Academy Bulletin 26/27 - Week 10
Written by Ian TilleyUpcoming Fixtures: Week commencing Monday 12th October 2026
Wednesday 14th October
11:30 – Woking U19 (EDS) v Dagenham & Redbridge U19: National League Academy – South Division
MTPC, Woking College, Rydens Way
19:45 – Woking U18 v Hayes & Yeading United U18: FA Youth Cup – Third Round of Qualifying
The Laithwaite Community Stadium, Kingfield Road
Do come down and support the Under 18s. Tickets are now on sale: Adults £5, Concessions (16-18 and over 65) £3, Under 16s £1. Full details are available on the main club website and the Woking FC ticketing platform. Gates will open at 18:30 and the Fanzone and Cardinals’ bar will be open serving food and drink.
Thursday 15th October
19:30 – Woking U17 v Ascot United: Isthmian Youth League – West 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 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 5th October
Wednesday 7th October
Woking U18 6 – 1 Dartford: National Academy Alliance League – Division F
MTPC, Woking College, Rydens Way
An ultimately pleasing result on a day which had one looking forward to the forthcoming provision of a roof at the MTPC.
Woking started brightly, Luca Chevallier – stepping up from the under 17s – hitting the crossbar with a shot from a Harry Munden cross. Before Alfie Moult had a shot saved after good passing in midfield between Finn Salman and Harley Adams.
Munden, Chevallier and Zack McColl-Eljanfali continued to take the attacking initiative, with debutant Kai Russell looking comfortable a year above his age group. But Woking did not have it all their own way, with Harry MacFadyen twice called into action in goal, and Moult and Byron O’Donnell resolute in their defending.
A flurry of chances came Woking’s way midway through the half. Munden’s shot tipped over by the ‘keeper, O’Donnell’s header from a Russell cross hitting the top of the bar, and Russell himself forcing the ‘keeper into a good save with his legs.
The breakthrough came on 32 minutes with some excellent build-up play, Dylan Hosali hitting a trademark long diagonal pass to Moult who played a smart one-two with Munden before getting in his cross. The defender blocked Chevallier’s attempted finish, and when the ball broke to Munden on the edge of the penalty area he calmly lifted it over the defender and the ‘keeper into the top corner.
McColl-Eljanfali’s hold-up play and Adams through ball nearly brought a second, but McColl-Eljanfali’s shot, as they completed the one-two, hit the outside of the goalpost.
A notable piece of ‘defending from the front’ by Chevallier looked to see Woking through to the break, but a lapse in defensive concentration saw Dartford able to pass their way through and MacFadyen was left with little chance of stopping a point-blank drive.
Half-time: Woking 1 – 1 Dartford
Woking were fast to get forwards in the second-half, Adriel Gondwe doing well to win a corner, Munden’s cross/shot tipped wide, and Chevallier hitting the top of the bar.
Woking’s good pressure bore fruit on the hour mark with a fine team goal. MacFadyen played the ball to McColl-Eljanfali on the halfway line and his strong hold-up play and diagonal forwards pass to Chevallier was in turn played inside first time for Russell, who entered the penalty area and stroked the ball confidently, left-footed, to the ‘keeper’s right.
Woking then came close through a Salman header before doubling their lead on 66 minutes. Russell’s pressure won the ball which he pulled back to Munden, who beat his man before crossing for McColl-Eljanfali whose anticipation gave him a tap in from six yards, reward for his selfless team play.
The Cards were now in the ascendency and although McColl-Eljanfali did put one chance wide from an excellent Russell pass he soon had his second and his teams fourth. Munden floated a free kick to the far post and the knock down into the six-yard box saw the defender miss his clearance and McColl-Eljanfali control and knock home.
It was five two minutes later, another great Hosali diagonal long pass releasing Munden on the left wing, who looked up to see Max Thomas arriving on the edge of the area, the square pass inside was easily controlled and the ball dispatched into the top corner from 12 yards.
A combination of tiredness and cramp nearly cost Woking another goal, but Thomas and Nat Flemming kept Woking going forward, whilst Gondwe remained diligent in his defensive work.
Salman scored the sixth as the game went into added time, his battling in midfield laid the foundation and his pass wide to Moult was crossed in where Salman was on hand to knock home after the ‘keeper’s parry.
An emphatic scoreline which lifts Woking into second place in the league table, behind Greenwich Borough.
Woking: Harry MacFadyen, Adriel Gondwe, Dylan Hosali, Byron O’Donnell, Alfie Moult; Finn Salman ©, Harley Adams (Nat Flemming 69); Luca Chevallier (Max Thomas 67), Kai Russell, Harry Munden (Zane Taylor 78), Zack McColl-Eljanfali. Unused substitute: Callum Collins (GK).
Goals: Munden 32, Russell 60, McColl-Eljanfali 66, 71, Thomas 73, Salman 90.
