Academy Bulletin | Mixed Bag of Results

A mixed bag of results for the academy last week.


Upcoming Fixtures – W/C 4th December

Wednesday 6th December

13.30 - Charlton Athletic Trust v Woking U19B, National League Alliance, Division E

Charlton Athletic FC Training Ground, Sparrows Lane



Thursday 7th December

19.30 - Woking U18 v Bracknell Town U18, Isthmian Football League, Youth West Division

Knaphill FC, Redding Way



Friday 8th December

19.45 - Bromley U23 v Woking U23, Suburban Football League, Premier Division

Hayes Lane, Bromley



Match Reports & Results: Week commencing 27th November

27th November, Uxbridge U18 0 - 4 Woking U18

Isthmian Football League, Youth West Division; Honeycroft, West Drayton

With Uxbridge having only played two league games due to their cup commitments, it was difficult to gauge if Woking would get back to winning ways after their defeat to Camberley Town. The first half was a scrappy, even affair and didn’t really indicate what was to follow in the second half.

Important in the first half was some sound goalkeeping from Harry White in the Woking goal, including one excellent save from Omojola Ayo Runmi when he looked sure to drive home his shot. Woking were unable to take advantage of their half chances and it was Uxbridge who had perhaps the better chances and would soon rue not breaking the deadlock.

Half-time: Uxbridge 0 – 0 Woking

Woking took the lead within three minutes of the restart, excellent close passing setting up Stan Kyle for a neat finish from 12 yards in to the bottom corner. Ten minutes later it was two, Tom Dryer heading home from a well-worked corner routine as Woking exposed an obvious Uxbridge weakness.

The third came on 67 minutes, Ellis Byrne’s usual quality free-kick delivery headed home by Dryer, who had freed himself from his marker with the simplest of movements. The fourth, on 76 minutes, saw another well-worked corner, driven accurately past the ‘keeper by Stan Kyle.

A minute later Harry White was to the fore again, this time making a very good save when Lucas Hardy seemed sure to score. The game drew to a close with Uxbridge pressing, but lacking real threat, and Woking’s players lining up to score as a number of chances presented themselves, but failing to add a fifth goal.

A game where Woking’s better organisation at both defensive and offensive set plays was notable, and where Uxbridge’s response to adversity could have been better.

Woking: Harry White; Harrison Wood (Liam van der Ross 64), Harrison Stevens, Aidy Silverstein; Liam Manby, Ellis Byrne ©, Tommy Seale, Jacob Farr; Sam Brittain (Louis Pask 67), Stanley Kyle (Byron Mitchell 76), Tom Dryer. Unused Subs: Bob Honey (GK), Lucas Boxall.

Goals: Kyle 48, 76; Dryer 57, 67.



29th November, Dover Athletic U19 4 – 0 Woking U19

National League Alliance, Academy South; The Abbey School, Faversham

Woking: Lewis Mouland, Ryan Scott, Ellis Byrne, Tom Gardner, Jayden Wynter, Lucas Boxall, Ollie Mason, Louis Pask, Harry Newbould, Lui Edwards, K-Jay Bailey. Substitutes: Louie Sullivan, Tom Dryer, Bradley Murphy, Lewis Mytollari.



29th November, Woking U19B 1 - 1 Eastleigh Blues

National League Alliance, Division E; Woking College, Rydens Way

A fortnight after Woking’s NL Alliance Cup exit against the same opposition, the Cards were to become the first team to take a point against Eastleigh in this season’s league program.

Eastleigh appear to be a side that aren’t particularly enjoyable to referee, but Yuvras Landa getting himself sent off after five minutes for slapping an opponent around the face was still surprising.

Eastleigh were still very strong, although one wonders if their impressive vocal output could be more encouraging both of each other, as well as the official’s efforts.

An otherwise uneventful half did see Woking go close to taking the lead on 41 minutes. Jayden Smith’s excellent cross was headed towards goal by Liam Manby but was well saved by Oliver Harrison.

