Academy Review - Week 8
Written by Ian TilleyUpcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 7th October 2024
Monday 7th October
19:45 – Kingstonian U18 v Woking U18; Isthmian Football League – Youth Central Division
King Georges Field, Whitehall Lane, South Park, Reigate
Wednesday 9th October
14:00 - Woking U19 v Maidenhead United U19; National League Alliance – Academy South
Westfield FC, Woking Park
Thursday 10th October
19:30 – Woking U21 v Bracknell Town U23; Suburban Football League – Premier 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 30th September 2024
Tuesday 1st October
Eastbourne Borough 0 – 2 Woking; FA Youth Cup Second Round (of) Qualifying
Reach TV Stadium, Priory Lane, Eastbourne
Eastbourne Borough came in to the game with two wins from two games in the Isthmian Youth League South Division, and Woking were aware that they needed to respect their opponent in order to get through to the next round.
Joel Jennison-Leppa and Leo Christopher have started their first year at the Academy well, and earnt themselves places in the starting line-up alongside the established second years, with the bench largely made up of their promising first-year peers.
Woking started brightly, with Stanley Kyle and Harvey Brook leading the forward line well, and after six minutes Brook had a shot from twelve yards tipped on to the post by Whiteside, a confidence boost for the Borough custodian who was struggling with the blustery conditions.
Eastbourne looked dangerous on the break, with Foden showing good wing play, and Mikey Verga was called in to action to gather a shot when Woking were untidy clearing their lines. Both sides were closing down well, although Woking were slowly getting the upper hand, and were quicker to the loose balls.
On 18 minutes Brook crossed to Kyle, who did well to make himself space, but shot wide under pressure. And a few minutes later Kyle hit another shot wide from long-range. A passing move between Brook, Kyle and Jacob Farr (encouraged to get forwards from his left wing-back position) gave Lucas Boxall a chance to shoot from six yards, but his control, unusually, let him down.
Aidy Silverstein passing the ball out of defence nicely along the ground was giving Woking control in the difficult conditions, and as we reached the half-hour mark the home coaches could be heard bemoaning their charges for watching Woking. Although Verga did have to be quick off his line to smother an Eastbourne break.
A Woking goal seemed imminent, Kyle bringing another good save out of Whiteside, and Brook frustrated to see his touch on Louis Pask’s cross put the ball over the bar. The last five minutes of the half were to prove decisive.
On 41 minutes Woking took the lead. Play took Boxall towards the left corner, but he was still able to get in a telling cross, and Pask, cutting in sharply from the right gave the ‘keeper no chance with his firmly-hit close-range shot. Fitting reward for Woking’s having the better of the play.
As the half drew to a close Woking, somewhat fortuitously, doubled their advantage. Farr won a free-kick on Woking’s left side, about 35 yards from goal, and Jermaine Junior Young curled a fine inswinging cross to the far post, which eluded everyone and bounced in to the top corner of the net.
One sensed that this was ‘job done’ for Woking, Eastbourne looking to have tired after battling well at the start, and leaving for the half-time break looking rather deflated.
Half-time: Eastbourne Borough 0 – 2 Woking
The second-half would see more Woking dominance, without them adding to their half-time lead. Within the first minute Christopher’s shot from Pask’s cross was deflected over, and this set the tone for the half.
There was a free-kick for Eastbourne which somehow evaded everyone on its way wide, but Farr, Kyle and Christopher all had chances before the half-way point of the half saw a goalmouth scramble that the Cards somehow managed not to convert in to a goal.
With Young’s excellent free-kick delivery a feature of Woking’s play, Eastbourne were finding it hard to create any meaningful chances. Kyle came closest to adding a third, twice forcing good, diving saves from Whiteside, as Woking saw out the game on the attack.
A convincing victory for the young Cards with a Third Round Qualifying tie away at Ramsgate the reward. Jennison-Leppa and Christopher played well, guided by their older teammates, with Akinwalere, Boyle and Ledbury all doing well when they came on.
Eastbourne Borough: Whiteside (c), Callen-Dickens, Grant, Holman, Tarrant (Cordner 81), Hill, Coleman-Standen (Harris 52), Crouch, Coombs, Hodzic (Searle 60), Foden (Kitchen 60). Unused subs: Arucci, Myles-Watkins.
Woking: Mikey Verga, Harrison Stevens, Aidy Silverstein, Joel Jennison-Leppa, Louis Pask (Louie Boyle 81), Jermaine Junior Young, Leo Christopher, Jacob Farr, Lucas Boxall (Will Ledbury 87), Harvey Brook (Seyi Akinwalere 65), Stanley Kyle (c). (46). Unused subs: Jools Lacey (GK), Dillan Davies, Jalil Page, Sam Brittain.
Goals: Pask 41, Young 45.
Referee: Wayne Pocock.
Attendance: 80.
Wednesday 2nd October
Woking U17 2 - 4 Barking Whites (Half-time: 1 – 2); National League Alliance – Division E
Woking College, Rydens Way
Woking: Aaron Zziwa, Thomas Ward, Mason Drew, Kai Baverstock (Jack Owen 46), Jack McGibbon (Tyrell Ejakita 76), Amario Malhotra (Thomas Aiyegbeni 58), Joe Scanlon (Brian Rai 76), Joe Frawley, Frankie Bushby, Hayden Valley, Jojo Ampah. Unused sub: James Moore (GK).
Goals: Bushby 13 (1-0), Valley 80 (2-4).
Thursday 3rd October
Woking U21 1 - 2 Slough Town U21; The Michael Bidmead (Suburban League) Challenge Cup, 1st Round
Redding Way, Knaphill
With this game falling in the same week as the FA Youth Cup game, here was an opportunity for those who had not been involved at Eastbourne to put forward their claim for inclusion in the squad for the tie at Ramsgate in the next round.
