Academy Bulletin | U18s back on top of the league

Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 18th March 2024

Monday 18th March

19:30 – Hampton & Richmond Borough U18 v Woking U18

Isthmian Football League – Youth West Division; Bedfont Sports FC, Hatton Road, Feltham

Wednesday 20th March

14:00 – Maidenhead United U19 v Woking U19, National League Alliance – Academy South

Berkshire College of Agriculture, Hall Place, Burchetts Green Road

Thursday 21st March

19:30 – Woking U23 v AFC Dunstable U23; Suburban Football League

Knaphill FC, Redding Way

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



Match Reports – Week commencing 11th March

Tuesday 12th March - Marlow U23 P - P Woking U23, Suburban League Cup Plate, Quarter – Final

Alfred Davis Memorial Ground, Oak Tree Road; Postponed due to waterlogged pitch



Wednesday 13th March - Woking U17 3 - 2 Hertford Town Whites

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

A rather up-and-down spell of form continued for the under 17s as they bounced back from their previous games 1 – 4 reverse against Eastleigh.

This match did not start well. Harvey Brook had already seen Haydan Stanbrook make a double save to thwart him twice, when an error of judgement put Woking 0 – 1 behind, Sean Bull not blocking Albert McGreogor’s corner, only to turn round to see the ball nestling in the back of the net.

Brook nearly levelled on 12 minutes but having sneaked between goalkeeper and defender to win the ball, was dismayed to see his side foot towards the open goal somehow go wide.

Hertford were passing the ball better than their opponents, with Charlie Sweeney not looking as comfortable as he might in the midfield holding role, but the game was scrappy, and both sides were struggling with their final passes and taking of chances.

It wasn’t until the 42nd minute that a very good Woking move levelled the scores. JJ Young played a fine ball to release Saadiq Bangura-Kerr in the inside-right channel, and his pin-point cross was neatly tapped home by Brook, making sure of his finish this time.

Half-time: Woking 1 – 1 Hertford

Woking bought on Jack Bashford for Sweeney at half-time to freshen up the midfield, but it was Hertford who were back in the lead within two minutes of the restart. Roshaun Cooper losing possession on the edge of the area, and Kai Somers giving Louie Sullivan no chance with a fine hit in to the top corner.

Woking made further changes in an attempt to wrestle back control, but were still strugling to find their rhythm. Hertford might well have increased their lead, but Woking were back on level terms after 71 minutes. Ollie Saword saw his shot come back off the bar, and Bashford was on hand to control and finish.

Five minutes later Woking had the winner. Saword played in Brook and he took the chance excellently, controlling with a great first touch before slotting the ball under Stanbrook.

Neither side could add to the scoring as Woking clinched the victory, but the Cards were indebted to a fantastic last-minute save from Sullivan as he stretched to keep Henry Bishop’s header from going in to the top corner.

Woking: Louie Sullivan; Max Goldsworthy (James Orton 55), Ben Smith, George Elston, Sean Bull; Charlie Sweeney (c) (Jack Bashford 46), Saadiq Bangura-Kerr, JJ Young, Roshaun Cooper (Ollie Saword 55), Jayden Smith; Harvey Brook. Unused sub: Mikey Verga (GK).

Goals: Brook 42, 76, Bashford 71.

Hertford: Hayden Stanbrook; Kairo Anthony (c), Razie Ahmed, Joseph Kenna, Harry Kent (Harry Foot 64); Henry Bishop, Joe Walker (Desmond Yobouet 58), Kai Somers, Albert McGregor, George Andreou (Flynn Eley 71); Morgan Ducran (Samuel Chibo 89).

Goals: McGregor 3, Somers 47.



Wednesday 13 March – Woking U19 P - P v Dover Athletic U19

National League Alliance – Academy South; Westfield FC, Woking Park;

Postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.



Thursday 14th March – Haywards Heath Town U18 0 - 4 Woking U18

Isthmian Football League – Youth West Division; Hanbury Park, Allen Road

Another match that could have been lost to the weather had the torrential rain the game was finished in come earlier in the evening. As it was Woking were able to take advantage of Camberley’s 5 – 2 defeat at Bracknell Town on Tuesday evening, to return to the top of the league.

Woking started brightly and were 2 up within seven minutes. Stanley Kyle heading home at the near post from a corner, before Tom Dryer chased down a back-pass, blocked Callum McVicar’s attempted clearance, and tapped the ball in to the open goal.

This start made the evening rather straightforward for Woking, although there was nearly a mishap after 34 minutes, with Mikey Verga having to run back and dive on the goalbound ball after a misjudgement on his behalf.

It was Woking who looked most likely to get the next goal, although Aidy Silverstein did have to make one blocking challenge, but Haywards Heath somehow survived any further damage, with a goalmouth scramble coming to nothing, Byron Mitchell hitting the bar, and Dryer’s excellent crosses from wide not being met with a finishing touch.

