Academy Review - Week 10
Written by Ian TilleyUpcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 21st October 2024
Wednesday 23rd October
13:00 – Woking U19 v Boreham Wood U19; National League Alliance – Academy South
Westfield FC, Woking Park
19:30 – Welling United U18 v Woking U18; Isthmian Youth League Cup - Third Round
Holmesdale Football Club, Oakley Road, Bromley
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 14th October 2024
Tuesday 15th October
Redhill 3 - 1 Woking; Surrey Senior Cup - First Round
Kiln Brow, Three Arch Road, Redhill
With the National League Cup pushing the County Cup further down Woking’s list of priorities, the Academy team were looking forward to testing themselves against the leaders of the Combined Counties Premier South, as they represented the club for this fixture.
Redhill did make 6 changes from their side for the previous Saturday’s league game, but the incoming players were all from their first team squad, including Woking Academy graduate Sean Swift. Woking made use of the dual-registration status of Tom Gardner, Lui Edwards, Henry McDonald and Ben Mitchell for this fixture.
Woking started sharply and Edwards got a shot away after just one minute, but it was Redhill who were soon putting Woking under sustained pressure, with Aidy Silverstein twice making defensive headers to concede corners.
Woking resisted, and after 20 minutes were getting forwards themselves, McDonald and Mitchell both threatening, with the latter finding a defender with a hold on his shirt, but not enough for the referee to award a penalty kick.
With Tommy Seale and Jermaine Junior Young competing well in the heart of midfield, Redhill were finding they could not dominate their opponents, and Woking had their fair share of the chances.
Edwards picked up a loose ball 25 yards from goal, but put his shot wide, and on the half hour mark Silverstein got on the end of a Seale free-kick, but the angle was against him and his header also went the wrong side of the post from a Woking perspective.
Redhill countered well, and Woking were relieved to see the ball go across their penalty area without a Redhill player getting a touch. Whilst another Redhill chance went over the bar, and Harrison Stevens was called on to provide very good defensive cover as Redhill looked to break free.
The end-to-end nature of play continued until half-time, Ryan Scott shooting wide from a Mitchell pass across the area, when he might have expected to do better, and Edwards and Mitchell unlucky to be offside as they broke forward. Whilst Mikey Verga was forced in to a good save in the Woking goal.
Redhill replaced the injured Timmy Obisanya with Alex Keating as the half drew to a close, Keating would soon be involved significantly in the second-half.
Half-time: Redhill 0 – 0 Woking
With the second-half just 3 minutes old a fine Woking move gave them the lead. McDonald battled well in midfield and played the ball wide to Jacob Farr on the left, Farr pulled a cross back to Edwards, who took a touch before teeing up Mitchell to fire home from 6 yards, a very good team goal.
Redhill came straight back, and after Nathan Hogan had put his shot wide, Keating made no mistake. Woking may feel that they could have closed the space more effectively, but when a loose ball broke to Keating outside the penalty area his low shot beat the outstretched dive of Verga to his left, and nestled in the bottom corner.
Galvanised by their goal, Redhill grew stronger, and with the rain getting heavier, looked to go on the attack, but the Woking defence, marshalled by Gardner, stood firm, and denied any clear-cut opportunities. Woking, too, looked to go forward, Stevens supporting the attack, and Edwards and McDonald causing Redhill problems.
There were half-chances, but as the half continued, it began to look as if the managers would be making decisions about who they would want on the pitch at the end of the 90 minutes, to take penalties. Mikey Verga was called into action, but it started to look like Woking had withstood the pressure and would take the game to a penalty shoot-out.
However, there was a sting in the tail. On 88 minutes Young covered a Redhill attack well, but the home side won a corner. The set piece was flicked on, and knocked in at the far post by Olly Allen from just a few yards out.
For good measure the Lobsters added a third as the game entered added time. Nathan Hogan dribbling skilfully before executing a neat close-range finish, despite the best efforts of the defender on the line.
Woking did still press forwards, but their crosses in to the box were well defended and Redhill saw out the victory. A performance to be proud of from this Cards side, with the second years now looking forward to being joined by some of the first years for Friday’s FA Youth Cup game at Ramsgate.
Redhill: Luke Roberts (c), Arlie Talboys (Henry Gunay 60), Sam Fitzgerald, Luke Cunningham, Abel Vendrells (Luke Bejashvili 67), Paddi Harland-Goddard, Sean Swift (Adam Grant 67), Gavin Quintyne, Olly Allen, Nathan Hogan, Timmy Obisanya (Alex Keating 45). Unused sub: Tommy Smith.
Goals: Keating 53, Allen 88, Hogan 90+1.
Woking: Mikey Verga, Harrison Stevens, Tom Gardner (c), Aidy Silverstein (Joel Jennison-Leppa 90+1), Ryan Scott, Tommy Seale (Harvey Brook 88), Jermaine Junior Young, Jacob Farr (Louis Pask 54), Henry McDonald, Ben Mitchell (Stanley Kyle 82), Lui Edwards. Unused sub: Bob Honey (GK).
