Leo Christophers (Will Ledbury 69’), Amario Malhotra, Seyi Akinwalere, Jalil Page, Roshan Kigozi (Jack Tricker 72’), Hayden Vally. Unused substitutes: Aaron Zziwa (GK), Mason Drew.

Goalscorer: Vally (51’).

Referee: Daniel Bright, Assistant 1: David Treherne, Assistant 2: Gary Taylor.

Attendance: 31.



Wednesday 15th January

Boreham Wood U19 1 - 1 Woking U19 (Half-time 1 – 0); National League Academy – South Division

Meadow Park, Broughinge Road, Borehamwood

Woking: Mikey Verga, Ryan Scott (Tommy Seale 65), Tom Gardner ©, Aidy Silverstein, Jacob Farr, Jermaine Junior Young (Leo Christophers 46), Henry McDonald, Ben Mitchell, Lucas Boxall, Harvey Brook (Jack Lewis 46), Seyi Akinwalere. Unused subs: Charlie Sweeney, Tom Dryer.

Goal: Akinwalere 78.



Thursday 16th January

Woking U21 4 – 1 St Albans City Reserves; Suburban Football League – Premier Division

Knaphill FC, Redding Way.

Report from Ian Tilley

Whilst a victory for the visitors would have seen them go ahead of Woking in to second place in the league, this convincing win for the Cards kept them closest to leaders Bromley. The reverse fixture earlier in the season had seen a 3 – 3 draw, with Harvey Brook scoring an added-time equaliser for Woking, and St Albans start suggested a similarly close game.

Woking did come close from a second minute free-kick, Tommy Seale’s delivery causing the St Albans defence problems, but the offside flag was up before Woking could get the ball in the net. But St Albans were full of energy and their intensity gave them the upper hand, with Joe Beardon unlucky not to see his excellent cross turned home.

However, Woking stayed with St Albans, and it was the Cards who were back in control with a 19th minute opener. Jojo Ampah started the move and when the ball fell to Ollie Mason in the penalty area he drove home emphatically. Mason wearing a strapping on his shoulder as he made his first start on his return from his dislocated shoulder.

Both sides threatened the next goal. Seale and Mason were both called on for recovery challenges, whilst Charlie Fitzsimmons shot was straight at Aaron Zziwa. At the other end Woking were again caught offside, but they extended their league on 27 minutes. Mason was fouled in the penalty area, and took the kick himself, a great hit into the bottom corner.

St Albans responded well, and after Beardon had hit a free-kick straight at Zziwa they did not have to wait long to halve the deficit. A rather scrambled affair, with Zziwa twice saving from Durrell Phillips, before the rebound drifted goalwards and George Galea-Elston found himself unable to hook the ball away as it crossed the line.

The play went to the other end, Ampah playing the ball across goal but without receiving a finishing touch. On 42 minutes the two-goal advantage was restored. Ampah battled well for possession on the edge of the penalty area, and when the ball broke to Jalil Page he struck the ball superbly from 15 yards into the top corner.

Half-time: Woking 3 – 1 St Albans City

St Albans were reinvigorated by the break and on 52 minutes Zziwa made a solid double-save to maintain the two-goal lead. A few minutes later Harrison Stevens and Zziwa both made blocks from Phillips attempts, and the visitors also came close with a far-post header going narrowly wide. A Fitzsimmons shot then crashed off the bar as Woking fought to re-establish their authority.

As in the first-half, Woking did come back in to the match. Sam Brittain first getting a shot away, and then winning a free-kick on the edge of the area, after a fine Seale through-ball. Although that free-kick came to nothing, Woking’s fourth was not far away, coming in the 67th minute.

The introduction of Amario Malhotra allowed Mason to push forwards a little, and it would be his pass which set-up the overlapping Jack Lewis to put over a cross which was finished by Ampah, controlling and firing home from close-range. Matters were made worse for St Albans as Alfie Bigg was cautioned for a rash challenge in the build-up, which Mason did well to evade, and then sent-off for a second caution after his show of dissent to the first.

