Academy Review - Week 26
Skipper Tom Gardner wheels away in celebration after his headed goal against Dover.
Written by Ian Tilley & Holly Porter Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 17th February 2025
Monday 17th February
12:00 – Dover Athletic U19 v Woking U19; National League Academy – South Division
The Abbey School, London Road, Faversham, ME13 8RZ
19:30 - Chipstead U18 v Woking U18; Isthmian League – Central Division
High Road, Chipstead, Coulsdon, CR5 3SF
Wednesday 19th February
14:00 – Woking U19 v Southend United U19; National League Academy – South Division
Westfield FC, Woking Park
Thursday 20th February
19:30 – Woking U18 v Metropolitan Police U18; Isthmian League – Central 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 10th February 2025
Wednesday 12th February
Woking U19 3 - 3 Dover Athletic U19; National League Academy – South Division
Woking College, Rydens Way
Report from Holly Porter
A hard-earned point in the National League Academy on Wednesday afternoon, as the u19s faced Dover Athletic, with the reverse fixture falling on Monday amidst a congested fixture schedule.
Both teams started the game well, with Verga called into early action to deny the visitors the advantage in just the 4th minute. Having got down to his right to keep the initial effort out, the ball was spilt into the penalty area, with Verga reacting well to dive onto the ball before a second threat could be initiated.
The Cards also enjoyed some positive play in the opening stages and went closest in the first 10 minutes with an edge-of-the-box effort from Page which almost sneaked through the legs of Davidson.
With both sides searching for the opener, there was plenty of possession throughout the first half, with a lack of clear-cut chances for both sides. Another big chance for the home side to take the lead fell in the 16th minute when Holden conceded a foul midway into his own half.
Pask took the free kick, with the set piece being played wide to Boxall, however, the next phase of play was poorly executed, and Dover were able to defend the ball into the box easily and regained possession.
Dover were able to threaten from a free-kick of their own just minutes later, with the set-piece being taken from just outside the box. The 19th-minute threat, however, was eliminated with a strong header away from the Woking defence, and the Cards were able to play forward once again.
The rest of the first half continued in much the same fashion as the opening 20 minutes, with clear chances on goal being scarce.
A dangerous-looking free-kick from Dover in the 35th minute begged for a final touch, with both teams in search of the first contact on a ball which looped towards the far top corner. Dover successfully made the first contact but lacked the accuracy to trouble Verga and the effort went out for a goal kick.
Boxall went close minutes later, with a ball in from Mitchell having found the forward in front of goal. The 39th-minute first-time shot, however, went just wide as the search for the advantage continued.
This search ended in the 42nd minute, with an excellent individual effort from Lewis which put the Cards ahead. Lewis chased down the first loose ball, doing well to get the first touch on the ball just inside the Dover half, playing it into his path. The second touch was equally as impressive, having taken the ball around the second Dover player who had attempted to close down the ball, but not having put too much pace on the ball that it rolled through to the keeper. To finish his charge forward, the effort from close range was met by the keeper, but it wasn’t enough to keep the ball out of the net, and the home side went into the break with a narrow lead.
Half-time: Woking 1 – 0 Dover Athletic
The momentum from the late goal in the first half carried into the opening stages of the second half, with the Cards starting the better side.
Silverstein showcased his ability to pick good balls forward from the outset, having picked out Page, but the cross from Page was easily blocked by Dover’s defence.
Moments later, in the 49th minute, Pask had a shot from range, but the effort went just wide as a high-paced start to the second 45 couldn’t be topped off with a doubled advantage.
The travelling side grew into the second half, and two goals in quick succession gave them the lead in the fixture. Jeffries got his first of the afternoon from the penalty spot in the 57th minute, having sent Verga the wrong way, which cancelled out Lewis’ first-half lead.
Within 5 minutes, Jeffries had doubled his tally for the afternoon, having turned in the box and placed an effort into the inside of the side netting, out of Verga’s reach, to put his side ahead for the first time in the clash.
This did not last long, however, as Gardner drew Woking level in the 64th minute, the perfect response to Dover’s double. Pask’s corner was excellently headed back across the ‘keeper from the far post by the skipper, with a third goal in less than 10 minutes in the competitive fixture meaning the sides were level once again.
