Academy Bulletin 26/27 - Week 9
Written by Ian TilleyUpcoming Fixtures: Week commencing Monday 5th October 2026
Wednesday 7th October
11:30 – Woking U18 v Dartford: National Academy Alliance League – Division F
MTPC, Woking College, Rydens Way
14:00 – Maidstone United v Woking U19 (EDS): National League Under 19 Academy – South Division
The Gallagher Stadium, James Whatman Way, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1LQ
19:45: Balham v Woking U17: Allied Counties Youth League – East Division
Croydon Sports Arena, Albert Road, South Norwood, London, SE25 4QL
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
Links to Academy YouTube posts can be found on the Academy ‘X’ page.
All Academy games which are hosted at the MTPC are now broadcast live on Staydia Sport. Go to staydiasports.com for further details.
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 Report and Team Details – Week commencing Monday 28th September
There’s one match report this week, and it was a humdinger of a game.
Friday 2nd October
Carshalton Athletic U18 2 – 4 Woking U18: FA Youth Cup – Second Round of Qualifying
War Memorial Sports Ground, Colston Avenue, Carshalton
With free entry boosting the crowd to over 400, this was a thrilling game of end-to-end action, with a bit of tension thrown in for good measure, and no little skill to boot. As Woking entered this season’s FA Youth Cup.
Encouraged by last weeks’ emphatic 9 – 0 win over Bracknell, Woking went into the game full of confidence, but it was soon clear this was going to be a much tougher evening, the hosts having a goal ruled out for offside after just two minutes.
The transitionary nature of the game was soon established, with Will Richards and Jaden Mansour probing for Woking, and Aiden Marney-Moore dangerous for Athletic.
Woking threatened to take the lead, Richards put a shot wide from a difficult angle, Joe Callow was thwarted by Archie Colwell closing down a one-on-one, and a Richards’ pass teed up Mansour nicely, but his shot was, uncharacteristically, well over the crossbar.
Daejharn Wells, Harvey Johnson and Max Thomas were also getting involved in Woking’s good passing movement, but it was Carshalton who would take the lead on 19 minutes. The Robins cutting the Cards open through the middle, and Marney-Moore slotting neatly past Joshua Allan.
Woking responded superbly, Thomas had a shot saved, Luke Manly’s flicked header from a Richards’ corner hit the crossbar, and on 31 minutes they had the equaliser. A fine pass forward from Casper Hammond at right-back was controlled with a magical touch by Richards who then adroitly lobbed the advancing ‘keeper from inside the penalty area.
Both sides continued to press forwards, Woking – marshalled by Manly and Sonnie Leedham -defending resolutely, whilst Callow’s flicked effort was blocked. Carshalton thought they had regained the lead on 37 minutes, but Marney-Moore was offside from Rylee Garland’s pass.
Mansour won a free kick 25 yards out, which Richards put narrowly wide of the top corner. Then Marcus Long played in Ciprian Fita for Athletic and his shot from the corner of the box was only just over.
Woking’s forwards continued their quest for the next goal, but it was not to come before the break.
Half-time: Carshalton Athletic 1 – 1 Woking
Their interval instructions increased the Cards’ resolve to be more incisive in front of goal, and whilst Allan did have to make one good save at his near post, two goals in five minutes soon turned the game firmly in Woking’s favour.
On 54 minutes Hammond played another fine long pass forward to Arthur Pereira, getting forward from central midfield, whose great right-wing play pulled the ball back for Callow who looked to be in a tight spot, but a drag back to turn, a touch to sit the defender down and a smashing finish from six yards out, was all too quick for the Carshalton defence.
Striking whilst the iron was hot, Richards seized on defensive hesitation and passed to Mansour in a central position, who steadied himself to beat the defender, before curling a sublime shot from 15 yards into the corner of the net.
Carshalton, especially Marney-Moore, were still dangerous, and Allan pulled off a great save to deflect Emmanuel Nwosu’s shot from the edge of the penalty area onto the crossbar, before getting an important deflecting fingertip onto the resulting corner kick.
