Academy Review - Week 33

Written by Ian Tilley & Holly Porter 

Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 7th April 2025

Wednesday 9th April

11:30 - Woking U17 v Boreham Wood Blues; National League Alliance – Division E
Woking College, Rydens Way

14:00 – Woking U19 v Oxford City U19; National League Academy - South Division
Woking College, Rydens Way

Thursday 10th April

19:45 – East Grinstead Town U18 v Woking U18; Isthmian League – Central Division
Vistavis Community Stadium, East Court College Lane, East Grinstead RH19 3LS

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 31st March 2025

Wednesday 2nd April

Eastleigh U19 2 - 1 Woking U19; National League Academy - South Division

Ganger Farm Sports Park, Romsey

Report from Holly Porter

A tough fixture awaited the u19s this week, as they travelled to face Eastleigh, who started the day occupying the second-placed spot.

A windy day at Ganger Farm saw a few set-up changes within the lineup. Boxall’s absence saw Christophers push higher up the field, with Young playing slightly deeper. Boyle dropped into right back, as he has often done before, with Lewis pushing further up the field in the right-wing position. There was a change of personnel in goal as well, with Verga returning in the Woking net.

The first real chance for the Young Cards came in the 3rd minute, with an excellent ball forward from Boyle which was chased down by Mitchell. The home ‘keeper did well, however, to get to the ball first, and clear it under pressure, which denied Mitchell an early effort at goal.

For the remainder of the opening 10 minutes, Eastleigh dominated and really applied the pressure going forward. In the 9th minute, Verga did well to get down to his left to push a close effort out for a corner kick.

The resulting corner was dangerous from the home side, with the ball being pulled back to a runner outside the box, and the delivery being headed just over the bar.
Eastleigh also showed their threat from range in the opening stages, with a shot from outside the area in the 16th minute which was well connected with. The effort was deflected on its journey goalward which, in the end, made for an easy collection for Verga.

In the 20th minute, Woking had a big chance to take the lead after Scott drove into the box and won a corner for his side. Smith got a strong header on the delivery, but the ‘keeper was able to collect, and Eastleigh went forward once again.

It was this phase of play where the home side were able to take the lead. The advantage was taken in the 21st minute, with a shot from outside the area which sailed into the net after a quick move upfield.

The response was positive from the Cards, who did not let their heads drop after the setback. The ball was played forward with Lewis, who pulled the ball back to Boyle shortly after the restart. The effort from Boyle, however, went just wide of the goal.

Garnder displayed his defensive dominance in the 25th minute, with an attempted through-ball from Eastleigh calling the skipper into action once again. Staying with his runner, he did excellently well to get his body across and attempt a pass back to Verga, with a flying boot which brought him down and earned him a free-kick in the process.
On the half-hour mark, Lewis was brought down just outside the box, with Young stood over the set piece. The delivery into the box looped towards the back post but went out of play before it could be reached by the head of Stevens.

In the 35th minute, Mitchell did well to keep the ball on the edge of the box and passed it out to Lewis on the right side. His delivery into the box was good, but no one was there to get the final touch, and the search for the equaliser continued.

Just minutes later, Eastleigh went on what looked to be a threatening move forward, with Stevens having done very well to stick with his player, and did just enough to put off the shot. The shot was executed, but Verga had come out to meet it and then reacted first to claim the loose ball as his own.

A dominant opening spell from Eastleigh was diminished as Woking grew into the game, but nevertheless, the Cards went in at the break with an uphill second-half battle.

Half-time: Eastleigh 1 – 0 Woking

Starting the half strongly, Woking had a clear-cut chance at goal in the 48th minute, with Mitchell having won a free-kick halfway into the Eastleigh half. Young took the set piece, finding Lewis’ overlapping run down the right side, who put a dangerous ball into a crowded box. The header from Mitchell, however, lacked accuracy, and the ball went out for a goal-kick.

In the 56th minute, Verga made a good save to deny the home side a second. A close-range shot forced a reactive save from the ‘keeper, who got his gloves to the first effort, and then reacted quickly to claim the loose ball.

With almost an instant impact off of the bench, Pask went close in with a free-kick in the 64th minute. He went for goal and placed the ball around the wall, but the ball was collected by the ‘keeper with little trouble. Involved again, Pask went wide in the 67th minute after he connected well with Smith’s delivery.