Woking continued to apply the pressure after the leveller and went close to edging ahead in the 67th minute. A fine passing move between Silverstein, Boxall and Christophers saw the latter make a great run into the box, with a strong first-time effort being made on goal, but the shot was well saved by Davidson in the Dover net.
An eventful final 10 minutes played out at Woking College as both teams searched for the winner. In the 85th minute, Dover were presented with a golden opportunity to settle the tie, with a second penalty of the afternoon for Jeffries following a second yellow card for goalscorer Lewis.
No mistake from Jeffries, who fired the spot-kick into the Woking net to give his side one hand on all three points in the high-scoring fixture, and in doing so secured his hat-trick.
This was not to be, however, as the Cards took the fight until the end. With the final chance of the game, Young’s corner was placed into a dangerous position at the back post, and in the scramble to try and clear their lines, Dover turned the ball into their own net 6 minutes into injury time, and the points were shared after a busy second half in Woking.
Academy Manager Matt Winter reacted to the game, stating: “We’re delighted to get a point out of the game at the end. We’re disappointed after a really good first half, with some really excellent football, we managed to get the goal, and a little bit similar to last week against Slough where we weren’t able to replicate our first-half performance in the second half, but I can’t fault our players today, I thought we were excellent.”
Woking Lineup: Mikey Verga, Jack Lewis, Tom Gardner ©, Aidy Silverstein, Ryan Scott, Ollie Mason (Henry McDonald 85), Leo Christophers, Lucas Boxall, Ben Mitchell, Jalil Page (Jermaine Junior Young 90+4), Louis Pask (Harvey Brook 90+1). Unused substitutes: Charlie Sweeney, Harry White (GK).
Goalscorers: Jack Lewis 42, Tom Gardner 64, OG 90+6.
Red Card: Jack Lewis 84.
Dover Athletic Lineup: Kye Davidson, Zak Hammond, Leo Moore, Essa Jadama, Jake McCarthy, Fenn Roberts, Danny Annis, Tristan Holden ©, Kaeden Jeffries, Ethan Cole, Harvey Griffin. Substitutes: Mees Knappin, Chigozirim Iwanyawu, Noah Coleman.
Goalscorer: Kaeden Jeffries 57 (pen), 62, 85 (pen).
Referee: Charles Sherrard.
Dartford Reds 2 - 2 Woking U17 (Half-time 1 – 1); National League Alliance – Division E
Princes Park Stadium, Dartford
Goal times:
3’ Hayden Vally for Woking, 0 – 1
30’ Gurpreet Benning for Dartford, 1 – 1
53’ Jack Tricker for Woking, 1 – 2
90’ Harjeevan Benning for Dartford, 2 – 2
Woking: Jack Roles, Jack Owen, Max Goldsworthy, Thomas Ward, Tyrell Ejakita (Pranish Gurang 70’), Zackaria Rhioui (Luca Di Manno 82’), Joe Scanlon (George Mattingley 65’), Will Ledbury, Jack Tricker, Frankie Bushby, Hayden Vally. Unused substitute: Brian Rai.
Thursday 13th February
Woking U21 3 - 2 Abbey Rangers U21; Suburban Football League
Knaphill FC, Redding Way
Report from Ian Tilley
Woking welcomed debutant Aaron Sings, the first-year goalkeeper having signed from Dorking, for a game which looked like it might be straightforward for the Cards, given the teams’ league positions, and it was relatively so, apart from a late comeback from the visitors.
Sings was to show his ability as soon as the 8th minute, coming out quickly to neatly gather a through ball. However, whilst the expectation was that Woking would go on to dominate the game, it took them some time to get in to their stride.
There was good attacking passing from the Cards, but it was Abbey who came closest to a goal in the early exchanges, House hitting the top of the bar with a lob shot. Woking responded, Seyi Akinwalere, James Orton, Harvey Brook and Jojo Ampah all threatening their opponent’s goal, with JJ Young’s passing prompting a lot of Woking’s intent.
It would take Woking until added time at the end of the half to make the breakthrough, Brook setting off on a fine dribbling run which took him to the Abbey bye-line, where he was able to pull the ball back to give Ampah a tap-in from a few yards out.
Half-time: Woking 1 – 0 Abbey Rangers
The second-half began with Woking continuing in control. Louie Boyle replaced James Orton, who had injured his hand, and was quickly in to the action. Amario Malhotra played in a great through ball, and Boyle’s pace gave him the chance to fire in a shot which was well saved by Presad.
