Academy Bulletin 26/27 - Week 6
Written by Ian TilleyUpcoming Fixtures: Week commencing 14th September 2026
Wednesday 16th September
11:00 – Woking U17 v Complete Coaching: Tactic League Squad Pre-Season Friendly
MTPC, Woking College, Rydens Way
Thursday 17th September
19:30 – Woking U17 v Aldershot Town: Allied Counties Youth League – East Division
Knaphill FC, Redding Way
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 draw for The FA Youth Cup Second Qualifying Round (when Woking enter), takes place on Friday 18th September.
The Academy website is wokingcitc.org
The Academy YouTube channel is www.youtube.com/@wokingfcacademy8179 – links to the Academy YouTube posts are also on the Academy ‘X’ page.
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 7th September
Monday 7th September
Hayes & Yeading United 1 – 0 Woking U17; (HT: 0 – 0): Isthmian Youth League West Division
The 1878 Stadium, Burnham Football Club
Another hard challenge, after the cup defeat at Metropolitan Police, but one that Woking were better prepared for. Woking started combatively in what was to be a hard-fought game, and enjoyable for the determination showed by both sides.
Woking came closest to a goal as early as the 11th minute, Jerome Musi did well to make an interception, and saw his shot saved, but when Keegan Berry put in the rebound Musi was adjudged to be in an offside position and interfering with play.
The game was rather characterised by the defensive work of Jack Donkin, Zane Taylor, Ben Golding and Aaryan Malhotra, with Hugo Shaw a reliable last line of defence, making a number of very good saves.
It was starting to look like Woking might come away with a creditable draw until a challenge on an attacker who had got goal-side of his marker conceded an 83rd minute penalty. The spot-kick was an ‘anti-Panenka’ hit with such ferocity that any ‘keeper would have struggled to keep it out. And with Hayes & Yeading’s midfield continuing to close down their opponents effectively, time ran out for Woking to get an equaliser.
Woking: Hugo Shaw, Harry Cummings (Harvey Grace 46), Zane Taylor ©, Jack Donkin, Amanuel Zeleke (Leighton Spence 63); Aaryan Malhotra, Ben Golding; Theo Hornbuckle (Luca Chevalier 46), Keegan Berry, Raayan Ali-Walid; Jerome Musi (Callen Carter 76). Unused substitute: Lucas Montague (GK).
Wednesday 9th September
Woking U18 0 – 4 Boreham Wood; (HT: 0 – 0): National Academy Alliance League Division F
MTPC, Woking College, Rydens Way
This was a more even game than the scoreline suggests, with all four of the visitor’s goals coming in a ten-minute spell during the second half.
Jack Kelly did have to make some early interceptions to clear Wood attacks, but Woking competed well, and Ben Bailey, Harry Munden, Zack McColl-Eljanfali, Theo Hornbuckle and Trialist all had chances to give the Cards the lead.
However, the floodgates opened on 72 minutes, Woking allowing an unmarked header from a corner to concede the lead. It was two a minute later, Harry MacFadyen blocked well, but the rebound was tucked in, and the hosts punished for losing possession too easily.
On 77 minutes Wood made the most of Trialist dropping deeper than his fellow defenders and the forward played onside finished with a tidy tap-in. Woking were struggling now, a man in midfield not closed down, the space between centre back and full back too easy to pass through, and the on running forward giving MacFadyen no chance with an emphatic finish.
Hornbuckle, Bailey, Trialist, Jamil Issa, Byron O’Donnell, George Ellis and Logan Jacques were all involved in the search for a consolation goal, but it wasn’t to be as the game drew to its close.
Woking: Harry MacFadyen, Dylan Hosali, Trialist, Jack Kelly (Byron O’Donnell 80), Amanuel Zeleke; Nat Flemming (Louis Dimotzoglu 66), Ben Bailey ©; Jamil Issa, Harry Munden (Theo Hornbuckle 46), Logan Jacques; Zack McColl-Eljanfali (George Ellis 66). Unused substitute: Callum Collins (GK).
Aldershot Town 1 – 3 Woking U19 (EDS): National League Under 19 Academy South Division
Bottom Meadow, Sandhurst Memorial Park
It could have been 4 – 0 to Woking in the first half, but Aldershot making it 2 – 1 shortly before half-time meant the second half always carried the possibility of an equaliser until the Cards secured victory late on.
Woking took the lead on 27 minutes, George Mattingley and Nick Alves winning the ball well in midfield, and Alves passing inside to Jalil Page who took a step sideways to create space before shooting from the centre of the edge of the penalty area beyond the ‘keeper’s dive to his bottom right corner.
The Cards doubled their lead on 31 minutes. Aldershot making a mess of playing out from the goalies’ ‘ball-in-hand’, with a pass to the edge of the penalty area intercepted by Ewing who calmly side-footed past the onrushing ‘keeper.
The Shots’ goal came when a Woking pass out of defence was intercepted and quickly passed to the forward who took a touch before shooting across Aaron Sings and in off the far post.
Half-time: Aldershot Town 1 – 2 Woking
Whilst there was no real threat of danger from Aldershot in the second-half, a 2 – 1 lead is always a little uncomfortable, and it was a most welcome goal which confirmed victory on 86 minutes. Will Ledbury competed well in midfield before Alves collected the ball, played a one-two with Minkah Okojie, and dribbling through the inside left position to the corner of the six-yard box adroitly chipped the ball over the ‘keeper and inside the far post.
