Academy Bulletin | Mixed Week for Resilient Cards
Ian Tilley
12:00pm, Tue 14th Nov 2023
The Young Cards have had a mixed set of results in the past week.
Upcoming Fixtures – W/C 13th November
Monday 13th November
19:45 – Walton & Hersham U18 vs. Woking U18
Isthmian Youth League Cup, 3rd Round
Walton & Hersham FC, Elmbridge XCEL Leisure Centre
Wednesday 15th November
11:00 – Woking U19B vs. Eastleigh Blues
National League Alliance League Cup, 2nd Round
Woking College
14:00 – Woking U19 vs. Maidenhead United U19
National League Alliance, Academy South
Westfield FC
Thursday 16th November
19:30 – Woking U23 vs. Flackwell Heath U23
Michael Bidmead Challenge (League) Cup
Knaphill FC
Match Reports and Results – W/C 6th November
8th November, National League U19 Alliance – Division E
Woking U19B 1 Bromley Whites 4; Woking College
Woking’s U17s (who usually represent the club in this division), started the game on level points with their opponents, but found Bromley, although similar in age, to be stronger on the day. As often seems to be the case at the college, the wind and rain did not help proceedings.
The pattern of play was established as early as the 3rd minute, with Bromley’s Dawid Przybylo, who was notable throughout, forcing Bob Honey to tip his shot over the bar.
Although Woking’s Jack Bashford had seen his shot well saved, Bromley had had a number of chances, and a goal disallowed for offside, before they took the lead on 34 minutes. Charlie Paye forcing home the rebound when his header from a corner was saved.
With Woking’s resistance broken, Bromley were to be 3-0 up by half-time. Casey Hewett scored them both, first making the most of a chance created by Przybylo’s wing-play, and then giving Honey no chance from the penalty spot after a foul on Jeffery Okoro.
Half-time: Woking 0 Bromley Whites 3
Woking made changes both to personnel and positions for the second-half, and looked more secure with Aidy Silverstein moving from midfield to a more familiar centre-back role. Although they could have been better prepared, with Jayden Smith missing from action whilst he put in some shin-guards.
The second-half was much more evenly contested, and Bashford was able to force a save from Harry Haines in the Bromley goal, before Przybylo hit narrowly over as he sought his own well-deserved goal.
It was too late to make a difference to the outcome, but Woking did find a goal in the 85th minute, and a goal of quality too, James Olton dribbling through the Bromley defence and firing home.
There was still time for Przybylo to get his name on the scoresheet, finishing confidently when played through on goal. And Bromley nearly had a fifth, with Paye shooting narrowly wide from the edge of the area.
Woking will now need victories over the other teams above them if they are to rise above the mid-table positions in this 11-team division.
Woking Starting XI: Bob Honey ©; Alvaro Picon, Sam Cook, Ben Smith (Sean Bull 46); Jayden Smith, Aidy Silverstein, Jay-Jay Young (Saadiq Kerr 70), James Olton; Ollie Saword (Roshaun Cooper 46); Harvey Brook (Byron Mitchell 46), Jack Bashford. Unused Sub: Dom Wall.
Goal: Olton 85.
Bromley Starting XI: Harry Haines; Charlie Paye ©, Archie Cassidy (Teddy Taylor 65), Harry Murray (Naison O’Neill 65); Jeffery Okoro (Harry English 65), Liam Carpenter, Alfie Hilden, Dawid Przybylo; Yuvi Mann; Charlie Phillips (Joshua Adegoke 75), Casey Hewett (Lennie Cherry 65).
Goals: Paye 34, Hewett 37, 43 (pen), Przybylo 90+1.
8th November, National League U19 Alliance - Academy South Division
Oxford City (0) 2 Woking (0) 2; Court Place Farm, Oxford
Woking Starting XI: Louie Sullivan, Charlie Robertson, Tom Gardner, Ethan Gold, Ryan Scott, Ollie Mason, Harrison Stevens, Sam Brittain, Tom Dryer, Lui Edwards, Jayden Langford.