A three-goal lead established, Woking played out the game well, and could have added to their lead. Lewis’ shot hit the bar, Harvey Brook finished a good run with a shot which called Josh Dunton in to action, and Bobby Lawrence tested Dunton with both a shot (after a fine dribble), and a header.

Woking now find themselves in a solid second place, with forthcoming fixtures which should give them the opportunity to strengthen their position.

Woking: Aaron Zziwa, George Galea-Elston, Harrison Stevens, Charlie Sweeney, James Orton (Saadiq Bangura–Kerr 77), Tommy Seale, Ollie Mason © (Bobby Lawrence 77), Jack Lewis, Sam Brittain (Amario Malhotra 64), Jojo Ampah, Jalil Page (Harvey Brook 71). Unused sub: Jack Roles (GK).

Goals: Mason 19, 27 (pen), Page 42, Ampah 67.

St Albans City: Josh Dunton, Gabe Ward, James Beasley, Alfie Bigg ©, Chris Coulouby, Ben Smith, Sam Cooper, Joe Beardon, Kye Scott, Durrell Phillips, Charlie Fitzsimmons. Subs: Feroz Hamzie, Fatjon Uke, Alex Penn, Harry Patrick.

Goal: Phillips 35.

Referee: David Cox, Assistant 1: David Osborn, Assistant 2: Kenneth Murray.



Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:

Tuesday 14th January

Ellis Byrne, Central Midfield, 2nd year - Knaphill: Played the first 48 minutes of the 0 – 6 defeat to Leatherhead in the Surrey Senior Cup Second Round.

Ethan Gold, Defender, 3rd year – Binfield: Started the match, but unfortunately was sent off just before half-time of the 2 – 1 victory over Aylesbury Vale Dynamos in the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup 4th round.

Oliver Mason, Central Midfield, 3rd year – Ascot United: Came on as a 74th minute substitute with the score already 2 – 3, in the 2 – 3 defeat against Hungerford Town in the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup 4th round.

Ben Mitchell, Forward, 3rd year - Knaphill: Did not play in the 0 – 6 defeat to Leatherhead in the Surrey Senior Cup Second Round.

Saturday 18th January

Ellis Byrne, Central Midfield, 2nd year - Knaphill: Played the full match in the 0 – 1 defeat at Horley Town in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).

Lui Edwards, Forward, 4th year – Westfield: Came on as a 66th minute substitute in the 1 – 2 defeat against Guernsey in the Isthmian League - South Central Division (Step 4).

Ethan Gold, Defender, 3rd year – Binfield: Played the full game in the 1 – 0 victory over Metropolitan Police in the Isthmian League - South Central Division (Step 4). A game in which Binfield were down to ten men before half-time.

Oliver Mason, Central Midfield, 3rd year – Ascot United: Was not involved in the 0 – 1 defeat to Hanworth Villa in the Isthmian League - South Central Division (Step 4). Ex-Woking Captain Josh Casey was in the Villa team.

Ben Mitchell, Forward, 3rd year - Knaphill: Played the first 62 minutes, before being substituted, of the 0 – 1 defeat at Horley Town in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).

Byron Mitchell, Forward, 2nd year – Sheerwater: Came on as a 77th minute substitute, with the score already 6 - 1, in the 6 - 1 victory over Chipstead in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).

Louis Pask, Midfielder, 2nd year – Camberley Town: Came on as a 75th minute substitute in the 4 – 4 draw at Corinthian Casuals in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5). Ex-Woking Academy player Denny Roberts was one of Camberley’s goalscorers.

Harry White, Goalkeeper, 2nd year – Sandhurst Town: The home match against Tadley Calleva in the Combined Counties League - Premier Division South (Step 5) was full of twists and turns. Despite some great saves Harry could not prevent his sides 4 – 5 defeat in a game where they had come from 0 – 2 down to 4 – 2 up. Tadley Calleva then scoring on 83, 86 and 90+1 minutes.

Other News:

Congratulations to Tom Dryer and Leo Christophers who joined the First Team Squad for the National League Cup Group A game against Derby County U21s on 14th January. Dryer getting game time as an 89th minute substitute replacing Jermaine Anderson.