Academy Bulletin | Week Seven

Academy Bulletin as at 30th September 2024 – Week 7

Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 30th September 2024

Tuesday 1st October

19:45 – Eastbourne Borough v Woking; FA Youth Cup Second Round (of) Qualifying

Reach TV Stadium, Priory Lane. Eastbourne

Wednesday 2nd October

14:00 – Woking U17 v Barking Whites; National League Alliance – Division E

Woking College, Rydens Way

Thursday 3rd October

19:30 – Woking U21 v Slough Town U21; The Michael Bidmead (League) Challenge Cup, 1st Round

Redding Way, Knaphill

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



Match Reports and Team Details – Week commencing 23rd September

Wednesday 25th September

Chatham Town U17 2 - 1 Woking U17; National League Alliance – Division E

Maidstone Road Sports Ground, Bournville Avenue, Chatham

Woking: James Moore, Connor Thomas (c), Mason Drew, Jack Owen (Kai Baverstock 75), Roshan Kigozi (Pranish Gurang 65), George Mattingley (Brian Rai 55), Joe Scanlon, Tyrell Ejakita (Thomas Ayegbeni 80), Frankie Bushby, Hayden Vally, Jojo Ampah. Unused sub: Aaron Zziwa (GK).

Goal: Drew.



Woking U19 1 – 2 Eastleigh U19; National League Alliance – Academy South

Westfield FC, Woking Park

With the fixture lists giving the second years two games in two days (until the weather intervened), Leo Christopher and Seyi Akinwalere joined the group for this fixture, after both starting their seasons as first years well.

Eastleigh are always tough opponents, and this team including a number of third years was to prove a stern challenge. On the day, Eastleigh were just that bit too strong, and went away with all three points.

A relatively quiet opening saw few chances for either side, with Woking’s best chance falling to Leo Christopher, who did well to see the opportunity, but shot over from just inside the penalty area. However, play was soon at the other end, and on 22 minutes Eastleigh had the lead. Good play on the left-wing saw Connor Underhill hit the ball low across Woking’s six-yard box, to be tapped in at the far post by Joe Ryan.

Stanley Kyle and Louis Pask were both involved in good attacking play as Woking sought a quick equaliser, but it was Eastleigh who scored, to increase their advantage, after 28 minutes. Underhill turned from provider to scorer, as his low drive from the edge of the area beat the closing defender and nestled in the bottom corner.

Eastleigh pressed for more, and did have the ball in the net again, but it was ruled out for a foul committed in the penalty area as a corner kick was being taken – not the only time that Lewis Colvin tested the referee’s patience during the afternoon.

Although Eastleigh continued to press forwards Woking did have one chance before half-time, Stanley Kyle hitting over the bar from the edge of the area after Harrison Stevens’ running with the ball had done well to create the chance.

Half-time: Woking 0 – 2 Eastleigh

Lucas Boxall and Seyi Akinwalere replaced Henry McDonald and Stefan van Wijngaarden for the second-half, and Woking started more brightly. Both Stevens and Jacob Farr, as he had also done at the start of the first-half, getting shots away.

Eastleigh then had a period of pressure, Stevens, Boxall and Lewis Mouland in goal, all getting in good blocking challenges and saves. But Woking were more in the game, and had a goal back on 63 minutes, Boxall running with the ball from the centre-circle before taking aim from 20 yards, and beating Dan Blackburn with the power of the shot.

Woking pressed for an equaliser, more good wing-play from Farr a threat, and Blackburn rushing off his line to block the ball as Akinwalere looked to go around him on 71 minutes. Boxall’s ball across goal on 77 minutes eluded a decisive touch, and Eastleigh were concerned enough to use their ‘game management’ tactics.

Underhill could have given Eastleigh the comfort of a two-goal cushion on 86 minutes, but shot over. And it was Woking who came closest to scoring, Eastleigh’s ‘keeper doing well to tip the ball over the bar from substitute Sam Brittain’s shot, whilst Boxall came close with two headed opportunities.

Unfortunately for Woking, Eastleigh were able to see the game out, although they were somewhat relieved to hear the referee’s final whistle after 6 minutes of added time, Woking having proved to be a tougher opponent than the older side had anticipated.

Woking: Lewis Mouland, Harrison Stevens, Tom Gardner (c), Aidy Silverstein, Louis Pask, Leo Christopher, Henry McDonald (Lucas Boxall 46), Jacob Farr (Sam Brittain 73), Jermaine Junior Young, Stanley Kyle, Stefan van Wijngaarden (Seyi Akinwalere 46). Unused subs: Mikey Verga (GK), Harvey Brook.

Goal: Boxall 63.

Eastleigh: Dan Blackburn, Josh Bristow, Lewis Colvin (c), Tyler Edmondson, Tyler Field, Joe Ryan, Sol Femi, Jack Fox, Connor Underhill, Yuvraj Landa, Jamie Arnold. Subs: Zac Ford, Sam Godfroy, Cameron Sullivan, Dan Aitken, Ethan Duell-Merrit.

Goals: Ryan 22, Underhill 28.

Referee: Lee Murphy.





Thursday 26th September

Woking U21 P - P Slough Town U21; The Michael Bidmead (League) Challenge Cup, 1st Round

Redding Way, Knaphill – postponed due to waterlogged pitch, rearranged for 3rd October.



Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:

Tuesday 24th September

Lui Edwards, Forward, 4th year – Westfield: Came on as a substitute after 82 minutes of the Velocity Cup Second Round 2 – 0 victory over Hanworth Villa.

Saturday 28th September

Lui Edwards, Forward, 4th year– Westfield: The Isthmian League - South Central Division fixture at South Park (Reigate) ended 1 – 1. The hosts took the lead on 58 minutes, Edwards came on as a substitute after 59 minutes, and scored the equaliser on 60 minutes.

Ben Mitchell, Forward, 3rd year - Knaphill: Came on as a 71st minute substitute in the 4 – 2 victory over Balham in the Combined Counties Premier Division South. The score was 2 – 2 going in to added-time, then Mitchell scored to make it 3 – 2 on 90+3 minutes, (the fourth coming after 90+10).

Ollie Mason, Centre Midfield, 3rd year – Ascot United: Was substituted after 64 minutes, of the 2 – 3 defeat to Raynes Park Vale in the Isthmian League - South Central Division.

Tom Gardner, Centre-Back, 3rd year – Sandhurst Town: Was a non-playing substitute for the 5 – 1 victory over Sheerwater in the Combined Counties Premier Division South.