Academy Bulletin | Week Thirty Six

Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 28th April 2025

Wednesday 30th April

12:00 - Maidenhead United U19 v Woking U19; National League Academy - South Division
Berkshire College of Agriculture, Hall Place, Burchetts Green Road, Maidenhead SL6 6QP

12:00 – Hertford Town Whites v Woking U17; National League Alliance – Division E
Hertingfordbury Park, West Street, Hertford SG13 8EZ

Saturday 3rd May

15:00 – King's Lynn Town U16 v Woking U16; National League Cup – Final
Worcester Warrior/Sixways Stadium, Warriors Way, Worcester WR3 8ZE

This is the final week of the season. For up-to-date information on fixtures please refer to the Woking Football Club Academy X (twitter) page.

Information is also available on the fulltime.thefa.com website.

The Academy website, where you can also find details of the Elite Development Squad launch, is wokingcitc.org


Match Report and Team Details – Week commencing 21st April 2025

Wednesday 23rd April

Southend United U19 2 - 1 Woking U19; National League Academy - South Division

Garon Park, Southend-on-Sea

Report from Holly Porter

The penultimate game of the season dawned, and the first of two away games to end the campaign saw the u19s travel to the coast to take on Southend United on a rainy Wednesday afternoon.

A couple of notable changes in the side saw Tommy Seale back in the midfield, and Dillan Davies return to the defensive slot that he so often occupied during the FA Youth Cup run earlier in the season.

Both teams had early chances to take the lead in the first 5 minutes, firstly with Seale stood over a set-piece just inside the Southend half. The ball into the goalmouth was a dangerous showing from Woking, but Southend were able to defend well before they went closer themselves. Shobowale’s corner was met at the back post by the head of Humphrey, but the effort smashed against the turf and rebounded over the crossbar.

Much as with the reverse fixture, Woking found themselves a goal down in the opening 15 minutes, this time at the hands of Pulham. The corner ball was initially cleared by Woking, but it was unconvincing as it only made the edge of the box, where Pulham received the ball, opened up his body, and watched his shot rocket into the Woking net.

Woking responded quickly and were able to create a few decent chances in the aftermath of the goal. In the 18th minute, Smith earned a free-kick, which Seale stood over once again. The delivery was again promising, but a strong header away from the home defence eliminated the threat.

Not for long, however, as Barrett was called into action in the 21st minute, with Mitchell in pursuit of a ball into the box. The home ‘keeper did well to get off of his line, however, and deny Mitchell, keeping his side ahead.

This lead was wiped out in the 24th minute by McDonald, who picked up a loose ball in the middle of the Southend half and drove goalward. McDonald got his shot away outside the area, which looked destined for the bottom left corner, but then took a big deflection and nestled in the bottom right, leaving Barrett with no chance of keeping the ball out.

A good spell of play followed for the Cards as they searched for the lead of the game. Smith went the closest to a second in the 27th minute, having driven forward and found some space for himself, he got his shot away, but he fired over the crossbar in Woking’s best chance since the goal.

Southend refound their feet after a strong period from the Cards, with Honey having massive involvement as we entered the closing stages of the first half. The biggest save he had to make in the first half was in the 42nd minute when Ward put a dangerous ball into the box, which was met in the goalmouth by Okafor, with Honey doing excellently well to get across and put his body in the way of the effort.

Much like in the game at Westfield, the teams went in at half-time with nothing to separate them, and a big second half ahead to try and secure all three points.

Half-time: Southend United 1 – 1 Woking

The first big chance of the second half fell in Woking’s favour, with a ball over the top chased down by Mitchell, but his effort fired over the bar in the 48th minute.

Although a positive start, it was their competitors who restored their lead with only 5 minutes of the second half played out. From a free-kick, the initial header hit the crossbar, but Nwike made no mistake with his follow-up effort, and the Cards found themselves behind once again.

In the 54th minute, the home side continued to show their threat going forward, but Poxon’s diving header went wide of the right post, with no trouble for Honey. As the game approached the hour mark, Okafor placed another couple of headers just off target, as well as a narrowly wide shot in the 57th minute, as the home side tried to find comfort in a third.

They could not find that third, however, and it meant that Woking could push on for the equaliser in the closing stages.

Smith enjoyed plenty of play down the left-hand side as the game entered the last 20 minutes, but his crosses could not be met by the Woking attack. Christophers nearly got to a brilliant cross from Boyle in the 73rd minute, but the delivery was just too close to the ‘keeper, and Barrett did well to collect under pressure.

The closest that Woking went to an equaliser was with Gardner in the 87th minute, but an important intervention from Barrett kept his side ahead. The skipper connected well with a corner ball, heading back across goal, but the no.1 did well to catch the ball mid-dive and subsequently held it well to extinguish any follow-up threat.

A big penalty shout featured in the 90th minute, when Mitchell looked to be pulled down in the box, but in a critical moment, the referee waved the challenge away, denying Woking the chance to get themselves level. This allowed Southend to extend their winning streak to four games on the bounce and forced a defeat on the coast for the young Cards.

Academy Manager Matt Winter reflected on the game, stating: “Was it a penalty? I believe it was, obviously the referee didn’t and that’s all that matters. We did create moments; I think we probably just didn't have enough quality in the final action to get that equaliser at the end.”

Southend United Lineup: Joshua Barrett, Teddy Woolland, Mitchell Ward, Joshua Jackson, Julius Nwike (Rio Thomas 70’), Olu Shobowale, George Pulham, Alfie Humphrey, Joe Poxon ©, Nathan Woodley (Zevieyan Makangu 90+1’), Obi Okafor (Beau MacDonald 70’). Unused substitute: Thato Molefi.

Goalscorers: George Pulham 15’, Julius Nwike 50’.

Woking Lineup: Bob Honey, Louie Boyle, Ryan Scott, Tommy Seale (Jojo Ampah 71’), Tom Gardner ©, Dillan Davies, Jack Lewis (Jalil Page 61’), Leo Christophers, Ben Mitchell, Henry McDonald, Jayden Smith.

Goalscorer: Henry McDonald 24’.


Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:

Monday 21st April

Bob Honey , Goalkeeper, 2nd year – Kingstonian: Bob has also been playing for Kingstonians Under 18s in the Isthmian Youth Central Division, and played the full game as a 3 – 2 victory over Walton & Hersham, secured with a late winner, put Kingstonian top of the league, with a 6 – 0 (or better) victory for Metropolitan Police in their outstanding league fixture against Walton & Hersham on Wednesday 23rd the result required to prevent Kingstonian from being league winners. Walton defeated the Met 3 – 2 to confirm the title for Kingstonian, who now go into the end of season Champion of Champions tournament, with a semi-final at Tonbridge Angels on 1st May.

Oliver Mason , Central Midfield, 3rd year – Ascot United: Played the first 60 minutes of the 1 – 0 victory over Badshot Lea in the Isthmian League - South Central Division (Step 4). The result of Saturday’s final league game of the season, at Kingstonian, was still required to determine if Ascot had secured a place in the promotion play-off positions.

Saturday 26th April

Oliver Mason , Central Midfield, 3rd year – Ascot United: Was not involved in the 2 – 2 draw at Kingstonian in the Isthmian League - South Central Division (Step 4). Ascot now play at Hanworth Villa on Wednesday 30th April in the Play-Off Semi-final.