Academy Review - Week 13
Written by Ian Tilley & Holly PorterUpcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 11th November 2024
Wednesday 13th November
12:00 - Bromley U17 v Woking U17; National League U19 Alliance – Division E
Bromley FC, Hayes Lane
14:00 – Woking U19 v Slough Town U19; National League U19 Alliance – South Division
Westfield FC, Woking Park
Thursday 14th November
19:30 – Woking U18 v South Park (Reigate) U18; Isthmian Youth League – Central Division
Knaphill FC, Redding Way
Saturday 16th November
15:00 – Harrow Borough U21 v Woking U21; Suburban Football League – Premier Division
Harrow Borough FC, Earlsmead, Carlyon Avenue
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.
Match Reports and Team Details – Week commencing 4th November 2024
Wednesday 6th November
Welling U19 4 - 3 Woking U19 (Half-time 2-2); National League U19 Alliance – South Division
University of Greenwich (Avery Hill), Southwood Site, Avery Hill Road
Details for this game will be available in next week’s bulletin.
Woking U17 0 - 1 Winchester City; National League U19 Alliance Cup – Second Round
Westfield FC, Woking Park
Having received a bye in the first round of the competition, both the u17s and Winchester City were seeing their first minutes in the National League Alliance Cup at Westfield FC on Wednesday.
The game started evenly, which continued throughout much of the first half. A big chance for Woking to take the lead fell in the opening 10 minutes, with the travelling keeper being called into early action. An excellent shot at the back post, which looked destined to hit the back of the net, was superbly kept out by Winchester’s Finn Graydon, diving to his right to deny the home side an early advantage.
The first half remained balanced, with a 35th-minute goal-line clearance being the closest Woking got to establishing a lead since the opening 10 minutes. In this, Frankie Bushby’s corner was nearly perfectly converted, but a Winchester City header stopped the ball from crossing the line to keep the scoreline level. Moments later, Tyrell Ejakita’s header looked bound for goal, but went just over the bar, hitting the outside roof of the net.
A goalless first-half ended without too many clear-cut chances for either side, despite Woking going close on a couple of occasions. These were all well defended by the travelling side, who made several well-timed challenges to prevent the majority of Woking’s attacks, and flashed the ball across the face of the goal on occasion to make for some nervy moments.
Half-time: Woking 0 – 0 Winchester City
The second half began much the same as the first, notably with Calum Mathieson returning to the field from injury, replacing Jojo Ampah in the 57th minute.
A huge chance for Woking fell just after the hour mark, as Ejakita broke through the defence and looked certain to give Woking the lead. Denied by the feet of the Winchester City keeper, the deadlock remained yet to be broken.
And Winchester City left it late to do just that. With the game looking set to go straight to penalties, the Woking defence switched off, giving Winchester City an opportunity that they were then able to capitalise on.
A ball forward, which looked certain to be going out for a goal kick, and so was not immediately chased down by the home defence, was chased down by Pardesi, unknown to the home defence until it was too late, and kept in just before crossing the line.
The substitute then, under pressure from the retreating Kai Baverstock, slotted the ball past James Moore, who had come out to meet the shot, to give Winchester City a 91st-minute lead.
After the goal celebrations ceased, the game got back underway for the final few phases of play, with Woking earning a corner for what was their last chance to take the game to penalties.
Doing well to clear the corner, the sound of the full-time whistle saw celebrations amongst the travelling players and staff, with Winchester City progressing to the next round of the cup, whilst Woking suffered a disappointing cup exit.
Woking: James Moore, Kai Baverstock, Thomas Ward, Jack Owen, Pranish Gurang (Zack Rhioui 67) George Mattingley (Joe Scanlon 63), Brian Rai (Luca Di Manno 82), Joe Frawley, Frankie Bushby ©, Jojo Ampah (Calum Mathieson 57), Tyrell Ejakita. Unused Sub: Aaron Zziwa (GK).
Winchester City: Finlay Graydon, Alex Andries, Leo George Chance, Matthew Davies ©, Lewis Elvin, Rudy Kilbride, Oscar Anthony McCulloch, Luke Simkin, Louis James Thompson, Alex Vine, Joshua Holebrook. Subs: Oliver Kimble, Keaton James Lane, John Oddoye, Arjun Pardesi.
Goal: Pardesi 90+1.
Referee: Paz Morreale.
Thursday 7th November
Woking U18 5 - 1 Leatherhead U18; Isthmian Youth League – Central Division
Knaphill FC, Redding Way
Having left it until 90+4 minutes to find the winner last week, this was a more accomplished and promising performance from Woking’s Isthmian Central League team. The benefits of a settled team playing together regularly starting to reap rewards.
