Academy Review - Week 30

Written by Ian Tilley & Holly Porter 

Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 17th March 2025

Tuesday 18th March

19:30 – Hartley Wintney U21 v Woking U21; Suburban League Cup Plate - Quarter-Final

Hartley Wintney Memorial Ground, Green Lane, Hartley Wintney RG27 8DL

Wednesday 19th March

11:00 – Dartford U19 v Woking U19; National League Academy - South Division

Princes Park Stadium, Dartford DA1 1RT

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 10th March 2025

Monday 10th March

Walton & Hersham U18 2 - 1 Woking U18; Isthmian League – Central Division

Elmbridge Xcel Leisure Complex, Waterside Drive

With Walton & Hersham having won 3 – 0 at Woking last month, this promised to be another stern test for Woking’s first years, and so it proved to be, although Woking did compete well, especially in the second-half.

The warning signs were there for the visitors as early as the fourth minute, Jack Kimber with the chance from a familiar Walton long ball, and Aaron Zziwa, back from meeting up with the Uganda U19 squad, making the save.

However, the early breakthrough was only delayed for a few minutes, James Hall side-footing home from six yards, the Woking defence opened up too easily. Hall could have had another, shooting wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Woking did respond well, Roshan Kigozi with a shot well saved by Danny Ball, and Amario Malhotra’s cross from the resulting corner was met by Ollie Rigby at the far post with a volley which called for another smart save from Ball.

Walton then had a period in the ascendency, Zziwa saving well from Harry Schramm, Josh Shears’ range of passing from centre-back catching the eye, and Kai Cooper causing problems attacking from midfield.

With 39 minutes played it looked as if Woking would have a chance from a corner-kick, but it was the hosts on the break who were more threatening, Joe Frawley doing well to cover the counter-attack.

Woking finished the half-well, but could not find the telling pass they were looking for, and Walton maintained control going into the break.

Half-time: Walton & Hersham 1 – 0 Woking

Woking continued to attack, and Hayden Vally’s ball to Calum Mathieson led to a fine cross into the box which Kigozi unfortunately headed wide. But as in the first-half, Walton had an early goal, Liam O’Neill finishing a period of pressure with a fine low drive from the edge of the area into the bottom corner.

Woking were under pressure, but had an opportunity to get back into the game on 61 minutes. Louie Boyle’s overlapping run into the box was brought to an end, with the linesman advising the referee that he should award a penalty. Jojo Ampah took responsibility, but Ball read his intention, falling to his left to make the save.

Woking maintained the upper-hand, Vally dribbling skilfully before getting a shot away. Woking made changes to personnel and shape, changing to a back three, pushing forwards more, and immediately got their breakthrough. Vally’s pass playing in Mathieson on the right of the area, to shoot across the ‘keeper and into the bottom corner.

After those frantic minutes the game settled down a little, but Woking now looked like they could find an equaliser, Malhotra’s free-kick just evading Thomas Ward at the far post. Woking continued to press but could not create a clear-cut opportunity, and Walton were able to see the game out, the Cards having given themselves too great a mountain to climb.

With Woking having played all but one of their fixtures in the Central Division it looks like they will have to settle for fourth position, whilst Walton compete with Metropolitan Police, and Kingstonian, for the league title.

Walton & Hersham: Danny Ball, Yousef El Kasas, Oscar Dempster, Josh Shears, Bray Buckley, Ryan Danso, Harry Foxon ©, James Hall, Jack Kimber, Kai Cooper, Harry Schramm. Substitutes: Liam O’Neill, Max Seddon, Ollie Buckley, Jack Lay, Ibrahim Nawaz.

Goals: Hall 7, O’Neill 53.

Woking: Aaron Zziwa, Louie Boyle ©, Ollie Rigby, Joel Jennison-Leppa, Joe Frawley (Jack Tricker 62), Leo Christophers, Amario Malhotra, Hayden Vally, Calum Mathieson, Jojo Ampah, Roshan Kigozi (Thomas Ward 62). Unused substitutes: Frankie Bushby, Will Ledbury, Tyrell Ejakita.

Goal: Mathieson 63.

Referee: Ryan Hetherington.

Thursday 13th March

Woking U21 8 - 0 Cobham U23; Suburban League – Premier Division

Knaphill FC, Redding Way

Whilst the sides relative league positions going into the game suggested a Woking win, the margin of victory was even more emphatic than anticipated.