Half-time: Woking 0 – 0 Eastleigh

Eastleigh took the lead within five minutes of the restart. A well-worked corner routine finished by Lewis Colvin heading home at the far post, with Woking’s desperate attempts to clear the ball off the line proving unsuccessful.

Despite the best efforts of both teams there was little action of real note, and it looked like Eastleigh would secure the victory. With five minutes of the ninety remaining the referee’s patience finally ran out and Eastleigh had both a player and a member of their coaching staff booked for dissent within a minute of each other.

And in the 43rd minute Woking were level. Aidy Silverstein looping his header over Harrison from Tommy Seale’s free kick.

Eastleigh could have got a winner in added time but were unable to capitalise on their chances. Whilst Seale found himself booked for a dive in the penalty area which wasn’t fooling anyone.

Woking: Bob Honey; George Elston, Ben Smith, Aidy Silverstein; Jayden Smith (Sean Bull 76), Tommy Seale, Charlie Sweeney (JJ Young 72), James Orton; Liam Manby; Byron Mitchell, Harvey Brook. Unused Sub: Mikey Verga (GK).

Goal: Silverstein 88.



30th November, Woking U23 2 - 2 Aldershot Town U23

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


On a freezing cold evening, in front of a healthy academy crowd of over fifty hardy souls, it was Woking who took the lead on ten minutes, Ryan Scott’s excellent right-wing cross headed home superbly by Lewis Mytollari. Woking, both organised and disciplined, looked to have the upper hand, but Aldershot were to strike back.

Using the ball in behind the defence effectively, a smart passing move led to Zion Nditi meeting the ball six yards out and beating Louie Sullivan with an unstoppable low drive.

Having equalised on 37 minutes, Aldershot took the lead as the half entered added time. Joe Lewis-Evans build-up play fed Harry Thorpe 12 yards out, and his low crisp shot went in off Sullivan’s near post. Aldershot should have had a third before half-time, Sullivan misjudged the pace on a through ball, allowing Luis Hamblin to shoot, and when the rebound off the post fell to Thorpe he blasted over the empty net.


Half-time: Woking 1 – 2 Aldershot Town

What had been a good-natured affair did have a flashpoint seven minutes in to the second-half. Hamblin and Jack Matton booked for their troubles after more players than necessary got involved in some ‘handbags’ after a strong Woking challenge. On the hour Aldershot’s Joseph Throp managed to achieve the yellow card he’d appeared to be looking for, by kicking the ball away from a Woking free-kick.

A game without real pattern looked to be suiting Aldershot more, and if anything, they looked the more likely side to score. But when Ben Mitchell went down in the penalty area the referee considered the challenge to be unfair enough for a penalty. Harry Newbould gave Woking their 84th minute equaliser with his emphatic conversion.

This was the last meaningful action and gave Woking a well earnt share of the points.


Woking: Louie Sullivan; Jack Matton, Harrison Stevens, Ethan Gold ©, Ryan Scott (Tom Dryer 82), Jamie Hilton (Alex Rihoy 68), Ollie Mason, Jacob Farr (Harry Newbould 63); Aiden Payne-James (K-Jay Bailey 76); Lewis Mytollari (Lui Edwards 70), Ben Mitchell. Unused Subs: Harry White (GK), Owen Sims.

Goals: Mytollari 10, Newbould 84 pen.



Further news:

28th November, Woking 3 - 2 Colliers Wood United, Surrey Senior Cup, Second Round.

Laithwaite Community Stadium, Woking. Attendance: 223

A number of Academy players joined the first team for this fixture. Four started, Marco Underwood in goal, Jack Matton at right back, Jamie Hilton in central midfield and Ben Mitchell in an attacking role. They were joined from the substitutes bench by Aiden Payne-James and Ethan Gold. All of them gave a good account of both themselves and the work of the Academy.

For up-to-date information on fixtures refer to the Woking Football Club Academy twitter page, and the weekly post on cardsboard.co.uk