Academy Review - Week 29
Written by Ian Tilley & Holly Porter Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 10th March 2025
Monday 10th March
19:45 – Walton & Hersham U18 v Woking U18; Isthmian League – Central Division
Elmbridge Xcel Leisure Complex, Waterside Drive, Walton-on-Thames KT12 2JG
Thursday 13th March
19:30 – Woking U21 v Cobham U23; Suburban 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.
The Academy website, where you can also find details of the Elite Development Squad launch, is wokingcitc.org
Match Reports and Team Details – Week commencing 3rd March 2025
Wednesday 5th March
Woking U17 2 - 0 Bromley U18; National League Alliance – Division E
Woking College, Rydens Way
Report from Ian Tilley
On the day when PSG had the upper-hand against Liverpool, only to lose 0 – 1, here was another game where the result did not reflect the run-of-play. However, that should not take away from a fine result which saw Woking close the gap on Bromley, who sit above them in mid-table.
The first-half very much belonged to the visitors, their movement off the ball demanding constant attention, and their attacks threatening an imminent breakthrough. Frankie Humphries driving forwards from his starting defensive position was the instigator of much that was good in Bromley’s play, and an opening goal would not have come as a surprise.
Unfortunately for them, Bromley could not get the finishing touch to one of their moves, and the score remained level, with a Woking move involving Frankie Bushby, Hayden Vally and Jack Tricker nearly creating a chance for Woking, against the run of play, as the half drew to a close.
Half-time: Woking 0 – 0 Bromley
Bromley continued on the offensive, although Woking were coming into the game a little more, and Will Ledbury’s through ball to Vally only just ran away from the Woking forward. On 55 minutes Bromley came close to a goal, Ryan Gjini’s sweetly struck free kick going narrowly over the bar.
Woking responded, Vally setting up Tyrell Ejakita, with Lewis Bullen just able to prevent the ball from crossing the line, but on the hour mark Woking were ahead. Bushby’s free-kick caused confusion at the far post, and Bromley defender Theo Lancaster’s efforts to keep the ball out of the goal were unsuccessful, with the referee’s assistant indicating the ball had crossed the line.
Bromley quickly sought an equaliser, Lancaster’s shot well saved by James Moore, but it was Woking who would score again, to double their advantage. The unfortunate Lancaster was involved again, his underhit back pass was seized upon by Tricker, who drew Bullen to himself before passing to Zack Rhioui who could side foot home into the unguarded net from 12 yards.
Bromley were quickly back on the attack, but Woking had their measure now, and continued to close the gaps Bromley had previously been passing through. It now looked like either side could get the next goal, until on 82 minutes Bromley’s frustrations finally got the better of them. The referee judged that Moore, rushing to the edge of the area, had got to the ball before colliding with Louis John, but Omari Bailey disagreed. Unfortunately, his verbal reaction to being cautioned for dissent saw him receive a straight sending-off.
Woking looked the more likely to score as the game drew to a conclusion, although they will improve in keeping possession of the ball in such situations, whilst Bromley rather distracted themselves from the matter in hand with their ongoing shows of dissent further testing the patience of the referee.
Even though Bromley were made to pay for not making enough clear-cut chances, this was a notable win for Woking against what looked to be an older Bromley side, and one to stand the Cards in good stead for the four remaining League Division E fixtures of the season.
Woking: James Moore, Max Goldsworthy (Mason Drew 80), Thomas Ward, Joel Jennison-Leppa, Zack Rhioui (Pranish Gurang 72), Joe Scanlon, Will Ledbury (George Mattingley 87), Jack Tricker, Frankie Bushby © (Brian Rai 72), Hayden Vally, Tyrell Ejakita.
Goals: Bushby 60, Rhioui 66.
Bromley: Lewis Bullen, Theo Beeching, Theo Lancaster ©, Frankie Humphries, Morgan Dullagan, Jayden Morrison, Jack Samuels, Omari Bailey, Ryan Gjini, Louis John, Xavier Bedzitko. Substitutes: Josh Agambar, Vaqcasei Paul-Soleyn, Mal Ramadani, Freddie Sinclair.
Referee: Adam Hanrahan.
Maidstone United U19 4 – 2 Woking U19; National League Academy – South Division
The Gallagher Stadium, James Whatman Way, Maidstone
Report from Holly Porter
A trip to Kent was on the cards for the u19s this week, facing title-chasers Maidstone United off the back of Woking’s 5-1 victory over Maidenhead last week.
Something of a common theme, the young Cards found themselves a goal down within the opening 10 minutes. In the 9th minute, Scott played a free-kick just inside the Maidstone half, which the home team defended well, and turned the play over quickly to go on the counter-attack. Verga came off his line quickly, but Maidstone reacted well to this and placed the ball around Verga, and into the net to give the home side an early advantage.
