Academy Bulletin | Week Twelve

Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 4th November 2024

Wednesday 6th November

13:15 – Welling U19 v Woking U19; National League U19 Alliance – South Division

University of Greenwich (Avery Hill), Southwood Site, Avery Hill Road

14:00 – Woking U17 v Winchester City; U19 Alliance League Cup – Second Round

Westfield FC, Woking Park

Thursday 7th November

19:30 – Woking U18 v Leatherhead U18; Isthmian Youth League – Central Division

Knaphill FC, Redding Way

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 28th October 2024

Tuesday 29th October

Woking U18 2 – 4 Bromley U18, After Extra Time, score at 90 minutes, 2 – 2.

FA Youth Cup - First Round Proper

The Laithwaite Community Stadium, Kingfield

Having won at Eastbourne Borough, and Ramsgate, in the two qualifying rounds, Woking earnt the right to play at the club’s main ground in front of a good crowd. Having played their champion of champions game against Worthing at Kingfield last season, the surroundings were more familiar to most of the players, and they were to give a very good account of themselves, and would be left with a definite sense of what might have been.

The opening 15 minutes were equal and then Bromley’s opener followed a goalmouth scramble. Tade Ibrahim did well down the left-hand side, and Woking blocked the initial efforts from his cross, but when they could not clear their lines, the ball broke to George Evans who was able to pass the ball into the bottom corner.

Woking had a half-chance on 24 minutes, Harvey Brook getting on the end of Stanley Kyle’s cross, but seeing his flicked header go wide. Bromley retaliated, Jed Hobbs shooting wide. Woking were then fortunate as a misunderstanding between Mikey Verga and Aidy Silverstein nearly cost them. Silverstein responded well, with a good defensive challenge on Ibrahim.

Bromley were applying pressure, and Kyle did well to help out his team with a long dribble upfield. Young, Leo Christophers and Tom Dryer were involved in a good passing move for Woking, and then on 35 minutes the Cards had their equaliser. Kyle held the ball up well and passed to Brook, his astute through ball put Lucas Boxall in on goal, Boxall is on fine goalscoring form at the moment and had no problem slotting the ball past Harry Haines as he came out to try and narrow the angle.

More good approach play from Kyle put Bromley under further pressure and Archie Cassidy requiring treatment gave them an opportunity to regroup. Woking had consolidated their equaliser and were defending well, although Nathan Patten’s long throw did give Evans a chance, but his header went over, whilst a fine effort from Yuvi Mann curled wide.

Half-time: Woking 1 – 1 Bromley

Mann was the first to have a chance in the second-half, cutting inside but shooting over. Before Dawid Przybylo’s shot did force Verga in to a save. Following good covering from Christophers; Boxall, Dryer, Brook and Louis Pask were involved in a good attacking move as Woking looked to take the game to Bromley.

Bromley responded, and Evans was able to go on a run that took him past Verga as he left his penalty area, but the Bromley forward was forced wide enough for the threat to be nullified. As play went from end to end, Young saw his shot from the edge of the area deflected over. And on 70 minutes a goalmouth scramble ended with Boxall shooting wide, as the Bromley fans near me grew nervous.

A minute later they were proved to be right, substitute Seyi Akinwalere held the ball up well and knocked it to Louis Pask whose fine cross from the right wing was met at the far post by a diving Boxall, judging the bounce of the ball perfectly to head unstoppably past Haines. A great finish for his and his team’s second goal of the evening.

Bromley responded, but as time started to get away from the visitors, Woking looked strong enough to see things through to the end. However, Patten’s long throw would prove significant. With 86 minutes gone Evans was able to flick on another Patten missile and the ball looped, perhaps fortuitously, over Verga and into the net.

Bromley went in search of a winner, but Verga and his defence were equal to the task and took the game in to extra time.

End of Normal Time: Woking 2 – 2 Bromley

Both teams struggled to make headway as extra time progressed, although the warning signs were there for Woking as Patten headed a half-chance wide on 99 minutes. A minute later Bromley were ahead, Evans able to apply a side-foot flick to knock the ball into the bottom corner. A hat-trick for a player who had tested Woking’s defence throughout.