Woking nearly took the lead within the first minute, Harvey Brook shooting wide. Five minutes later they were up and running, a fine passing move between first years Amario Malhotra and Leo Christophers setting up Jayden Smith for a driven finish from the edge of the penalty area into the bottom corner.

For 20 minutes Cobham looked to be in the game, their high line catching Woking offside, whilst Goua Ogodon and Patrick Yawson both had shooting opportunities. Until, on 27 minutes, Malhotra dribbled into the box and won a penalty. He took it himself, and when Shai Ivey saved, there was no pressure from defenders to stop Malhotra side-footing home the rebound.

Cobham were too careless in possession, and were made to pay again on 38 minutes. A fine passing move started with Malhotra, before the returning Harrison Stevens, running forwards from defence, fed Ryan Scott, whose cross was side-footed home from six yards by Christophers.

There was time for two more before half-time. Woking’s passing again too good for Cobham as Scott’s ball to the far post was neatly tucked away by Smith. Then Tom Gardner headed a corner against the bar, and George Galea-Elston's follow-up shot was blocked by a handball. Gardner stroked the resulting spot-kick firmly into the bottom corner, Ivey well beaten once again.

Half-time: Woking 5 – 0 Cobham

Woking’s sixth came within a minute of the restart, Smith turning provider with good wing play to cross the ball in for JJ Young, who beat a defender with his first touch before shooting past the ‘keeper from eight yards.

Cobham did have a couple of half-chances, which helped re-focus Woking, along with the introduction on the hour of Jojo Ampah’s skill and energy. Woking continued in control, the defence effective when called upon, and midfield composed with good short and longer passing, although it was 83 minutes played before goal number seven came.

Harvey Brook had shown his usual skill and endeavour throughout, and his cross set up Smith to beat his marker, and fire home for his hat-trick. Ampah did have the ball in the net, but the offside flag was already up, so goal number eight would fall to Cobham’s unfortunate Janiah Boyd.

Ampah played the ball to Smith, and his cross was deflected into his own goal by Boyd, to round off a miserable evening for him and his teammates. Both Ampah and Brook came close to making it nine, whilst a chance for consolation passed Cobham by with a free-kick hit over the crossbar.

Woking may well now finish second in the Premier Division behind clear leaders Bromley, although Harrow Borough may yet have a say in the matter.

Woking: Bob Honey, George Galea-Elston, Tom Gardner ©, Harrison Stevens, James Orton, Leo Christophers, Amario Malhotra, JJ Young, Ryan Scott (Jojo Ampah 60), Harvey Brook, Jayden Smith. Unused substitutes: James Clark, Charlie Sweeney.

Goals: Smith 6, 40, 83, Malhotra 27, Christophers 38, Gardner 44 (pen), Young 46, Boyd OG 87.

Cobham: Shai Ivey, Shemar Parkes, Anwaar Taitt-Bolaji, Jerome Wilson, Freddie Pritchett (Janiah Boyd 47), John Dempsey © (Jacob Foster 62), Freddie Greenstreet, Malachi Webb (Luis Galvao 62), Alan Klimkiewicz, Goua Ogodon, Patrick Yawson (Samuel Rocca 53). Unused substitute: Simon Fraser.

Referee: Mark Edwards.



Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:

Tuesday 11th March

Sam Brittain, Midfield, 2nd year – Virginia Water: Played the first 81 minutes of the 1 – 4 defeat to Burnham in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division North (Step 5).

Ben Mitchell, Forward, 3rd year - Knaphill: Came on as a 71st minute substitute (when the score was 2 – 1) in the 3 – 1 victory over Fleet Town in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).

Saturday 15th March

Sam Brittain, Midfield, 2nd year – Virginia Water: Played the full game in the 2 – 1 defeat at Risborough Rangers in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division North (Step 5).

Stanley Kyle, Forward, 2nd year – Camberley Town: Came on as a 69th minute substitute in the 2 – 1 defeat at Jersey Bulls in the Combined Counties League - Premier Division South (Step 5).

Henry McDonald, Centre Midfield, 3rd year – Camberley Town: Played the full game in the 2 – 1 defeat at Jersey Bulls in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).

Ben Mitchell, Forward, 3rd year - Knaphill: Came on as an 84th minute substitute in the 2 – 1 victory at Balham in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).

Byron Mitchell, Forward, 2nd year – Sheerwater: Came on as a 64th minute substitute in the 0 – 3 defeat to AFC Whyteleafe in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).

Louis Pask, Midfielder, 2nd year – Camberley Town: Came on as a 69th minute substitute in the 2 – 1 defeat at Jersey Bulls in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).