Academy Bulletin | Late winner for U23s

Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 29th January 2024

Wednesday 31st January

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

Woking College, Rydens Way

Thursday 1st February

19:30 – Woking U18 v Uxbridge U18, Isthmian Football League – Youth West Division

Knaphill FC, Redding Way



Match Reports – Week commencing Monday 22nd January

Monday 22nd January, Badshot Lea Colts U18 P - P Woking U18

Surrey Youth Midweek County Cup, 2nd Round, Badshot Lea FC

Postponed due to waterlogged pitch

Thursday 25th January, Woking U23 2 - 1 Harrow Borough U23

Suburban Football League – Premier Division; Knaphill FC, Redding Way

Whilst Welling United have a healthy lead at the top of the table, this looked as if it would be a close game between two sides hoping to move up from their respective fourth and sixth positions. This was a game that exemplified that only one statistic really counts.

As early as the eighth minute some excellent defending by Jacob Farr stopped Leandro Tardim in his tracks as he looked certain to run through and give Harrow Borough the lead.

Lui Edwards and Harry Newbould were linking well for Woking, but it was Jamal Sharpe who came closest to opening the scoring, getting on the end of a defence splitting pass and forcing a very good save from Woking’s Harry White.

Harrow Borough’s Hayden Brown found himself cautioned on 18 minutes for his cry of ‘yellow’ as he was fouled in midfield, one assumes that he was not requesting one for himself, but the referee obliged him anyway.

Harrow’s failure to finish their chances saw them fall behind on 20 minutes, Ben Mitchell’s cross was not cleared and when Newbould’s shot was parried, Keion Vassell was well placed to apply a neat finish.

Woking were now in the ascendency, and creating more chances than their opponents, with Newbould prominent in his linking the midfield to the attack. But Harrow were still dangerous and on 41 minutes they hit the post through Tardim, with Ollie Mason also called to White’s aid to ensure the half-time lead.

Half-time: Woking 1 – 0 Harrow Borough

Harrow started the second-half the brighter and had already forced White into two good saves when they equalised on 64 minutes. Astro Fashanu finishing a good passing move with an unstoppable low drive.

However, Harrow were not able to build on their goal, and with chances few and far between the game looked to be heading for a draw. That was until the 88th minute, when Lewis Myrtollari found himself space to shoot from close range, and with the help of a deflection netted Woking’s late winner.

Woking saw out the rest of the time well, and look well placed to challenge Bromley, St Albans and Aldershot for second place in the league table.

Woking: Harry White; Ryan Scott ©, Tom Gardner, Jack Matton, Jacob Farr; Alex Rihoy (Tommy Seale 81), Ollie Mason, Harry Newbould; Ben Mitchell (Charlie Robertson 89), Lui Edwards, Keion Vassell (Lewis Myrtollari 83): Unused subs: Bob Honey (GK), Sam Wright.

Goals: Vassell 20, Myrtollari 88.

Harrow Borough: Elliott Brocklehurst; Nasir Sharifi, Finlay Eames-Illingworth, Chama Torsiello ©, Lucas Torre (Joshua Woodroffe 83); Astro Fashanu, Ryley Campbell, Jamie Kennedy; Hayden Brown (Muhammed Asam 85), Leandro Tardim, Jamal Sharpe (Ben Amos 85). Unused subs: Danna Pervaneh, Victor Nwokorro.

Goal: Fashanu 64.

Referee: Ernie Moore

Man of the Match: Jack Matton – Jack was being watched by his manager at Binfield, Ross Weatherstone, where he is on loan, and was his usual tidy self, showing composure in all his defensive tasks, and nearly scoring with a header from a corner which was cleared off the line. We were pleased to see that another Binfield win at the weekend put Jack 2 wins from 2 for the Moles.

Other loan news: Congratulations too to Ben Mitchell who scored on his debut for Guildford City as they drew at Knaphill.