Woking were not yet beaten and did win two corners, although they could not convert them and Bromley also had an Evans header go wide from their corner.

Half-time in Extra-Time: Woking 2 – 3 Bromley

Woking regrouped and reorganised, pressing forwards with just two centre-backs holding the fort, and nearly forced Patten in to an own-goal, before a Tommy Seale shot was deflected for a corner. Sam Brittain, Louie Boyle and Pask were involved in more attacking play, but Woking couldn’t fashion a clear-cut chance.

Time was running out for Woking and it was Bromley who would score the final goal to clinch the victory, Mann volleying home from a tight angle when the ball fell to him at the far post.

So, a sense of disappointment as this year’s FA Youth Cup run comes to an end, but this is a very good group of players who can now look forward to proving themselves in the National League U19 Alliance South Division, starting with a visit to Welling United on Wednesday.

Woking: Mikey Verga, Harrison Stevens, Aidy Silverstein, Jacob Farr, Louis Pask (Sam Brittain 94), Jermaine Junior Young (Tommy Seale 84), Leo Christophers, Tom Dryer, Lucas Boxall, Stanley Kyle (c) (Louie Boyle 106), Harvey Brook (Seyi Akinwalere 59). Unused subs: Jools Lacey (GK), Joel Jennison-Leppa, Will Ledbury.

Goals: Boxall 35, 71.

Bromley: Harry Haines, Naison O’Neill (Lucius Hurrynaran 50), Nathan Patten, Charlie Paye (c), Archie Cassidy (George Rees 46), Jed Hobbs, Alfie Hilden (Jed Borders 67), Yuvi Mann, Dawid Przybylo (Sam Hards 84), Tade Ibrahim (Charlie Phillips 76), George Evans (Brody Cockerill 110). Unused sub: Rex Porter (GK).

Goals: Evans 16, 86, 100, Mann 119.

Referee: David Torres.

Attendance: 166.



Thursday 31st October

Woking U17 2 – 1 East Grinstead Town U18; Isthmian Youth Football League – Central Division

Knaphill FC, Redding Way

This seemed a rather disjointed performance from the first years, but they have not had a chance to put together a run of games with a settled line up, perhaps the fixture list will present that opportunity in the weeks ahead. That said, a victory was still earnt, albeit with a very late winner.

East Grinstead belied their position at the bottom of the league, and were confident in their attacking play. Jay Enzo and Reece Brightwell-Doxe causing particular problems. Whilst Woking also went forwards, but could not make the most of a number of corners.

Jack Tricker and Will Ledbury both had attempts that did not trouble Callum McVicar in the East Grinstead goal, and on 23 minutes Hayden Vally did well to take the ball off of McVicar as he tried to play out, before unselfishly presenting Jalil Page with an open goal, Page would need to keep getting in to good positions to make amends for putting this chance over the bar.

Within three minutes Woking were made to pay for their missed chances. Enzo won a free-kick on the edge of the area, and Brightwell-Doxe was quickest to react to the ball in, knocking home at the near post.

Woking could have had an equaliser within a couple of minutes, Joel Jennison-Leppa hitting the bar with a sliding shot. But Ben Lazenby was also a threat at the other end, and Woking were struggling for composure in their play.

As the half drew to a close Woking were forced in to a change, Jack Tricker suffering with sickness and replaced by Roshan Kigozi. Woking came close to an equaliser before half-time, with a Ledbury free-kick bringing a spectacular save out of McVicar, and Bruno Dackombe and Vally also having chances. A great cross from Kigozi kept up the pressure and the improvement from Woking bode well for the second-half.

Half-time: Woking 0 – 1 East Grinstead Town

Woking were level within three minutes of the restart. Kigozi carried the ball forwards well before passing to Vally, and his fine pass was converted by Page. Putting his earlier miss behind him, Page was in the perfect position in the centre of the box to calmly side-foot home from ten yards.

The sides continued to exchange chances, Lazenby coming closest for the visitors, and Vally bringing more acrobatics out of McVicar. A Lazenby corner somehow bouncing all the way through the area, and Vally once again seeing a shot bound for the top corner turned around the post by the East Grinstead custodian.

