Academy Bulletin 26/27 - Week 3
Written by Ian TilleyUpcoming Fixtures: Week commencing 24th August 2026
Monday 24th August
19:45 – Guildford City v Woking U17: Allied Counties Youth League – East Division
Guildford Spectrum, Parkway, Guildford, GU1 1UP
Wednesday 26th August
19:45 – Metropolitan Police v Woking U17: Isthmian Youth League Cup – First Round
Imber Court, Ember Lane, East Molesey, KT8 0BT
Thursday 27th August
19:45 – Woking U18 v Corinthian Casuals: Suburban Football League – Premier Division
MTPC, Woking College, Rydens Way
Woking U19 (EDS) begin their National Academy League South Division fixtures on Wednesday 2nd September. Please see the previous bulletin for details of this season’s squad.
Woking U18 begin their National Academy Alliance League Division F fixtures on Wednesday 9th September.
Woking U17 begin their Isthmian Youth League West Division fixtures on Monday 7th September.
For further information on fixtures please refer to the Woking Football Club Academy ‘X’ page.
Information is also available on the fulltime.thefa.com website.
The Academy website is wokingcitc.org
All of these bulletins for the current season can be found on the Woking FC website by selecting the menu of options and going to ‘News’.
Match Reports and Team Details – Week commencing Monday 17th August
Wednesday 19th August
Woking U17/U18 3 – 2 Kinetic Foundation/Academy: Friendly
MTPC, Woking College, Rydens Way
A good run out for a mixed first and second years’ team, with game time for those who needed it before Friday’s visit to Cobham.
The lively Kinetic team soon had Woking on the backfoot, scoring on eight minutes before Lucas Montague’s penalty save on twenty minutes gave Woking a foothold in the game, which the Cards grew into, although they could not draw level before half-time.
The equaliser came on 58 minutes, Louis Dimotzoglu struggling to convince anyone that his shot into the far top corner was not a mishit cross.
Woking pressed ahead with two goals in three minutes as Kinetic lost their way. First, George Loader with a quality dribble and firm finish. Then Loader turning creator, Oliver Kumbaro forcing a save from Loader’s cross, with Henry Loxton anticipating the rebound and sliding home at the far post.
Hesitant defending did allow Kinetic a second, before Flynn MacDonald’s last minute save confirmed victory.
Woking – First half: Lucas Montague, Harry Cummings, Dylan Hosali, Trialist A, Sad Kaloga; Trialist B, Arthur Pereira; Jamil Issa, Harry Munden, George Loader ©; Zack McColl-Eljanfali.
Woking – Second half: Flynn MacDonald, Louis Dimotzoglu, Hosali, Trialist A (Cummings 77), Yaw Akowuah-Addo; Jordan Okusanya, Trialist B (Pereira 73); Henry Loxton, Max Canham, Oliver Kumbaro; Loader.
Woking goals: Dimotzoglu 58, Loader 77, Loxton 79.
Woking U19 (EDS) 3 – 1 Tonbridge Angels Academy: Friendly
MTPC, Woking College, Rydens Way
A valuable preparation as Woking build cohesion and pattern in readiness for the new season. Lapses in concentration still keep their own ’keeper on their toes, but the Cards deserved their victory as the visitors faded.
Trialist A topped an impressive showing with a close-range finish from a Nick Alves cross and, as in the earlier game, 2 goals in 3 second-half minutes sealed the win. Josh Ewing finishing well from a Jojo Ampah through ball, and Timothy Francis picking a defender’s pocket and calmly slotting home.
The visitors did get one back with a well worked free-kick to the far post, leaving Woking with some work to do on defensive shape.
Woking – First half: George Hill, Louie Boyle, Ed Scott ©, Joel Jennison-Leppa, Jack Samuels; Frankie Bushby, George Mattingley; Jalil Page, Will Ledbury, Nick Alves; Trialist A.
Woking – Second half: Aaron Sings, Louie Boyle (Ed Scott 71), Dillan Davies, Trialist B, Jack Samuels (Jennison-Leppa 71); Minkah Okojie, Mattingley (Ledbury 71); Timothy Francis, Josh Ewing, Seyi Akinwalere; Jojo Ampah.
Woking goals: Trialist A 20, Ewing 77, Francis 79.
Friday 21st August
Cobham 3 – 4 Woking U18: Suburban Football League – Premier Division
Reg Madgwick Stadium, Leg O’Mutton Field, Downside Bridge Road, Cobham
An evening of high drama, with Woking going 0 –3 down after 22 minutes; and scoring their winner deep into added time at the end of the 90 minutes.