Substitutes: Lewis Mouland (GK), Harry Newbould, Aiden Payne-James, Lewis Myrtollari.
Woking Goals: (coming from 0-2 down) Dryer, Myrtollari.
9th November, Surrey Midweek Floodlit Cup, First Round
Woking U18 6 Raynes Park Vale U18 0; Redding Way, Knaphill FC
Woking took a break from their winning start to the Isthmian West Division to welcome their opponents from the Combined Counties League East Division. With a rain shower dampening an already chilly evening, the shelter provided at Knaphill was very welcome.
The sense that a lack of confidence was undermining Raynes Park grew worse as Woking took the lead on three minutes. Stanley Kyle crossing for Ellis Byrne to drive home from the edge of the area, with Freddie Ausling visibly seeking to encourage his teammates after the concession.
Ausling nearly had an equaliser after 16 minutes, chasing down Bob Honey’s clearance and deflecting the ball over the bar. And on 32 minutes he cut inside his defender but pulled his shot wide.
As it started to look like things might not be as straightforward for Woking as they first appeared, they had a second, and from a Vale throw-in. Louis Pask providing the finish to Byrne’s great wing play.
It was only a few minutes until Woking had their third. Liam Manby’s excellent pass out of defence releasing Harvey Brook down the right, and his fine cross put the ball on a plate for Byron Mitchell to sweep home.
It had perhaps been a bit of a scrappy performance by Woking’s standards, but the trademark passing and movement was still in evidence, giving Raynes Park plenty of reason to be doubting themselves.
Half-time: Woking 3 Raynes Park Vale 0
The second-half continued where the first had left off. Pask forcing a save, and the referee cautioning the Raynes Park management for their over-exuberant encouragements. Whilst Harrison Wood’s reading of the game and passing out from the back exemplified Woking’s dominance.
Any feint hope Vale had was gone on 62 minutes. Pask winning, and scoring, a penalty, with Will Gartrell sent off for his opinion regarding the referee. Raynes Park had lost their way, with Ray Benbow’s rash challenge on Lucas Boxall earning him a yellow card and a “well done” from a teammate.
On 80 minutes it was five, Oliver Tully bringing Jacob Farr down, with Farr himself just squeezing his penalty under the ‘keeper. The sixth rounded things off with Tom Dryer starting and finishing another sweeping move with a fine strike from the edge of the area.
Woking Starting XI: Bob Honey; Liam Manby (James Olton 71), Aidy Silverstein, Harrison Wood; Harvey Brook, Ellis Byrne © (Lucas Boxall 67), Tommy Seale, Jacob Farr; Stanley Kyle (Sam Brittain 64); Byron Mitchell, Louis Pask (Tom Dryer 64). Unused Sub: Harry White (GK)
Goals: Byrne 3, Pask 36, 62 (pen), Mitchell 40, Farr 80 (pen), Dryer 88
Raynes Park Vale Starting XI: Marky Savage, Dawid Krol, Oliver Tully ©, Jacob Evans, Aaron Moody, Oscar Lutz, Ray Benbow, Alfie Maidment, Frankie Cook, Freddie Ausling, Freddie Taylor. Substitutes: Archie Shaw, Joe Bannon, Shae Roberts, Will Gartrell
11th November, Suburban Football League - Premier Division
Harrow Borough U23 2 Woking U23 3; Earlsmead Stadium, Harrow
Woking Starting XI: Lewis Mouland, Ryan Scott, Jack Matton, Jayden Langford, Ethan Gold, Oliver Mason, Jayden Wynter, Lucas Boxall, Aiden Payne-James, K-Jay Bailey, Lewis Myrtollari
Substitutes: Keion’Dre Ellis-Vassell, Harry Newbould
Woking Goals: Bailey x2, Myrtollari