Although there was still defending to be done, with Carshalton fans behind the goal ‘encouraging’ their efforts, Woking sought their fourth, Richards playing in Mansour and his shot hitting the outside of the post. The goal came on 77 minutes, Leedham pulling out to the left back position to play the ball to the advancing Wells whose flick released Mansour, Wells continued his run and when Mansour returned the ball to him he slipped it inside to Callow, six yards out on the near post, who finished with a clinical tap home, Wells rightly thrilled with his contribution.
Woking managed the game well as the clock ticked down, Mansour and Thomas both happy to take a foul challenge to retain possession. There was a consolation goal for Carshalton in added time, Marney-Moore hitting a fine strike into the top corner, but it was too little, too late and Woking could celebrate their victory. Byron O’Donnell, who had been unlucky to lose his place in the starting XI for this one, exemplifying the team spirit by fully enjoying the celebrations.
Woking will now be at home to Hayes & Yeading United in the 3rd Qualifying Round, the tie to be played in the week commencing 12th October.
Woking: Joshua Allan, Casper Hammond (Alfie Moult 73), Luke Manly ©, Sonnie Leedham, Daejharn Wells (Byron O’Donnell 81); Harvey Johnson (Ben Bailey 81), Arthur Pereira; Max Thomas, Will Richards (Nat Flemming 90+5), Jaden Mansour (George Loader 90+5), Joe Callow. Unused substitutes: Harry MacFadyen (GK), Harry Munden.
Goals: Richards 31, Callow 54, 77, Mansour 58.
Season Goals: Mansour 10, Callow 8, Richards 7.
Photos: Luke Davidson
Loan (Dual Registration) Players Watch
Tuesday 29th September
Will Ledbury, Attacking/Centre Midfield, EDS – Alton: Came on as a 79th minute substitute in the 2 – 3 defeat to Camberley Town in the Combined Counties Premier Division South (Step 5).
Ed Scott, Centre Back, EDS – Tadley Calleva: Played the full game in the 4 – 2 victory at Westfield in the Aldershot Senior Cup First Round.
Dom West, Goalkeeper, EDS – Binfield. Played the full game in the 1 – 2 defeat at Hayes & Yeading United in the Velocity Cup Second Round.
Saturday 3rd October
Dillan Davies, Centre Back, EDS – Abbey Rangers: Played the full game in the 4 – 0 victory at Eversley & California in the Combined Counties Premier Division South (Step 5). Dillan won the Man of the Match award and the following praise, ‘Second start and full 90 in adult football. Dictated the match start to finish. Outstanding performance today.’
Josh Ewing, Attacking Centre Midfield, EDS – Tadley Calleva: Played the full game in the 2 – 1 victory over Dartford in the FA Cup Third Round of Qualifying; in front of a crowd of 898. More history for Tadley as they had already progressed further than ever before in the FA Cup. They are away to Aldershot Town in the Fourth Round of Qualifying.
Ed Scott, Centre Back, EDS – Tadley Calleva: Was an unused substitute for the 2 – 1 victory over Dartford in the FA Cup Third Round of Qualifying.
Dom West, Goalkeeper, EDS – Binfield. Played the full game in the 1 – 3 defeat to Bedfont Sports in the Isthmian League South Central Division (Step 4).
Other News
Academy graduates Kemall Wilson and Tom Dryer continue to do well in their loan spells – from the First Team – at Leatherhead. Leatherhead are also through to the FA Cup Fourth Round of Qualifying, where they will host Yeovil Town, following a 1 – 0 victory over Hanworth Villa, played in front of a 1,140 attendance. Both Kemall and Tom played the full game, with Tom scoring the 87th minute winner; after Sonny Wheeler had saved a Hanworth penalty.
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.
We also have a ‘Shadow’ squad of under 17s who will be playing in Division F2 of the Tactic League. Friday daytime at MTPC, Woking College. Please see our social media and the fulltime.thefa.com website to follow the progress of Woking Shadow.