The Cards nearly had the lead in the first minute, Joe Callow’s fine through pass playing in Jayden Mansour, who steadied himself before beating the ‘keeper, only for his shot to go wide off the post.
Woking were competing well but were to concede three goals in 11 minutes. The first, on 12 minutes, a breakaway from a Woking free-kick, the second saw Cobham punish the visitors for losing the ball on the edge of their own area, and the third was a good build up finished with a powerful low shot.
Max Thomas’ determined direct running gave Woking some footing in the game, although Cobham had chances to go further ahead before the dramatic turnaround in the closing six minutes of the first-half.
Thomas was to be at the heart of this, his first goal coming on 41 minutes – Callow winning the ball well and passing to Will Richards, whose through ball played in Thomas to fire confidently past the ‘keeper. Within a minute the Cards had another, this time it was Nat Flemming with the great win and pass playing in Thomas in a similar position on the right to repeat his emphatic finish.
Mansour came close to the equaliser with a shot, from a Callow pass, which was well saved, but Woking were not to be denied and levelled with the last action of the half. Harvey Johnson, Flemming and Mansour were all involved in a very good move which ended with Richards having time to control and finish from six yards.
Half-time: Cobham 3 – 3 Woking
Woking continued where they had left off, with Callow, Richards, Mansour and Thomas playing some excellent attacking football, and Casper Hammond and Daejharn Wells prompting well from their full back positions. Although Cobham responded well and came close to scoring on the hour mark.
Woking tweaked their midfield, with Johnson playing behind Harry Munden and Richards, and continued to match their opponents, as both sides threatened to get ahead.
Sonnie Leedham replaced Byron O’Donnell at centre back to help Woking continue to stand firm and would be involved in an increasingly fraught conclusion. As normal time was coming to a close Leedham’s firm challenge earnt him a caution, with Cobham calling for a greater sanction.
George Loader came on to add his energy to the cause, and Joshua Allan made a good save to maintain parity, as Woking sought a winner at the other end. This came in the last of nine added minutes – Richards dusted himself down from being on the receiving end of a firm challenge himself and sent over a fine delivery from the free kick. Luke Manly, who had threatened earlier, rose high above his marker six yards out and powered home his header, to the clear delight of his celebrating teammates.
Some of the passion of the game boiled over in the post-match formalities, and there were some heartfelt exchanges of opinion between both sides which took some calming down before Woking could reflect on starting the Suburban League season with back-to-back wins.
Woking: Joshua Allan, Casper Hammond, Luke Manly ©, Byron O’Donnell (Sonnie Leedham 74), Daejharn Wells; Nat Flemming (Harry Munden 62), Harvey Johnson; Max Thomas (George Loader 84), Will Richards, Jayden Mansour, Joe Callow. Unused substitutes: Harry MacFadyen (GK), Arthur Pereira, Dylan Hosali.
Goals: Thomas 41, 42, Richards 45+2, Manly 90+9.
Loan (Dual Registration Players) Watch
Saturday 22nd August
George Hill, Goalkeeper, EDS – Kingstonian: Played the full game in the 3 – 1 victory at Tunbridge Wells in the FA Cup Preliminary Round.
Dom West, Goalkeeper, EDS – Binfield. No fixture.
Joel Jennison-Leppa, Centre Back, EDS – Sheerwater: Was not in the squad for the 1 – 4 defeat at Jersey Bulls in the FA Cup Preliminary Round.
Eddie Scott, Centre Back, EDS – Tadley Calleva – An unused substitute in the 0 – 0 draw at Hamble Club in the FA Cup Preliminary Round.
Josh Ewing, Attacking Centre Midfield, EDS – Tadley Calleva: Came on as a 74th minute substitute in the 0 – 0 draw at Hamble Club in the FA Cup Preliminary Round.
League fixture (home) details for the 2026/27 season
EDS, National League Under 19 Academy South Division. Martin Tyler Performance Centre (MTPC), Woking College, Wednesday, daytime.
Woking play in the Premier Division of the Suburban Football League. Whilst there is not an age limit for this League most clubs view it as a predominantly youth league, and Woking field a team based on second years, with some first years, and some from the EDS. Usually MTPC, Woking College, 19:30, Thursday.
The National League structure also offers Woking a place in Division F of their Alliance Leagues. This team is largely made up of second years. MTPC, Woking College, Wednesday, daytime.
Woking return to the West Division of the Isthmian League Youth system. The league is for under 18s, although in recent seasons Woking have fielded a team largely made up of first years. MTPC, Woking College, 19:30, Thursday.
This season Woking under 17s will play in the Allied Counties Youth League – East Division. Knaphill FC, 19:30, usually Monday.
The under 17s will also be entering the Tactic League. Friday daytime at MTPC, Woking College.