Slough started the stronger, Bob Honey making a smart save at his near post after three minutes, Ben Bradley adjudged to have beaten the offside trap to get his shot in. Kian Berry had a chance a minute later but did not unduly trouble the Woking ‘keeper with his underhit shot.
Slough continued to have the upper hand, without really threatening the Woking goal, until on 22 minutes Bradley saw his shot from 20 yards very well tipped over the bar by Honey. This direction of play continued and on 28 minutes Slough had the lead, Joao Paulo Borges Manzan playing a very good through ball to Berry, who fired home under Honey from 10 yards.
Woking fought well to get back in to the game, and had the equaliser on 37 minutes. Saadiq Bangura-Kerr won a free kick about 30 yards out, which Tommy Seale hit against the bar, Bobby Lawrence’s header kept the chance alive and Jayden Smith was able to nod home from a few yards out.
This buoyed Woking and Max Goldsworthy, Charlie Sweeney, Jack O’Shea Bashford, Seale and Smith were all involved as the Cards passing and running with the ball improved. However, the corners they won did not create any clear chances, and the game remained tied going to the break.
Half-time: Woking 1 Slough Town 1
Woking looked to set a marker early in the half, although Seale’s challenge on Jake Rangecroft, which earned a yellow card, reflected that the Slough player was having a good game, and often having the upper hand, in the midfield tussle. As solid as Woking were, they were struggling to find their passing rhythm.
Honey sought to encourage his teammates, calling for more movement, but Slough were growing in confidence and nearly took the lead after a goalmouth scramble on 58 minutes, the ball ending up the right side of the post from a Woking point of view.
Woking responded with a triple substitution, which lifted them, Goldsworthy winning the ball and playing a neat one-two with Jalil Page, before his shot was saved by the outstretched leg of Finley Prieg.
Woking did have another chance to regain the lead, Sweeney getting his head to a Seale corner, but Honey was called in to action again, with two more good stops, before he was unable to prevent Slough going ahead on 76 minutes. Woking’s passing went awry on the edge of their own area, and Jayden Williams took full advantage, his low shot powerful enough to defeat the ‘keeper’s hand and find the bottom corner.
Woking did come close to taking the tie to penalties, Seale’s shot from 30 yards was aiming for the top corner before being acrobatically tipped wide by Prieg, and a goalmouth scramble a few minutes from time saw Woking unable to land a decisive blow.
Woking’s players might perhaps look to their lack of familiarity with one another, but they will want to continue their development in the weeks ahead in order to fulfil their potential.
Woking: Bob Honey, George Galea-Elston, Ben Smith, Charlie Sweeney, Max Goldsworthy (Sean Bull 83), Tommy Seale (c), Bobby Lawrence (Roshan Cooper 59), Saadiq Bangura-Kerr (Jack Lewis 59), Jayden Smith, Jack O’Shea Bashford (Ryan Scott 59), Jalil Page. Unused sub: Jack Roles (GK).
Goal: Smith J. 37.
Slough Town: Finley Prieg, Truman Kemp, Alex Thomas (Jurij Neretin 77), Pablo Lima, Joao Paulo Borges Manzan (Hari Sohi 70), Alex Vick (Tyler Lagmay 66), Jake Rangecroft, Ben Bradley, Ronnie Rock, Pablo Fernandez Galindo, Kian Berry (Jayden Williams 62). Unused sub: Luka Jankovic (GK).
Goals: Berry 28, Williams 76.
Referee: Ian Skull.
Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:
Tuesday 1st October
Lui Edwards, Forward, 4th year – Westfield: Was a non-playing substitute for Woking’s National League Cup match.
Tom Gardner, Centre-Back, 3rd year – Sandhurst Town: Played the full game of the 3 – 0 victory over Brook House in the Cherry Red Records Premier Challenge Cup First Round. And my apologies to Tom who made his debut when coming on as a substitute for the last 15 minutes of the 5 – 1 victory over Sheerwater in the Combined Counties Premier Division South on 28th September.
Ollie Mason, Centre Midfield, 3rd year – Ascot United: Was not involved in the 2 – 5 defeat at Hartley Wintney in the Isthmian League - South Central Division, as he was a non-playing substitute for Woking’s National League Cup match.
Henry McDonald, Centre Midfield, 3rd year – Petersfield Town: Came on as a 72nd minute substitute in the 6 – 1 win at Wick in the Southern Combination - Premier Division.
Saturday 5th October
Lui Edwards, Forward, 4th year – Westfield: Was not involved in the Isthmian League - South Central Division fixture at Moneyfields which Westfield lost 0 – 2.
Tom Gardner, Centre-Back, 3rd year – Sandhurst Town: Came on after 57 minutes of the Combined Counties Premier Division South game against Horley Town which Sandhurst lost 1 – 4. Tom came on with the score already 0 – 4.
Ollie Mason, Centre Midfield, 3rd year – Ascot United: Came on as a substitute after 56 minutes of the 1 – 8 defeat at Folkestone Invicta in the FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round. Ascot were already 0 – 6 down when Ollie joined the game.
Henry McDonald, Centre Midfield, 3rd year – Petersfield Town: Came off the substitutes bench for the final 20 minutes of the 3 – 0 win at Little Common in the Southern Combination - Premier Division. Henry came on with the scores at 0 – 0, - the goals were scored in the 85th, 91st and 98th minutes.
Ben Mitchell, Forward, 3rd year - Knaphill: Came on as a substitute at half-time, when Knaphill were 0 – 2 down, in the 2 – 2 draw at Sheerwater in the Combined Counties Premier Division South. Ben had a significant impact, setting up the equalising goal.