Academy Review - Week 34
Written by Ian Tilley & Holly Porter Upcoming Fixture – Week commencing 14th April 2025
Wednesday 16th April
14:00 – Woking U19 v Maidstone United U19; National League Academy - South Division
Woking College, Rydens 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 7th April 2025
Wednesday 9th April
Woking U17 3 – 3 Boreham Wood Blues; National League Alliance – Division E
Woking College, Rydens Way
Report from Ian Tilley
An uneventful start gave little hint of the ups-and-downs which were to follow in this game between the sides in 7th and 8th positions in this ten-team league.
On 17 minutes Boreham Wood were forced to make a change, Joshua Barfi replacing the unfortunate Jeoffrey Mawanga, with the substitute soon to make an impact.
On 23 minutes, after Zac Webster’s free-kick had been tipped over for a corner by James Moore, Barfi’s quality delivery was powerfully headed home at the far post by Kofi McEyeson.
Boreham Wood looked an older side and were closing Woking down very well, but Woking still pressed, and made the most of an error on 32 minutes. Wood defender Michael Wakeling was caught on the ball on the edge of his six-yard box, and Tyrell Ejakita’s sliding challenge knocked the ball into the unguarded net.
It looked as if the sides might go to the half-time break even, but Barfi’s excellent corner delivery paid dividends again. On 44 minutes the ball went straight in from Barfi’s corner, with the flight of the ball, and Wakeling’s attempted header, deceiving Moore in the Woking goal.
Half-time: Woking 1 – 2 Boreham Wood
The second-half started with chances at both ends, Calum Mathieson’s shot was deflected wide for Woking, and Boreham Wood came close to extending their lead with a McEyeson header which looked to have gone in off the post but was adjudged not to have crossed the goal line.
Woking had their equaliser on the hour, there did not initially look to be too much danger for Wood, but Mathieson did well to get his cross over from the right byline and Jack Tricker, as enterprising as ever, arrived at the near post to flick home on the volley.
Tricker struck again on 71 minutes to give Woking the lead. Having won a free-kick on the left side of the penalty area, he struck the ball sweetly around the left side of the two-man wall and inside the ‘keeper, who Tricker had seen was moving to his left in anticipation of a cross, a great strike.
Unfortunately, within five minutes a careless mistake undid Woking’s winning position. The usually exemplary Joel Jennison-Leppa underhitting a ‘no-look’ backpass, and Jaylen Johnson gratefully running onto the ball and firing home.
Both sides went in search of a winner as the game went into added time. Woking’s best chance coming with a Tricker free-kick, which was blocked by a defender who was about five yards away by the time Tricker hit the ball. Whilst Boreham Wood did have the ball in the net, but the play had already been stopped for a free-kick to Wood.
So, an entertaining draw in a game which both sides may feel they could have won.
Woking: James Moore, Connor Thomas, Kai Baverstock (Joel Jennison-Leppa 63), Jack Owen, Pranish Gurang (Zack Rhioui 57), Frankie Bushby ©, Joe Scanlon (Luca Di Manno 57), Jack Tricker, George Mattingley, Calum Mathieson, Tyrell Ejakita (Hayden Vally 75).
Goals: Ejakita 32, Tricker 60, 71.
Boreham Wood: Niall Donaghey, Jeoffrey Mawanga, Shujab Ileshi, Michael Wakeling, Jacob Johnson, Kofi McEyeson ©, Zac Webster, Govind Bains, Josh Elishi, James Adrian Moore, Jaylen Johnson. Subs: Joshua Barfi, Christian Adu, Osy Nweke, Joao Pedro.
Referee: Lee Murphy.
Woking U19 1 - 1 Oxford City U19; National League Academy - South Division
Woking College, Rydens Way
Report from Holly Porter
The U19s faced Oxford City this week, with hopes of avenging the league and cup double defeat that City inflicted on them back in December.
Both teams had some promising spells of play in the first 10 minutes. In the 8th minute, Boxall tried to find his feet after a week off, with an early shot for the forward, but his effort went just wide.
In the 10th minute, City created a strong chance of their own, with a ball which split the defence and put their forward through on goal. Honey came off of his line to make a decent save, but the offside flag was raised regardless.
City’s next big chance at goal came from a free-kick just outside the box. The 20th minute set-piece, however, was driven low and just wide of the left corner.
Back down the other end, Woking’s search for the lead neared an end with Christophers, but the shot from the edge of the box went just wide in the 24th minute.
The closest Woking came to the opener in the first 30 minutes was initiated by Boxall’s driving run down the left side in the 26th minute of play. His ball into the box was met first time by Ampah, but the volley was just wide of the right post.