On 73 minutes Jay Enzo found himself cautioned as he helped out with the defence as Woking gained the upper hand, with substitute Frankie Bushby the next Woking player to force a save from McVicar. Woking were leaving it late and it looked like the chance to get a winner had gone on 92 minutes when Vally hit the bar and saw the ball bounce down, but not over the line.

The referee added on the time that East Grinstead had required for the treatment of various injuries, and on 94 minutes Woking had their winner. A great pass from Louie Boyle picked out Vally, whose perseverance was rewarded, as he showed great composure to slot the ball into the bottom corner, before running off, with aeroplane arms, to celebrate.

This was the last significant action, as Woking received the fair reward for their perseverance. Not the best performance, but one to get them back on track in the Central Division before the run of fixtures that awaits in the weeks ahead.

Woking: Aaron Zziwa, Kai Baverstock (Joe Frawley 66), Ollie Rigby, Joel Jennison-Leppa (c), Louie Boyle, Amario Malhotra, Will Ledbury (Frankie Bushby 66), Jack Tricker (Roshan Kigozi 44), Bruno Dackombe, Hayden Vally, Jalil Page. Unused sub: James Moore (GK), Tyrell Ejakita.

Goals: Page 48, Vally 90+4.

East Grinstead Town: Callum McVicar, Albert Holroyd, Nathaniel Onwionoko, Oscar Dalgleish, Kian Price, Freddie Dean (Jack Pledge 69), Benjamin Pike (Finley Wigmore 81), Ben Lazenby, Evan Newman (Ekhogie Deron 81), Jay Enzo, Reece Brightwell-Doxe. Unused sub: Lewis McDonnell.

Goal: Brightwell-Doxe 26.

Referee: Ian Kitchen.

Attendance: 40.



Saturday 2nd November

Metropolitan Police U21 2 - 3 Woking U21; Suburban Football League – Premier Division

Metropolitan Police FC, Imber Court, Ember Lane, Molesey

Met. Police goals in the 26th and 38th minutes gave them a 2 – 0 lead, and Woking a lot of work to do. The introduction of Louis Pask and a reorganisation got them back on the right track, and they had one back before half-time when Pask set up Lucas Boxall to score from a tight angle.

Woking were level within two minutes of the second-half, through a superb Jalil Page finish, his miss on Thursday now put behind him. Mikey Verga was called in to action with two good saves to keep the scores level, before Woking had their winner on 71 minutes.

It is great to welcome Ellis Byrne back to the team, having spent much of this year recovering from consecutive leg breaks. And it was Byrne, with just his second touch, after two minutes on the pitch, with a great finish from a Boxall cut back, to give the Cards what turned out to be the winning goal.

Woking could have had another, Page seeing his shot cleared off the line by a defender, and a Byrne shot being tipped wide, before the referee brought proceedings to a close. A great recovery from Woking, and one which sees them up to 3rd in the table, level on points with St Albans City, as Bromley lead the way.

Woking: Mikey Verga, Ryan Scott (Louis Pask 39), Jack Lewis, Tom Gardner, Sam Brittain (James Orton 54), Leo Christophers, Tommy Seale (Ellis Byrne 69), Jacob Farr (Charlie Sweeney 81), Lucas Boxall, Harvey Brook, Jalil Page. Unused sub: Bob Honey (GK).

Goals: Boxall 44, Page 47, Byrne 71.



Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:

Tuesday 29th October

Ben Mitchell, Forward, 3rd year - Knaphill: Played the full game in the 1 – 2 defeat at Fleet Town in the Combined Counties Premier Division South.

Saturday 2nd November

Lui Edwards, Forward, 4th year – Westfield: Came on as a substitute after 61 minutes of the 2 – 1 win at Hartley Wintney in the Isthmian League - South Central Division, taking the field with his team 1 – 0 down.

Henry McDonald, Centre Midfield, 3rd year – Petersfield Town: Last Saturday Henry came off the bench for 20 minutes in the 2 – 1 victory at Shoreham in the Southern Combination - Premier Division. This week he also had 20 minutes as a substitute in the 1 - 1 home league game against Roffey.

Ben Mitchell, Forward, 3rd year - Knaphill: Played the first 56 minutes of the 6 – 0 defeat at Jersey Bulls in the Combined Counties Premier Division South.