Half-time: Haywards Heath Town 0 – 2 Woking

Heath had already survived another goalmouth scramble before Woking were three to the good after 57 minutes. A great goal from Sam Brittain, whose Cruyff turn beat the defender all ends up before a drilled finish in to the far corner which gave McVicar no chance.

A superb double-save from McVicar kept the score down, but he could do little to stop Woking making it four on 81 minutes. Louis Pask won the ball really well, drove forward, and played in Harvey Brook, on as a subsitute having scored twice for the under 17s the previous day, to slot in to the bottom corner.

Brittain and Brook both came close to making it five, McVicar making another stunning save from Brittain’s effort, but still an emphatic result for the Cards as they return to the top of the league.

Woking now know that if they win their 3 remaining games they will be champions, although Hampton & Richmond Borough, Beaconsfield Town and especially Camberley Town, will hope to have something to say about that.

Haywards Heath Town: Callum McVicar, Ben Ryder, Danny Johnston (Elliot Rhys-Williams 20), Harry Isherwood, Sam Quickfall (Stanley Flower 70), George Adlington, Frankie Osborne (Max Ward 74), Nathan Blake, Louis Keane, Oscar Kemp, Riley Cross. Unused sub: Jacob Emerson.

Woking: Mikey Verga; Louis Pask, Tom Gardner, Aidy Silverstein, James Orton (JJ Young 71); Tommy Seale, Tom Dryer (Harvey Brook 60), Lucas Boxall, Stanley Kyle (c), Sam Brittain (Jayden Smith 77); Byron Mitchell. Unused subs: Ben Smith, Louie Sullivan (GK).

Goals: Kyle 3, Dryer 7, Brittain 57, Brook 81.



Friday 15th March – Aldershot Town U23 3 – 2 Woking U23, Suburban Football League

SB Stadium, Bottom Meadow, Sandhurst

This was to be a painful outcome as Woking looked to bridge the gap to the teams at the top of the table. Aldershot’s winner being scored in the 95th minute.

Lui Edwards gave Woking the lead, but Finlay Evans had the first of his hat-trick to make the game level by half-time.

Aldershot went ahead at the start of the second-half, but Woking came back, with Edwards getting his second, from the penalty spot, on 55 minutes.

But just as it looked as if Woking would earn a draw, Evans got the late winner.

So the Shots extended their lead at the top, with Woking unlikely to push above fourth place.

Aldershot: Oliver Kabeer, Adam Ahmed (Harry Hurst 55), Morgan Elliott, Finlay Evans, Shawn Joseph (Theo Woerner-Peacock 65), Joe Lewis-Evans, Zion Nditi, Jonathon Page (Louis Hutchings 46), Freddie Stanley (Thomas Hill 70), Harry Thorpe, Oliver Turner (Danny-James Carter 60).

Goals: Evans 37, 46, 95.

Woking: Harry White, Owen Sims, Tom Gardner, Jack Matton, Charlie Robertson, Alex Rihoy (Harry Newbould 46), Jamie Hilton, Ethan Gold, Ben Mitchell, Lui Edwards, Tom Dryer.

Goals: Edwards 12, 55 pen.



Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:

Saturday 9th March.

Ollie Mason, Centre Midfield, 2nd year – Ascot United: Made full debut in 1 – 0 win at Southall.

Saturday 16th March.

Owen Crawford, Goalkeeper, 3rd year – Camberley Town: Played in the 1 – 2 defeat at Colliers Wood United.

Jack Matton, Centre Back, 2nd year – Binfield: Did not play in 1 – 2 defeat to Marlow.

Ollie Mason, Centre Midfield, 2nd year – Ascot United: Played in 0 – 3 defeat to Westfield.

Lui Edwards, Forward, 3rd year – Sandhurst Town: Was a substitute for the 3 – 0 win against Guildford City.

Harry White, Goalkeeper, 1st year – Sandhurst Town: Did not play in the 3 – 0 win against Guildford City.

Aiden Payne-James. Forward, 2nd year – Sevenoaks Town: Did not play in the 1 – 1 draw with Beckenham Town.

Jamie Hilton, Centre Midfield, 3rd year - Guildford City: Played in the 3 – 0 defeat at Sandhurst Town.

Ben Mitchell, Forward, 2nd year - Guildford City: Played in the 3 – 0 defeat at Sandhurst Town.

Keiondre Ellis-Vassell, Forward, 2nd year – Guildford City: Did not play in the 3 – 0 defeat at Sandhurst Town.

Bob Honey, Goalkeeper, 1st year – Spelthorne Sports: Did not play in 1 – 0 win over Tooting & Mitcham United.