Despite a number of decent chances from Woking, it was Eastleigh who were the next to capitalise. Verga did well to save the initial effort from the home side, but the ball was pushed back out into a dangerous area, and the second shot was fired into the net, which doubled Eastleigh’s advantage with just over 20 minutes left to play.

The 78th minute saw a couple of chances for Woking to get one back. Firstly, Pask took a free-kick midway into the Eastleigh half, which was headed away by the home defence. Christophers then did well to keep it alive on the right-hand side, but it was headed away once again.

Chances flowed for Woking in the final 10 minutes, with Boyle’s shot being blocked in the 82nd minute, followed by an effort from Ampah which went just wide. In the 84th minute, Smith did well to beat his player and find Ampah in the box, but the substitute had his shot blocked. Moments later, Pask went wide, and the search to get something out of the fixture continued.

Mitchell was brought down in the box in the 88th minute, and this time the referee pointed straight to the spot without hesitation, and it was Mitchell who claimed the ball and stood over the spot kick. The ‘keeper dived the right way and kept Mitchell’s shot out, and indeed the follow-up shot, but the ball spilt back out into the box and Pask fired home to get one back for the Cards.

The travelling side restarted the game quickly, with a late flurry of chances in which Eastleigh were forced to make some pinpoint challenges, and some fortunate blocks, to deny their opponents a point. In the end, time ran out for the Young Cards, and despite a strong showing, they suffered defeat on the road at the hands of the new league leaders.

Academy Manager Matt Winter reflected on the game, stating: “With the chances we created at the end, it’s frustrating that they just wouldn’t fall, but that's a testament to the character of the players. After each goal we conceded [they] showed a real lift in performance and were able to go and cause them problems [...] We didn’t get the result that we wanted, of course, but the performance was there, and that was key, and we have to keep being consistent with the performances and if we are, the results will change.”

Woking: Mikey Verga, Louie Boyle, Tom Gardner ©, Harrison Stevens, Ryan Scott, Jack Lewis (Louis Pask 57’), Jermaine Junior Young (Aidy Silverstein 62’), Henry McDonald (Jojo Ampah 70’), Jayden Smith, Leo Christophers, Ben Mitchell. Unused sub: Bob Honey (GK).

Goal: Pask 88’.


Woking U17 2 – 5 Chatham Town Youth; National League Alliance – Division E

Woking College, Rydens Way

Report from Ian Tilley

With the final league table taking shape, this contest was reflective of the team’s positions in the league. Chatham now have games in hand to aim for a third, or perhaps even second, place finish, whilst Woking look likely to finish seventh of the ten teams in the division.

Woking were the architects of their own poor start, after just 3 minutes the ball was conceded too easily in midfield, and Josh Carter hit an unstoppable 35-yard lob which crashed in off the underside of the bar, with James Moore stranded. Carter’s strike benefitting from a strong wind that would make conditions difficult throughout the game.

Woking then competed well against an opponent who looked to have more of an under 19 side, which is permitted at this level. Hayden Vally, Jack Tricker and Tyrell Ejakita all had attempts on goal, with Ollie Rigby’s attacking play from his defensive starting point also catching the eye.

Chatham came close to doubling their lead on 21 minutes, Jonny Harris’ header from a Louie Belsham corner powered into the bottom corner, and very well saved by Moore. With the ‘keeper called upon a minute later to push a Carter free-kick away for a corner.

Woking nearly had the equaliser on 27 minutes, Roshan Kigozi’s cross across the six-yard box just evading Vally’s outstretched leg. But two minutes later, another powerful, wind assisted, strike gave Chatham their second. Carter teeing up Louie Belsham, who had space to curl into the top corner from 20 yards.

The game itself seemed even, although Chatham did look to be dealing with the conditions better, and the hope was that Liam Sherriff, the Chatham ‘keeper, would have the same difficulties with distribution that faced Moore, once the teams had turned around for the second-half.

Half-time: Woking 0 – 2 Chatham Town

Woking adjusted for the second-half, Kai Baverstock replacing Thomas Ward, with Ollie Rigby moving to the centre of the back three, Joe Scanlon sitting a little deeper in his holding midfield position, and Tricker and Kigozi continuing with the switch of flanks they had made during the first- half.