A pleasing result, of course, and one which means Woking are one of four teams with four points from two games at the top of the early South Division standings.
Woking: Aaron Sings, Dillan Davies, Ed Scott, Joel Jennison-Leppa ©, Jack Samuels; George Mattingley (Louie Taylor-Boyle 70), Will Ledbury; Seyi Akinwalere (Minkah Okojie 61), Josh Ewing (Tavonga Manjowo 89), Nick Alves; Jalil Page (Timothy Francis 52), Unused substitute: Dominic West (GK).
Goals: Page 27, Ewing 31, Alves 86.
Thursday 10th September
Wokingham Town 1 – 1 Woking U17; (HT: 1 – 0): Wokingham Town won 3 – 2 on penalties: Allied Counties Youth League Cup – First Round
Emmbrook Sports and Social Club, Lowther Road
Woking came from 0 – 1 down at half-time to equalise on 55 minutes through Callum Carter, who anticipated a chance at the far post well to head home.
Unfortunately, Woking did not recover from missing their first two penalties in the shoot-out and lost it 2 – 3.
Woking: Lucas Montague, Harvey Grace, Dylan Mangle (Harry Cummings 80), Leighton Spence ©, Sad Kaloga; Khyan Pentrante (Leo Barbato 59), Harley Adams; Henry Loxton, Max Canham (Yaw Akowuah-Addo 80), Callum Carter (Oliver Kumbaro 71); Luca Chevalier. Unused substitute: Flynn MacDonald (GK).
Goal: Carter 55.
Woking U18 5 – 0 CB Hounslow & Abbots: The Michael Bidmead (Suburban League) Challenge Cup – First Round
MTPC, Woking College, Rydens Way
A game where Woking found it difficult to build on their early lead before the goals started flowing midway through the second half.
Woking started brightly, good passing from Arthur Pereira and Jaden Mansour set up Will Richards whose shot was stopped by the ‘keeper’s feet; before Max Thomas and Richards both came close to opening the scoring.
The first goal came on 10 minutes, Richards’ corner fell to Harvey Johnson inside the six-yard box, and he tucked the ball into the bottom corner.
A CB header from a free kick was kept out by a combination of Callum Collins and his crossbar, but otherwise it looked like the Cards would soon add to their lead. With excellent prompting from Pereira and Johnson, Daejharn Wells, Thomas and Mansour, on more than one occasion, all came close to extending the lead but were frustrated by a combination of defensive blocks, saves and woodwork.
CB did have the ball in the net but were adjudged to have been offside, so Woking took their lead into the break.
Half-time: Woking 1 – 0 CB Hounslow & Abbots
Attempts were traded as CB sought to draw level. Alfie Moult doing well with a double block, and a quick CB break ending in a shot off target. Whilst Pereira, drawing a good save, came closest to providing the comfort of a second goal before the lead was doubled on 65 minutes.
Richards took a quick free kick with a pass to Wells, who returned the ball to Richards for him to beat the ‘keeper with the power of his shot. Woking were now dominant, coming closest to a third through Mansour’s shot hitting the crossbar but bouncing down and out.
Two goals in two minutes sealed the victory. The 81st minute brought a team goal, Collins’ long pass finding George Loader, who dribbled into the left side of the penalty area, drew the ‘keeper and then pulled the ball back to Mansour for him to slot low into the net past the covering defenders.
Then Loader got his reward for his tireless running, the goal started with Johnson’s interception and pass to Mansour, who looked as if he was fouled, but there was no decision for the referee to make as Loader’s anticipation got him in the right place to hit the loose ball home.
Another offside decision denied CB a consolation goal, and the Cards added a fifth as the game went into added time. Ben Bailey’s well-taken corner to the far post knocked down by Byron O’Donnell, and Johnson knocking in his second when the ball broke to him off a defender.
So, Woking go through to play the winner of the tie between Harrow Borough and Bishop’s Stortford to be played on 19th September.
Woking: Callum Collins (GK), Alfie Moult (Casper Hammond 70), Luke Manly © (Byron O’Donnell 74), Sonnie Leedham, Daejharn Wells; Arthur Pereira (Nat Flemming 83), Harvey Johnson; Max Thomas (Harry Munden 70), Will Richards (Ben Bailey 83), Jaden Mansour; George Loader. Unused substitute: Joshua Allan (GK).
Goals: Johnson 10, 90, Richards 65, Mansour 81, Loader 82.
Loan (Dual Registration) Players Watch
Tuesday 8th September
Ed Scott, Centre Back, EDS – Tadley Calleva: Was on the substitutes’ bench for the 3 – 4 defeat at Fleet Town in the Hampshire Senior Cup Second Round.
Saturday 9th September
Dom West, Goalkeeper, EDS – Binfield. Was on the substitutes bench for the 1 – 2 defeat at Cobham in the Isthmian League South Central Division (Step 4). Binfield’s goal was scored by Academy graduate Quincy Patterson.
Other News
Academy graduate Kemall Wilson made his first team debut for Woking coming on as an 84th minute substitute in the 4 – 1 victory over Southampton U21s in the National League Cup. Kemall is now on loan at Leatherhead and made his debut for them coming on as an 81st minute substitute in the 2 – 1 victory at Aveley in the Isthmian League Premier Division (Step 3).
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 Thursday.
The under 17s will also be entering the Tactic League. Friday daytime at MTPC, Woking College.