The immediate response from Woking was positive. Ampah received the ball out wide in the 11th minute, with Boxall having made a great run into the box. The pass, however, was intercepted by Maidstone, who read the play well and regained possession.
Maidstone continued their threatening press forward throughout much of the first half and went close to a second in the 17th minute, but this time the shot went just wide of Verga’s net.
The young Cards also continued to string together positive moves forward. In the 21st minute, Boxall did well to keep the ball tight to him, then turned in a congested midfield, and found the space to pick a pass out wide. Although initially set to be picked up by Ampah, the ball was left to roll through to Boyle outside the box, whose shot hit the side netting.
Despite some good pieces of play from the travelling side, Maidstone doubled their advantage in the 25th minute. A free-kick from the left-hand side initially cleared the goalmouth, but it was headed back into the danger area and turned in from close range as the home side secured a second.
Once again, the initial response from the travelling side was positive, and they reacted with another good move forward. This time it was Mitchell who was able to get a shot away, but the 28th-minute effort from range went wide.
With momentum from the well-executed first 30 minutes, Maidstone managed to secure their third on the half-hour mark. Another set piece proved costly for Woking, this time from a corner. The first ball into the box was defended by Woking, but the second ball turned out to be deadly for the Cards, as a back-post header rounded off the ideal opening third of the game for Maidstone.
A nervy moment in the 38th minute called for a strong glove from Verga. Having initially given away the free-kick on the edge of the box, Verga did well to get down to his right to deny the set-piece effort.
Minutes later, Woking had a free-kick of their own in a dangerous position. The delivery from the right edge of the box was met well by Ampah, but the header lacked the accuracy needed and went wide for a goal-kick.
A quick move forward for the Cards in the 43rd minute saw Mitchell hit a shot well from just inside the box, which forced a good save from the home keeper, with nothing from the corner that resulted.
A lengthy period of injury time at the end of the first half saw some strong chances for Maidstone to make it four. Another free-kick from just outside the box called Verga into action once again, with the keeper getting another strong glove to the effort to keep it out of the net. Moments later, a header went just over the bar for Maidstone, and Woking went in at half-time with a 3-goal deficit.
Half-time: Maidstone United 3 – 0 Woking
As with the first half, the home side managed to score within the opening 10 minutes of the second 45. The fourth came after a well-worked move, having started with a short ball from the corner, and resulted in a low ball across the box which was turned in from close range in the 52nd minute.
In the 60th minute, an attacking change saw Lewis make way for Pask as Woking entered the final 30 minutes with a difficult battle.
The travelling side managed to get two back in the closing stages of the game. The first came in the 71st minute, with a corner being turned in from the goalmouth by Boxall in an overcrowded box.
The second came just six minutes after, with an excellent effort from Pask which was driven across goal and into the far corner.
Plenty of chances followed for Woking to get something out of the fixture, firstly with Boxall’s close effort in the 81st minute. The forward connected with the shot well, but the effort was caught and well-held by Maidstone’s keeper.
In the 85th minute, Boyle forced a good save from the home keeper, with a flurry of chances that followed which were to become a wonder how one of them didn’t go in. Maidstone’s defence and keeper were equal to every effort, which retained their two-goal advantage, and inflicted a 4-2 defeat for the young Cards.
Academy Manager Matt Winter reflected on the game, stating: “We made it really hard for ourselves, conceding the goals in the manner we conceded. Another game that we’ve conceded early, it doesn’t take anyone to realize that we are vulnerable in the early spells of the game. We did create a lot of chances, we took two goals well [...] If we were a little bit more clinical maybe we score another one or another two”.
Woking Lineup: Mikey Verga, Jack Lewis (Louis Pask 60’), Ryan Scott, Leo Christophers, Tom Gardner ©, Charlie Sweeney (Aidy Silverstein 46’), Louie Boyle, Jermaine Junior Young (Henry McDonald 46’), Jojo Ampah (Stanley Kyle 62’), Lucas Boxall, Ben Mitchell (Tom Dryer 46’).
Friday 7th March
Bromley U21 3 - 2 Woking U21; Suburban League – Premier Division
Hayes Lane, Bromley, BR2 9EF
Report from Ian Tilley
With Woking the only team to have stopped top-of-the-table Bromley winning, in the return fixture in August, this was always going to be a demanding fixture, as the Cards look to secure second place.
Woking started well, competing on equal terms, and avoiding their recent nemesis of conceding a particularly early goal. Woking were looking to play as high up the pitch as possible, and had more of the attacking play in the opening 15 minutes.
Unfortunately, they were undone by a long-ball forwards on 18 minutes. Sam Brittain covered well and was unlucky to see his defensive header evade the advancing Mikey Verga, and just as it looked as if Verga could retreat and gather the ball, Emmanuel Deh ran in to finish from a few yards out.