Woking nearly doubled their lead on the hour mark, George Galea-Elston unlucky to see his header from Young’s corner go straight at the ‘keeper. Within two minutes they had their second, Young’s free kick to the far post rather bundled over the line by Charlie Sweeney, but they count whether they go in from two or twenty yards.
Abbey did rally, Komolape unlucky to see his drive hit the bar and bounce down the wrong side of the line from his perspective. But the game looked to be over on 72 minutes, a great turn and pass from Jacob Farr released Roshan Kigozi down the left wing, and his excellent cross was met by Brook, heading home at the far post to earn a fitting reward for his skill and endeavour.
A Kigozi pass to Boyle saw the Cards come close to making it four, but at the other end Sweeney was called on to make a battling defensive challenge, as the game moved to a somewhat surprising finale.
On 79 minutes Davis scored what looked to be no more than a consolation, seizing on some defensive hesitancy to slot the ball neatly into the bottom corner. But within three minutes he had another, once again finishing neatly from close range. A change in formation and tactics had Woking on the backfoot, but the visitors could not fashion a clear-cut chance with which to draw level.
With tensions rising, Woking safely negotiated the seven minutes of additional time, during which Abbey had a player sent off for kicking out at an opponent, to clinch what had not been such a straightforward victory after all.
Woking: Aaron Sings, George Galea-Elston, Tom Gardner ©, Charlie Sweeney, Jermaine Junior Young, James Orton (Louie Boyle 52), Amario Malhotra (Bobby Lawrence 71), Jermaine Junior Young, Jacob Farr, Harvey Brook, Jojo Ampah, Seyi Akinwalere (Roshan Kigozi 64). Unused Sub: James Clark.
Goals: Ampah 45+2, Sweeney 62, Brook 72.
Abbey Rangers goals: Davis 79, 82.
Referee: Tony King.
Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:
Tuesday 11th February
Tom Dryer, Forward, 2nd year – Westfield: Played the full game in the 2 – 2 draw at Metropolitan Police in the Isthmian League - South Central Division (Step 4).
Ben Mitchell, Forward, 3rd year - Knaphill: Came on as a 79th minute substitute in the 1 – 2 defeat to Redhill in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).
Saturday 15th February
Lucas Boxall, Midfield, 2nd year – Sheerwater: An unused substitute for the 1 – 0 victory at Camberley Town in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).
Tom Dryer, Forward, 2nd year – Westfield: Started, but was replaced on 46 minutes of, the 2 – 0 defeat at Hanworth Villa (who had ex-Woking Captain Josh Casey in their ranks), in the Isthmian League - South Central Division (Step 4).
Bob Honey, Goalkeeper, 2nd year – Kingstonian: Was not involved in the 1 – 1 draw with Hayes & Yeading United in the Isthmian League - South Central Division (Step 4).
Stanley Kyle, Forward, 2nd year – Sandhurst Town: Was not involved in the 1 – 1 draw against Corinthian Casuals in the Combined Counties League - Premier Division South (Step 5).
Oliver Mason, Central Midfield, 3rd year – Ascot United: Came on as a 66th minute substitute in the 1 – 1 draw at Moneyfields in the Isthmian League - South Central Division (Step 4).
Henry McDonald, Centre Midfield, 3rd year – Sheerwater: An unused substitute for the 1 – 0 victory at Camberley Town in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).
Ben Mitchell, Forward, 3rd year - Knaphill: An unused substitute for the 0 – 0 draw at Guildford City in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).
Byron Mitchell, Forward, 2nd year – Sheerwater: Was not involved in the 1 – 0 victory at Camberley Town in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).
Louis Pask, Midfielder, 2nd year – Camberley Town: Came on as a 60th minute substitute in the 0 – 1 defeat to Sheerwater in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).
Aidy Silverstein, Central Defence, 2nd year - Hamble Club: Awaiting information on Aidy's involvement in the 3 - 3 draw at Bournemouth in the Wessex League - Premier Division (Step 5).
Harry White, Goalkeeper, 2nd year – Sandhurst Town: Played the full game in the 1 – 1 draw against Corinthian Casuals in the Combined Counties League - Premier Division South (Step 5). Sandhurst led from 17 minutes to 90+8 minutes.