Academy Bulletin | U17s continue winning streak

Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 1st April 2024

Wednesday 3rd April

11:30 – Woking U19 v Eastleigh U19; National League Alliance – Academy South

Westfield FC, Woking Park

19:45 - Marlow U23 v Woking U23, Suburban League Cup Plate, Quarter – Final

Alfred Davis Memorial Ground, Oak Tree Road

Thursday 4th April

19:30 – Woking U18 v Beaconsfield U18; Isthmian Football League – Youth West Division

Knaphill FC, Redding Way

Friday 5th April

11:00 – Boreham Wood U19 v Woking U19; National League Alliance – Academy South

Boreham Wood FC, Meadow Park, Broughinge Road

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



Match Reports – Week commencing 25th March

Wednesday 27th March

Woking U17 4 – 2 Dartford U17; National League Alliance – Division E

Woking College, Rydens Way

A very good result for the Cards, against a Dartford side they had lost 8 – 0 to on the first day of the season, and who had games-in-hand to challenge at the top of the table.

Coming from behind has been a recent pattern, and Woking found themselves behind as early as three minutes. Ellis Proctor’s flick-header putting Thomas Mitcham through to run on, compose himself and strike across Mikey Verga into the corner.

Dartford had a chance to go two-up after seven minutes, before Woking were able to get their defensive-line organised and establish themselves in the game, competing well against a team who looked to have more second years playing than Woking’s younger side.

With the rain getting heavier Ollie Saword, Harvey Brook and Saadiq Bangura-Kerr all had chances to draw Woking level, Bangura-Kerr doing well to get in on goal, but scuffing his shot.

Woking had their equaliser on 34 minutes through Saword. Bangura-Kerr playing in a fine overlapping run from Alvaro Picon, whose cross was well challenged for by Brook, with the loose ball falling for Saword to strike home cleanly.

Good defending from Picon, and Tom Pine-Coffin in the Dartford goal, kept the scores level at the break.

Half-time: Woking 1 – 1 Dartford

Woking took the lead within four minutes of the re-start. Outstanding wing play from Brook down the right-side completed with a quality cross that gave Stefan Van Wijngaarden the simple task of volleying home from just a couple of yards out.

An altercation between Tommy Seale and Dean Nayler saw them both cautioned; and Woking defended well, taking pride in their work, with Dartford unable to draw level.

And then on 74 minutes came Seale’s great goal. JJ Young knocked the ball down and shielded it so Seale could strike from just inside the Dartford half, the well-controlled power of his shot/lob beating Pine-Coffin, who couldn’t get a strong enough hand on it to keep it out as it went over him.

Dartford fought back well and had a goal back within five minutes, Picon was cautioned for his challenge on Mitcham as he ran towards goal, and the free-kick from just outside the area was rocketed in to the corner by Ellis Proctor, a fine strike.

There were chances at both ends before Woking clinched victory in added time. Brook tucking away the rebound after his first shot was saved. As time ran out for Dartford, a great defensive block from Sean Bull served to underline the foundation of Woking’s success.

A great win for the Cards, and one which has them looking upwards as to how high they may finish.

Woking: Mikey Verga, Alvaro Picon, George Elston, Charlie Sweeney, Sean Bull; Tommy Seale (c), Saadiq Bangura-Kerr (Bruno Dackombe 68), JJ Young, Ollie Saword (Fynn Lawrence 85), Stefan Van Wijngaarden (Roshaun Cooper 88), Harvey Brook. Unused subs: Dom Wall (GK), Jiyah Kapotwe.

Goals: Saword 34, Van Wijngaarden 49, Seale 74, Brook 90 + 3.

Dartford: Tom Pine-Coffin, Kai Jeffrey (Charlie Muttett 84), Luke Mandry, Dean Nayler (c), Max Wootton (Hugo Taylor 46), Gurp Benning (Louis Britten 75), Thomas Mitcham (Salomon Roebuck 50), Darren Moluga, Claudio Kiala (Fletcher Davis 84), Albie Knapp, Ellis Procter.

Goals: Mitcham 3, Proctor 78.



Woking U18 15 – 0 Cloughbawn AFC; Friendly

Woking College, Rydens Way

The second game of the day was against some new friends from County Wexford in Ireland, with Michael Doyle having asked if the Academy could host his friend’s team on their Easter tour.

Although they were a younger side they persevered well, kept up their spirits, did not lack determination, and were a credit to their club.

For Woking, the game gave Ellis Byrne a run-out as his rehabilitation from his broken leg continues. After half-an-hour Lewis Mouland was able to hand goalkeeping responsibilities to Dom Wall, and take the opportunity to make an appearance as a forward. This was a game of ‘rolling substitutions’.

Woking Starting XI: Lewis Mouland, Louis Pask, Harrison Stevens, Aidy Silverstein, James Orton, Ollie Mason, Jayden Langford, Ellis Byrne (c), Lucas Boxall, Sean Bull, Stanley Kyle. Substitutes: Fynn Lawrence, Dom Wall, Byron Mitchell, Jayden Smith, Roshaun Cooper, Jiyah Kapotwe, Bruno Dackombe.

Goals: Boxall 1, 24; Langford 2, 5, 15, 31; Byrne 25; Kyle 32, 45; Cooper 33; Mason 36; Dackombe 49; Mouland 54; Kapotwe 70; Smith 71.



Thursday 28th March

Woking U23 P – P St Albans City U23; Suburban Football League

Postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Knaphill FC, Redding Way.



Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:

Friday 29th March

Aiden Payne-James. Forward, 2nd year – Sevenoaks Town: Did not play in the 1 – 2 defeat to Ashford United.

Saturday 30th March

Owen Crawford, Goalkeeper, 3rd year – Camberley Town: Played in the 1 – 2 defeat at home to Tadley Calleva.

Ollie Mason, Centre Midfield, 2nd year – Ascot United: Played in the 4 – 2 victory at Guernsey.

Lui Edwards, Forward, 3rd year – Sandhurst Town: Came on as a 66th minute substitute in the 3 – 0 win against Balham.

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

Jamie Hilton, Centre Midfield, 3rd year - Guildford City: Played in the number 10 role in the 5 – 0 defeat at AFC Croydon Athletic.

Ben Mitchell, Forward, 2nd year - Guildford City: Played in the 5 – 0 defeat at AFC Croydon Athletic. Unfortunate to hit the bar with a shot from outside the area with the score at 2 – 0.

Keiondre Ellis-Vassell, Forward, 2nd year – Guildford City: Did not play in the 5 – 0 defeat at AFC Croydon Athletic.

Bob Honey, Goalkeeper, 1st year – Spelthorne Sports: Did not play in 3 – 2 defeat at Cobham.

Monday 1st April

Ollie Mason, Centre Midfield, 2nd year – Ascot United: Played in the 2 – 2 draw with Uxbridge.