Woking nearly had the lead in the first minute, Jalil Page’s header from Seyi Akinwalere’s cross crashing back off the bar, before Roshan Kigozi put a shot wide. Leo Hams did get a shot away when Joel Jennison-Leppa missed his clearance, but it was straight at Aaron Zziwa, and Woking were in the ascendency.
Amario Malhotra, Kigozi and Akinwalere were involved in some excellent attacking passing as Woking sought the breakthrough, with Will Ledbury and Page adding to the increased pressure. On 13 minutes Leatherhead were still reorganising after a goalmouth scramble when Page’s pass put in Kigozi to side-foot home into an empty net.
Woking’s centre-backs looked to be in control, with Louie Boyle providing excellent cover from wing-back on the one occasion they did look to be in trouble. Woking were falling into the offside trap more often than one would hope, but soon had their second. On 28 minutes Page was on target from Akinwalere’s cross, meeting it neatly to send a right-foot shot unstoppably into the net.
Having come close to putting the finishing touch on an excellent Woking break minutes before Kigozi had his second, and Woking’s third, on 41 minutes. A great Ledbury ball across the box and Kigozi comfortably drilled home left-footed past Adam Withers. This confident and composed finishing in some contrast to the struggles of their fellow first-years the day before.
Unfortunately, Kigozi had to leave the field as a precaution against cramp developing into anything worse, but it was good to see Jack Tricker returning having left the pitch with sickness last week. A straightforward half for Woking, who were better all over the pitch, in no real danger of conceding, and looked dangerous going forwards.
Half-time: Woking 3 – 0 Leatherhead
Leatherhead scored what would turn out to be their consolation goal within three minutes of the restart. Whilst Woking were surprised that a free-kick was not awarded for a challenge on Dillan Davies, Leo Hams did not hesitate when the ball broke to him, hitting on the turn into the bottom corner.
Woking responded by restoring their three-goal cushion, a long ball through the middle didn’t initially look dangerous, but Page held off the defender as he ran on, and as he entered the penalty area fired the ball across Withers into the corner of the net.
Within five minutes of conceding Woking had their fifth, Malhotra was fouled just outside the corner of the penalty area, and Ledbury curled the free-kick sweetly into the far top corner, Withers clutching at thin air, a fantastic strike.
Woking continued to play well, without adding to the scoring, their substitutes all contributing to the ongoing good play. On 81 minutes Frankie Bushby saw his shot to the top corner tipped around the post, and on 88 minutes Bruno Dackombe hit the post from the edge of the area, very unlucky with a fine drive. In added time Calum Mathieson, whose skill and pace had been causing problems since his introduction, saw a couple of half-chances go astray, but a comfortable win for the Cards had long-since been beyond doubt.
Woking: Aaron Zziwa, Ollie Rigby, Dillan Davies (Joe Frawley 79), Joel Jennison-Leppa, Louie Boyle (c), Amario Malhotra, Will Ledbury (Frankie Bushby 79), Roshan Kigozi (Jack Tricker 45+3), Bruno Dackombe, Seyi Akinwalere (Calum Mathieson 61), Jalil Page. Unused subs: James Moore (GK), Tyrell Ejakita.
Goals: Kigozi 13, 41, Page 28, 50, Ledbury 53.
Leatherhead: Adam Withers, Dylan Clift, Ron Spinks, Archie Searle (c), Gabe Jacks, Freddie Hayes, Ryley Merrett (Reggie Fuller 77), Jonny Carter (Sam Newton 73), Cristiano Barreca (Dan Rumbold 54), Anex Varghese, Leo Hams. Unused sub: Skye Graham.
Goal: Hams 48.
Referee: Paz Morreale.
Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:
Tuesday 5th November
Lui Edwards, Forward, 4th year – Westfield: Was substituted after 90 minutes of the 1 – 3 defeat at Horndean in the Isthmian League - South Central Division.
Saturday 9th November
Lui Edwards, Forward, 4th year – Westfield: Was substituted after 90+3 minutes of the 2 – 1 victory over Sutton Common Rovers in the Isthmian League - South Central Division.
Ben Mitchell, Forward, 3rd year - Knaphill: No fixture this weekend.
Further News:
Tuesday 5th November
Leo Christophers, Midfield, 1st year – Congratulations to Leo on his appearance for Woking in their National League Cup fixture against Southampton U21s. Leo came on as a substitute after 81 minutes of the 4 – 4 draw.