The closest that City came to taking the advantage was in the 29th minute, with a quick move forward which resulted in the ball being turned in from close range. The offside flag, however, was the saving grace for the Cards, with the away side’s celebrations short-lived in the Surrey sun.
It was the home side that took the advantage, and it was certainly taken well. In the 36th minute, Boyle did incredibly well to keep the ball in the box, turning and taking on several men in his pursuit of goal. His shot across goal hit the inside of the side netting, with the brilliant individual effort putting the Cards in front.
City didn’t let their heads drop and attempted to strike back before half-time. A 41st-minute shot connected well from range, but it was straight at Honey, who did well to hold onto the ball and take the power out of the effort.
In the final stages of the first 45, both teams had strong chances to change the scoreline heading into half-time. In the 43rd minute, Boxall capitalised on a poor touch from the City defence and found Smith out wide. The low delivery from Smith, however, was defended well by City, who went on to create one more big chance of the half.
The 45th-minute shot from range was powered towards the bottom left corner but went just wide of the post, which Honey had got across to, and had done well to cover off the threat, which left the story of the first half unchanged.
Half-time: Woking 1 – 0 Oxford City
Oxford City started the second half as the stronger side, with play being rooted in Woking’s half, but no breakthrough could be found by the away side, and their competitors were able to grow back into the game.
In the 55th minute, Boyle and Lewis linked up well on the right side, as they so often do, but this time Boyle’s delivery was too close to the keeper, and City eliminated the threat.
Involved again, Lewis went close in the 58th minute, with a burst forward which ended in a shot going just wide, once again the wrong side of the post for the Cards.
In the 69th minute, Lewis put a dangerous ball into the goalmouth, but City did well to defend, and the corner that resulted was also defended in a bid to keep the deficit at one.
The 75th minute presented another opportunity for the away side to get themselves level. A free-kick just outside the box was taken well, but, as with so many efforts in this game, the shot went just wide.
A free-kick midway into the City half followed for the Cards, with Young stood over the set-piece. The ball into the box looked promising, but no one was there to capitalise on the threat, and the ‘keeper was able to collect under limited pressure.
The offside flag featured again in the 85th minute, but this time it opposed the home side in a key move forward. Smith had released Kyle through the City defence, but the substitute's run was just too early, and the whistle was quickly blown to stop the move.
In the 90th minute, Woking showed that they were not content to see the game out, and were still searching for a doubled advantage. Mitchell drove into the box and got a strong effort away, but the ‘keeper did well to come out and meet the shot and pushed the ball out for a corner. The corner kick was met by the head of Kyle, but his pursuit of goal was unsuccessful.
In the end, it was City who were able to capitalise in the closing stages, with a goal in injury time earning them a late point. A shot across the goal hit the inside of the far post in the 93rd minute, and the prospect of 3 points for the Cards quickly disappeared.
On the whistle, the points were shared in a strong showing from the young Cards, with the win having just escaped them.
Academy Manager Matt Winter reflected on the game, stating: “When we get to the 93rd minute and we're 1-0 up, you don’t think you’re there, but you know how close you are. Unfortunately, that’s probably where we are as a team at the minute, that we’re just not quite able to get over the line, but again the performance was good.”
In reference to Boyle’s performance, both defensively and going forward, he stated: “Louie was excellent, he took his goal so well. He showed the tenaciousness that he has, and the athletic ability to get himself forward. I think he maybe lost the ball a couple of times, won it back a couple of times, and showed real composure with the finish [...] That’s the other side of his game.”
Woking Lineup: Bob Honey, Louie Boyle, Ryan Scott, Jermaine Junior Young, Tom Gardner ©, Aidy Silverstein, Jack Lewis (Stanley Kyle 77’), Leo Christophers, Jojo Ampah (Ben Mitchell 67’), Lucas Boxall (Henry McDonald 87’), Jayden Smith (Sam Brittain 87’). Unused substitute: James Orton.
Goal: Louie Boyle 36’.
Thursday 10th April
East Grinstead Town U18 1 - 3 Woking U18; Isthmian League – Central Division
Vistavis Community Stadium, East Court College Lane, East Grinstead
Report from Ian Tilley
Woking went into the final game of the Central Division season knowing they would finish 4th of the 8 teams in the division, so the emphasis could be on finishing the season well, although this was a more difficult game than may have been expected against the league’s bottom side.
On a rather uneven surface it took both teams ten minutes to settle, and then it was Woking’s midfield engine of Will Ledbury and Amario Malhotra who put the games’ first good passing move together.