Whilst Woking were unable to fashion a clear-cut chance, Bromley looked sure to double their lead on 31 minutes, Danai Hassan heading wide when it looked easier to score. Hassan made amends just a minute later, his fine pass setting Antonio Morgan (a constant threat attacking from his full back position) free on the left wing, and Morgan’s cross was turned home neatly by Deh before Verga could dive at his feet.
Woking did press forwards, but had Jack Lewis to thank for a goal-line clearance when Deh looked certain to get his, and Bromley’s, third. Perhaps Woking’s best move up to this point came on 43 minutes, JJ Young, Tom Dryer and James Orton all involved in the build-up, and Jojo Ampah just unable to get a decisive touch as the cross in came to him.
Half-time: Bromley 2 – 0 Woking
Woking started the second-half well, Young and Dryer both getting shots away, but on 54 minutes Bromley had a third. Hassan got himself goal-side of James Orton and the referee judged Orton’s challenge to merit a penalty. Morgan made no mistake from the spot, striking low and hard with his left foot to Verga’s left.
Woking had the perfect response, Jack Lewis’ cross from the right didn’t look particularly dangerous, until Dryer met it, beyond the corner of the six-yard box, and hit an unstoppable volley of ferocious power, superbly controlled off the instep, and past James Batt before he had seen it.
Woking now looked to have the upper hand, with Joe Aris in the Bromley midfield having a busier evening than he may have anticipated, breaking up some very good Woking passing moves. However, Woking could not find another goal until the 87th minute. It came after good work from Dryer, with Jayden Smith beating Batt at his near post, when the ‘keeper may well have been expecting a cross.
Bromley were concerned enough to bring on Frankie Humphries as a third centre-back as they sought to see out the game, and looked more than pleased to hear the final whistle after 5 minutes of added time.
Woking came back in to this game well, and there is certainly promise to build on, notably in first years Christophers, Ampah, Malhotra, Mathieson and Boyle who are impressing at this older level.
Bromley: James Batt, Theo Beeching, Dylan Cave, Antonio Morgan, Chris Ojeman (Frankie Humphries 89), Joe Aris, Jack Samuels (Xavier Bedzitko 86), Ryan Gjini (Dennis Kelmendi 61), Danai Hassan, Emmanuel Deh (Casey Hewett 76). Unused substitute: Lewis Bullen (GK).
Goals: Deh 18, 32, Morgan 54 (pen).
Woking: Mikey Verga, Jack Lewis, Tom Gardner ©, George Galea-Elston, James Orton, Sam Brittain (Louie Boyle 65), Leo Christophers, JJ Young (Amario Malhotra 76), Tom Dryer, Lucas Boxall (Jayden Smith 76), Jojo Ampah (Calum Mathieson 73).
Goals: Dryer 58, Smith 87.
Referee: Ronald Albert.
Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:
Tuesday 4th March
Stanley Kyle, Forward, 2nd year – Camberley Town: Came on as a 55th minute substitute in the 0 – 3 defeat at Fleet Town in the Combined Counties League - Premier Division South (Step 5).
Henry McDonald, Centre Midfield, 3rd year – Camberley Town: Played the full game in the 0 – 3 defeat at Fleet Town in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).
Louis Pask, Midfielder, 2nd year – Camberley Town: Came on as 71st minute substitute in the 0 – 3 defeat at Fleet Town in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).
Harry White, Goalkeeper, 2nd year – Sandhurst Town: Played the full game in the 4 – 3 victory over Whyteleafe in the Combined Counties League - Premier Division South (Step 5).
Saturday 8th March
Stanley Kyle, Forward, 2nd year – Camberley Town: Played the full game in the 0 – 3 defeat to Redhill in the Combined Counties League - Premier Division South (Step 5).
Oliver Mason, Central Midfield, 3rd year – Ascot United: Played the first 66 minutes of the 1 – 1 draw with Southall in the Isthmian League - South Central Division (Step 4).
Henry McDonald, Centre Midfield, 3rd year – Camberley Town: Played the first 75 minutes of the 0 – 3 defeat to Redhill in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).
Byron Mitchell, Forward, 2nd year – Sheerwater: Started on the bench for the 0 – 4 defeat at Cobham in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).
Louis Pask, Midfielder, 2nd year – Camberley Town: Came on as a 75th minute substitute (replacing Henry McDonald) in the 0 – 3 defeat to Redhill in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).
Aidy Silverstein, Central Defender, 2nd year – Blackfield & Langley: Played the first 70 minutes (when the score was 1 – 1) of the 1 – 2 defeat at United Services Portsmouth in the Wessex League – Premier Division (Step 5). US Portsmouth scoring their winner on 90+2 minutes.