Goal: Mitchell 48.
Attendance: 191.
Referee: Matthew Leaning
Wednesday 16th October
Charlton Athletic Trust 2 - 2 Woking U17 (Half-time 0 – 1); National League Alliance – Division E
Charlton Athletic FC Training Ground, Sparrows Lane
5’ - Ejakita scores from Malhotra’s pass to give Woking an early lead.
55’ - Charlton level from the penalty spot.
80’ - Charlton take a 2 – 1 lead.
90+2 - Vally scores the stoppage time equaliser.
Woking: Aaron Zziwa, Ollie Rigby, Mason Drew, Jack Owen (George Mattingley 62), Max Goldsworthy (Luca Di Manno 62), Joe Scanlon (Brian Rai 52), Amario Malhotra, Joe Frawley, Frankie Bushby, Hayden Vally, Tyrell Ejakita (Jojo Ampah 62). Unused Sub: James Moore (GK).
Goals: Ejakita 5, Vally 90+2.
Friday 18th October
Ramsgate U18 0 - 4 Woking U18; FA Youth Cup - Third Round (of) Qualifying
Prices Avenue, Ramsgate
This game was overshadowed by a serious leg injury to Woking’s Stefan van Wijngaarden, which required the attendance of the emergency services. We wish Stefan a complete recovery, he is very much in our thoughts.
The game itself was reasonably straightforward for the Cards against what looked to be a slightly younger Ramsgate side, up against a Woking team largely made up of second years.
Woking took the lead on 12 minutes, Ramsgate failed to clear JJ Young’s corner and Aidy Silverstein turned and shot into the top corner from 12 yards.
Stanley Kyle had already had a couple of chances before he doubled the Woking lead on 38 minutes. Harrison Stevens getting forward from defence to play Kyle in for a neat finish from 6 yards as Dane Bough sought to close the space.
Half-time: Ramsgate 0 – 2 Woking
Some excellent Woking passing continued to give them the upper-hand, although Ramsgate were still competing determinedly. On 68 minutes Mikey Verga was called into action as a Damien Matemba long-range cross-shot nearly caught him out and required saving on the line.
Ramsgate had briefly threatened to get back into the game, but it was out of their reach on 75 minutes, Lucas Boxall beating the ‘keeper to a through ball on the left edge of the penalty area and hitting the ball into the six-yard box, only for the defender’s attempted clearance to deflect the ball unstoppably into the net.
Boxall had a goal that was clearly his 2 minutes later, as he tapped in from close-range, but the ball had fallen to him under the most unfortunate of circumstances, and any celebrations were soon cut short as the players realised the seriousness of what had happened. Stefan van Wijngaarden had gone into a 50-50 challenge and suffered the serious leg injury which required the attendance of an ambulance and saw the abandonment of the game, with Ramsgate proposing that the tie be awarded to Woking.
Ramsgate, who were very good hosts, provided an excellent level of care and support, for which we are very grateful. Whilst their players stayed as Stefan was receiving treatment, so that they could applaud him as the ambulance left.
Woking will now welcome Bromley for the First Round Proper tie next week, although our thoughts as we left Ramsgate were with Stefan, rather than any dreams of a cup run.
Ramsgate: Dane Bough, Harrison Smith, Lucas Price, Mason Buckingham, Damien Matemba, Finley Bough, Harrison Martin, Oliver Jackson, Bailey McGill, Bobby Bale, Finley Waddell. Subs: Joe Mileham, Seth Brock, Ben Shuttle, Rohi Owusu-Sekyere, Luca Janota, Ollie Moore, William Barras.
Woking: Mikey Verga, Harrison Stevens, Aidy Silverstein, Jacob Farr, Louis Pask, Jermaine Junior Young, Leo Christopher, Lucas Boxall, Tom Dryer (Louie Boyle 71), Harvey Brook (Stefan van Wijngaarden 64), Stanley Kyle (c). Unused subs: Jools Lacey, Joel Jennison-Leppa, Louie Boyle, Will Ledbury, Bruno Dackombe, Seyi Akinwalere.
Goals: Silverstein 12, Kyle 38, o.g. 75, Boxall 77.
Attendance: 421.
Referee: Stuart Beadle.
Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:
Saturday 19th October
Henry McDonald, Centre Midfield, 3rd year – Petersfield Town: Did not play in the 1 – 2 defeat at Elburton Villa in the FA Vase First Round Proper.
Ben Mitchell, Forward, 3rd year - Knaphill: The Aldershot Senior Cup First Round for Knaphill this weekend. Mitchell started on the bench and came on after 68 minutes with his side 0 – 1 down. Knaphill equalised on 88 minutes to take the game to penalties. Mitchell scored the second penalty, to the bottom left corner, as Westfield went through 4 – 1 in the shoot-out.
There were no fixtures for the Academy’s other loan (dual registered) players this weekend.