The opening goal came on 15 minutes, Malhotra’s corner picking out the run of Jack Tricker, arriving unmarked to meet the ball on the bounce and guiding it home with his right foot from six yards. Tricker enjoying goals on consecutive days, having stepped up from the subs bench after Brian Rai was delayed on his journey.
Woking were now enjoying more of the play, their excellent passing notable, and control of the game good, with the hosts restricted to half-chances at best.
The Cards doubled their lead on 35 minutes, Hayden Vally fouled as he dribbled near the byline in the penalty area, and converting the penalty himself, a firm and accurate hit to Lewis Nason’s bottom right hand corner.
Further Woking half-chances came, although Jools Lacey was called on to make a good save from Freddie Walton, after a fine through ball from Kian Price.
Half-time: East Grinstead Town 0 – 2 Woking
Woking seemed to be continuing in control in the early exchanges of the second-half, but East Grinstead were back in the game on 55 minutes. Mason Saunders winning a penalty in a tussle with Ollie Rigby, and scoring it himself, sending Lacey the wrong way.
Tricker and Zack Rhioui both hit the side netting for Woking, whilst Town were growing in confidence, and Lacey was forced into a difficult save by Evan Newman, with a great effort from 30 yards.
The introduction of Louie Boyle (one day shy of his 17th birthday) on the hour mark, on the right side of the attack, regained the initiative for Woking. Boyle’s running with the ball is a real threat, and Town would later pay him the compliment of two crunching challenges to thank him for his efforts.
East Grinstead did still carry a threat, but so did Woking, and Vally had a shot well saved on 69 minutes. It felt like either side could get the next goal, and it wasn’t until the 88th minute that Woking sealed the victory.
Ledbury’s shot was deflected for a corner, which Malhotra took short to Boyle, whose cross was headed down by Rigby for Vally to turn and knock home from six yards – a very well executed corner routine, rightly celebrated.
Town were still not out of it, having one move pulled back before the ball found its way into the net, and a great run and shot by Finley McIntyre well saved by Lacey diving to his left.
This ended up being a hard-fought win for Woking, but there are a plenty of positives to reflect on in the summer and carry forwards to next season.
East Grinstead Town: Lewis Nason, Harvey Russell, Tyler Grant ©, Charlie Kyle, Luke Deighton, Freddie Dean (Finley Wigmore 65), Kian Price (Leyton Brightwell-Douce 81), Ben Lazenby (Reece Brightwell-Douce 65), Freddie Walton (Finley McIntyre 65), Evan Newman, Mason Saunders. Unused sub: Charlie Bailey.
Goal: Saunders 55 (pen).
Woking: Jools Lacey, Max Goldsworthy, Ollie Rigby (Mason Drew 90+1), Thomas Ward, Zack Rhioui (Louie Boyle 60), Amario Malhotra ©, Will Ledbury (Frankie Bushby 90+1), Joe Frawley, Jojo Ampah (Tyrell Ejakita 79), Hayden Vally, Jack Tricker (Brian Rai 68).
Goals: Tricker 15, Vally 35 (pen), 88.
Referee: Matthew James
Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:
Tuesday 8th April
Stanley Kyle, Forward, 2nd year – Camberley Town: Played the first 86 minutes of the 1 – 1 draw against Tooting & Mitcham United in the Combined Counties League - Premier Division South (Step 5).
Henry McDonald, Centre Midfield, 3rd year – Camberley Town: Played the full game in the 1 – 1 draw against Tooting & Mitcham United in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division South (Step 5).
Saturday 12th April
Sam Brittain, Midfield, 2nd year – Virginia Water: Played the full game in the 3 – 2 victory over Milton United in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division North (Step 5). Milton United made it 2 –2 after 90+3 minutes, and the winner came on 90+6 minutes.
Oliver Mason, Central Midfield, 3rd year – Ascot United: Came on as a 56th minute substitute in the 6 – 0 victory over Westfield in the Isthmian League - South Central Division (Step 4).
Aidy Silverstein, Central Defender, 2nd year – Blackfield & Langley: Played the full game in the 2 – 3 defeat at Hythe & Dibden in the Wessex League – Premier Division (Step 5). Unfortunately, Downton’s win during the week had already confirmed Blackfield’s relegation.
Harry White, Goalkeeper, 2nd year – Sandhurst Town: Played the full game in the 1 - 3 defeat at Horley Town in the Combined Counties League - Premier Division South (Step 5). Sandhurst Town are still vulnerable to relegation with the final round of games on Saturday 19th April required to clarify the situation.