Chances were now exchanged, Tricker going close with a shot from the edge of the area, and Chatham substitute Boissiere also shooting narrowly wide. Scanlon called upon for a fine recovery challenge, and Ejakita doing well to get on to the end of a Rigby long ball through the middle before shooting wide under pressure.

Unfortunately, Woking were to pay the price for unnecessarily giving the ball away on 58 minutes. Colin Igboma intercepted the misplaced pass and ran forward before having his shot blocked. Jesse Rowe took the resulting corner and Will Samways found space all too easily in the six-yard box to knock the ball home.

Two minutes later it was nearly four, Boissiere hitting the bar from 18 yards. Woking responded with a change, Pranish Gurung coming on to the left side of the attack, with Kigozi playing as a central forward.

On 70 minutes Woking looked to be back in the game. Kigozi still had work to do when he received Max Goldsworthy’s pass on the edge of the area, but the forward did well to create space and shoot accurately into the bottom corner.

Woking’s hopes were lifted, but would soon be dashed by a rather unfortunate incident. Chatham attacked and the referee’s assistant flagged for offside. Woking stopped whilst Chatham continued, Boissiere crossing unchallenged for Farron Chime to tap the ball home. The referee’s subsequent decision to overrule the offside and allow the goal a tough lesson for Woking to take.

Chatham pressed home their advantage, Igboma hitting the bar on 74 minutes, before Boissiere made it five on 78 minutes. Played in by Clarence Tambe, the Chatham forward saw his first effort save by Moore, but the rebound fell kindly for him to finish the chance.

Woking were still keen to show what might have been, and at least got one back. Tricker and Vally involved in the threat on the Chatham goal, and when Tricker won a free-kick, Kigozi’s effort was saved before Vally knocked home the rebound.

Both sides went in search of further goals, but it wasn’t to be, and the game drew to its close. A more emphatic scoreline than Chatham deserved, but they had dealt better with the conditions, and it would be hard to begrudge them their victory.

Woking: James Moore, Ollie Rigby, Thomas Ward (Kai Baverstock 46), Max Goldsworthy, Roshan Kigozi, Will Ledbury, Joe Scanlon (Brian Rai 63), Jack Tricker, Frankie Bushby © (Luca Di Manno 76), Tyrell Ejakita (Pranish Gurung 63), Hayden Vally. Unused sub: Jack Owen.

Goals: Kigozi 70, Vally 85.

Chatham Town: Liam Sherriff, Bobby Slatter, Will Samways, Jonny Harris ©, Lewis Nicholls, Alfie Jones, Louie Belsham (Clarence Tambe 67), Josh Carter, Colin Igboma (Kelvin Boissiere 46), Josh Fill (Farron Chime 54), Jesse Rowe. No further substitutes named.

Goals: Carter 3, Belsham 29, Samways 58, Chime 71, Boissiere 78.

Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:

Wednesday 2nd April

Harry White, Goalkeeper, 2nd year – Sandhurst Town: Played the full game in the 2 – 2 draw at Guildford City in the Combined Counties League - Premier Division South (Step 5). Sandhurst scoring their equaliser on 90+4 minutes.

Saturday 5th April

Stanley Kyle, Forward, 2nd year – Camberley Town: Came on as a 56th minute substitute (when the score was 1 – 0), in the 5 – 0 victory at Sandhurst Town in the Combined Counties League - Premier Division South (Step 5).

Henry McDonald, Centre Midfield, 3rd year – Camberley Town: Came on as a 24th minute substitute (when the score was 0 – 0), in the 5 – 0 victory at Sandhurst Town in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).

Aidy Silverstein, Central Defender, 2nd year – Blackfield & Langley: Played the full game in the 3 – 1 defeat at Wincanton Town in the Wessex League – Premier Division (Step 5). Unfortunately, a result which sees Blackfield all but mathematically relegated.

Harry White, Goalkeeper, 2nd year – Sandhurst Town: Played the full game in the 0 – 5 defeat to Camberley Town in the Combined Counties League - Premier Division South (Step 5).

Nb. Camberley Town are now guaranteed to avoid relegation; Sandhurst Town are still vulnerable to being caught.