Academy Review - Week 14
Written by Ian Tilley Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 18th November 2024
Wednesday 20th November
11:30 – Woking U17 v Dartford U17; National League U19 Alliance – Division E
Woking College, Rydens Way
12:00 – Dover Athletic U19 v Woking U19; National League U19 Academy – South Division
Dover Athletic FC, Crabble Athletic Ground
Thursday 21st November
19:30 – Woking U21 v Cobham U21; 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.
Information is also available on the fulltime.thefa.com website.
Match Reports and Team Details – Week commencing 11th November 2024
Outstanding details from last bulletin - Wednesday 6th November
Welling United U19 4 - 3 Woking U19 (Half-time 2-2); National League U19 Academy – South Division
University of Greenwich (Avery Hill), Southwood Site, Avery Hill Road
Woking: Mikey Verga, Harrison Stevens, Tom Gardner, Aidy Silverstein (Jacob Farr 68), Louis Pask, Jermaine Junior Young (Ellis Byrne 55), Tommy Seale (Henry McDonald 65), James Orton, Lucas Boxall, Harvey Brook (Seyi Akinwalere 70), Stanley Kyle. Unused sub: Bob Honey (GK).
Goals: Kyle 20 (1-1), Boxall 38 (1-2), Akinwalere 77 (pen, 3-3).
Wednesday 13th November
Bromley U17 3 - 0 Woking U17; National League U19 Alliance – Division E
Bromley FC, Hayes Lane
Woking: James Moore, Kai Baverstock, Mason Drew (Connor Thomas 46), Jack Owen (Jojo Ampah 46), George Mattingley (Luca Di Manno 60), Max Goldsworthy (Pranish Gurang 46), Brian Rai, Frankie Bushby, Joe Frawley, Hayden Vally, Tyrell Ejakita. Unused sub: Aaron Zziwa (GK).
Woking U19 3 - 3 Slough Town U19; National League U19 Academy – South Division
Westfield FC, Woking Park
With this result following last week’s 3 – 4 defeat at Welling United to a goal 2 minutes from time, Woking are leaving themselves with a lot to do if they wish to compete towards the top of the Alliance South Division.
Woking started well, and had the lead after 5 minutes, with Leo Christophers involved in the build-up, and Lucas Boxall with an astute pull back to Stan Kyle, who calmly shot right-footed into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Woking were on top of a rather uneventful game and nearly had a second on 25 minutes, Tommy Seale’s shot from the edge of the penalty area being well saved by Emerson Butcher as he adjusted to a deflection. But Slough were about to find their way back in to things.
After Armani Church’s cross-shot had gone narrowly wide Slough attacked again. Woking failed to get in a decisive clearance and Balu Makumbi side-footed home from six yards. Woking struggled to regain the ascendency and although Aidy Silverstein headed over a half-chance it was Slough who would take the lead.
The strike which put Slough ahead on 41 minutes was another rather messy goal to concede from a Woking perspective. Another goalmouth scramble this time resulted in Armani Church looping home a header with Mikey Verga only able to help the ball on its way. Woking did seek to retaliate, but the physically stronger Slough side were reasonably comfortable in holding their lead until the break.
Half-time: Woking 1 – 2 Slough Town
Woking had a chance to equalise within the first minute of the re-start, Harvey Brook running away from his marker, but Butcher was equal to the shot, saving with his legs. Slough then came forward, firstly with Seale needing to put in a good covering challenge, and then Nnaemeka Anyanwu’s shot on the turn was straight at Verga.
On 54 minutes Woking benefitted from a Slough mis-clearance, the ball fell to Christophers and his slight mishit found Boxall on the corner of the six-yard box, who firmly shot home, he tends not to miss from there. The opportunity was there for Woking to go on and win the game.
On 60 minutes Slough were able to block or save shots from Christophers, Kyle and Brook during the same sustained Woking attack. But it was Slough who would make the next breakthrough on 64 minutes, Owen Rennie had been involved in much of Slough’s good play, and his right-wing cross was met by Anyanwu with a far-post tap-in, with Woking’s concerted appeals for offside unheeded by the officials.
Woking looked to get back in to the game with a change of personnel and shape. Ryan Scott was able to push further forwards and almost immediately scored the equaliser. On 76 minutes Christophers’ pass to Seyi Akinwalere set the move up, and Akinwalere’s very good cross from the left was headed back across the ‘keeper and in off the post by Scott.
In the time remaining both sides went in search of a winner, but even with the addition of 9 minutes at the end of the 90 neither could fashion more than a half-chance, and there was to be no further scoring. It was encouraging to see Ellis Byrne driving Woking forward as the substitute continued his rehabilitation from his injury problems. He will hope that both he and his team will grow stronger in the games ahead.
Woking: Mikey Verga, Harrison Stevens, Tom Gardner (c), Aidy Silverstein (Seyi Akinwalere 68), Tommy Seale (Ellis Byrne 63), Ryan Scott, Leo Christophers, Lucas Boxall, James Orton, Harvey Brook (Jack Lewis 75), Stanley Kyle. Unused sub: Harry White (GK).
Goals: Kyle 5, Boxall 54, Scott 76.
Slough Town: Emerson Butcher, Aaron White, Balli Makumbi, Chris Ozougwu, Armani Church, Reece Mather (c), Owen Rennie, Brian Nelson, Seamus Atem, William Marin, Nnaemeka Anyanwu. Subs: Alex Vick, Alfie Stephens, Noah Hay, Dante McEwan, Krystian Komosinski.
Goals: Makumbi 28, Church 41, Anyanwu 64.
Referee: Nick Pye.
Thursday 14th November
Woking U18 6 - 1 South Park (Reigate) U18; Isthmian Youth League – Central Division
Knaphill FC, Redding Way
With the Central Division having a clear divide between the top four teams and the other four teams, Woking will face greater challenges than South Park, who they have now beaten 5 – 1 and 6 – 1, but the result is still an encouraging sign that this group of players are growing together as a team.
Woking started brightly, with Joel Jennison-Leppa and Seyi Akinwalere connecting well in a sweeping back-to-front move, and Roshan Kigozi and Bruno Dackombe causing problems for their opponents. But Woking were to be reminded of the importance of concentrating at all times. A defensive mix-up left Archie Foss with a tap-in, and Woking needing to re-apply themselves to the task in hand.
Woking corrected their mis-start on 20 minutes, an excellent through-ball on the edge of the area from Akinwalere and Jalil Page ran on, having mastered the offside trap, to stroke confidently into the bottom corner.
Woking were soon ahead, making the most of a poor attempt to play out from the back, with Will Ledbury picking up the ball and playing in Akinwalere, to hit his left-footed finish emphatically into the bottom corner.
Woking were getting on top, but did not increase their lead until shortly before half-time. After Louie Boyle and Akinwalere had combined to win a corner, fine passing play between Ledbury and Kigozi fed the ball to Ollie Rigby, whose cleanly hit strike from the edge of the area flew into the net.
Half-time: Woking 3 – 1 South Park (Reigate)
The game was over as a contest before the hour mark, with 2 Woking goals within 5 minutes. The first was a great move and finish. Page’s pass set Boyle on a run down the right-wing and Boyle did superbly well to hold off the defender and drill in a firm cross low to the near post, where Akinwalere’s flick, in the blink of an eye, had the ball in the back of the net before Kieran Bassom could react.
Woking’s fifth was made by another powerful Akinwalere run and pass, with Dackombe’s strike hitting the underside of the bar and bouncing down and in, although there was some deliberation from the officials before they confirmed the ball had crossed the line.
Woking made changes to maintain their momentum, and the substitutes continued to press forwards, with Amario Malhotra continuing to prompt them with his excellent passing from midfield.
Aaron Zziwa did well to hold an Isaac Agyen free-kick on 78 minutes, but South Park were well beaten, and Woking added a sixth in added time, Calum Mathieson holding off the defender well and even as he was being forced wider managing to hit the ball back across himself low into the net.
Woking will hope they can continue to progress in the games ahead, and put themselves in a strong position to compete at the top of the table come the new year.
Woking: Aaron Zziwa, Ollie Rigby, Dillan Davies, Joel Jennison-Leppa, Amario Malhotra, Louie Boyle (c), Will Ledbury, Bruno Dackombe (Frankie Bushby 81), Roshan Kigozi (Jack Tricker 67), Seyi Akinwalere (Hayden Vally 81), Jalil Page (Calum Mathieson 61). Unused sub: Jack Roles (GK).
Goals: Page 20, Akinwalere 23, 53, Rigby 43, Dackombe 57, Mathieson 90+3.
South Park (Reigate): Kieran Bassom, Jayden Foss, Kyle Johnson-K, Bailey Woods (c), Seb Parsons, Frankie Lynn, George Kuniposcht, Ralph Cubbold, Archie Charge, Max Kuruc, Archie Foss. Subs: Jamie Gallon, Isaac Agyen, Josiah Harris-M, George Kierander, Aidan Hopkins.
Goal: A. Foss 13.
Referee: Lee Murphy.
Attendance: 27.
Saturday 16th November
Harrow Borough U23 2 – 1 Woking U21; Suburban Football League – Premier Division
Harrow Borough FC, Earlsmead, Carlyon Avenue
Woking: Mikey Verga, Jack Lewis, Harrison Stevens, Tom Gardner, Louis Pask, Leo Christophers, Henry McDonald, James Orton, Lucas Boxall, Jalil Page, Ryan Scott (Harvey Brook 65). Unused subs: Bob Honey (GK), Charlie Sweeney, James Clark.
Goal: Christophers 90+1.
Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:
Tuesday 12th November
Lui Edwards, Forward, 4th year – Westfield: Came on as a substitute in the 57th minute of the 1 – 2 defeat at Leatherhead in the Velocity Cup Third Round.
Henry McDonald, Centre Midfield, 3rd year - Petersfield Town: Played the full match in the Portsmouth Senior Cup fixture against United Services Portsmouth. The game finished 0 – 0 and went to penalties, McDonald scoring his penalty as his side progressed to the quarter finals after winning 5 – 3 in the shootout.
Saturday 16th November
Lui Edwards, Forward, 4th year – Westfield: Played the full match of the 1 – 2 defeat at Southall in the Isthmian League - South Central Division.
Ben Mitchell, Forward, 3rd year - Knaphill: Played the first 63 minutes of the 1 – 3 defeat to Abbey Rangers in the Combined Counties Premier Division.