Maidstone United 1 – 6 Woking U19 (EDS): National League Under 19 Academy – South Division
The Gallagher Stadium, James Whatman Way
In the same persistent rain that we had seen at the MTPC earlier in the day, Woking maintained their unbeaten start to the season, and their position at the top of the league table.
Woking took the lead after just four minutes, a defender’s effort to block a cross fell at the feet of Jalil Page who finished tidily from six yards.
The Cards nearly doubled their lead through Ledbury, whose shot from a Tricker cross was brilliantly saved by the Maidstone ‘keeper, but they were not to be denied on 12 minutes. More excellent work from Tricker, winning the ball, running forwards and rolling a pass through to Page, who finished by knocking the ball across the ‘keeper from eight yards.
The third, on 28 minutes, was carelessly set up by the Maidstone ‘keeper passing the ball to Louie Taylor-Boyle on the edge of the penalty area, who did not hesitate to strike it back past him into the net to give the visitors a comfortable 3 – 0 half-time lead.
Ed Scott got Woking’s fourth on 65 minutes, heading home a Jack Samuels’ far-post corner.
The fifth was a pleasing team goal, Woking ‘keeper Aaron Sings passed the ball into midfield where George Mattingley turned and played an incisive pass into the inside-left channel for Page, who turned inside and beat the ‘keeper, perhaps with the aid of a deflection, to complete his hat-trick.
Maidstone’s consolation goal came from a good passing move and a neat finish, and there was still time for one more Woking goal. With the last kick of the game Will Richards made the most of good wing play by Samuels, whose pull back from the byline to the edge of the penalty area was dispatched across the ‘keeper and into the bottom corner. A goal on his debut with the third years for the second years’ playmaker.
The final scoreline may have been more emphatic than the overall play, but a confidence booster none-the-less as the EDS look forward to a match against Dagenham & Redbridge, one of the teams in joint second place with Woking.
Woking: Aaron Sings, Louie Taylor-Boyle, Ed Scott ©, Dillan Davies, Jack Samuels; George Mattingley, Will Ledbury; Seyi Akinwalere (Nick Alves 46), Josh Ewing (Will Richards 80), Jack Tricker (Timothy Frances 75), Jalil Page (Joe Callow 80). Unused substitute: Joshua Allan (GK).
Goals: Page 4, 12, 70, Taylor-Boyle 28, Scott 65, Richards 90.
Balham 1 – 4 Woking U17: Allied Counties Youth League – East Division
Croydon Sports Arena, Albert Road
Although anticipated, still a very welcome continuation of the winning start to the season in the Allied Counties League.
Both sides had early chances, Leighton Spence heading wide from an Aaryan Malhotra corner, and Lucas Montague tipping a Balham shot onto the crossbar.
On 10 minutes George Ellis got on the end of a Dylan Mangle long pass but his poke past the ‘keeper was also wide of the goal. A minute later Woking had the lead, Ellis with a good run and cross which was passed on by Jerome Musi, and then Max Canham, to Yaw Akowuah-Addo who blasted home from six yards.
The run of play was now against Balham; Spence saw another header from a Malhotra corner go wide, and Musi’s downward header from a Mangle chipped cross was well saved.
Woking doubled their lead on 27 minutes, third time lucky for the Malhotra and Spence corner routine. There was some defensive work for Woking to do, Mangle dealing well with a difficult cross and Montague saving a long-range shot.
Whilst Woking continued in the ascendancy, they didn’t really threaten a third goal until they scored on 44 minutes. Theo Hornbuckle played the ball wide to Max Canham and his pass inside released Musi to run to the corner of the six-yard box and shoot across the ‘keeper and in off the post.
Some very good defensive cover from Spence then ensured Woking would take their three-goal advantage into the break.
Half-time: Balham 0 – 3 Woking
Balham identified a route to goal and exploited it within a minute of the restart. Some good left-wing play providing a cross that was headed home. Montague then made a good save to a shot aimed for the bottom corner.
Woking responded and reestablished their three-goal lead. Ellis played a fine pass wide to Harrison Hunt who beat his defender on the right byline and crossed to the far post where Akowuah-Addo joyfully tapped in his second.
Whilst Hornbuckle, Musi and Canham threatened the Balham goal, the hosts came close to reducing Woking’s advantage. Montague called into action on three occasions, and another shot deflected wide.
A barrage of shots 15 minutes from time nearly brought Woking a fifth, Henry Loxton, Leo Barbato, Ellis and Hornbuckle all thwarted in the same passage of play.
Then Barbato and Hornbuckle combined, but the latter’s shot was saved. As the game drew to a close Woking were rather fortunate to see two Balham headers both go wide, but the victory was already secure.
Woking: Lucas Montague, Harrison Hunt (Louis Dimotzoglou 69), Leighton Spence ©, Dylan Mangle, Amanuel Zeleke; Aaryan Malhotra, Theo Hornbuckle; George Ellis, Max Canham (Khyan Pentrante 69), Yaw Akowuah-Addo (Henry Loxton 62), Jerome Musi (Leo Barbato 62). Unused substitute: Flinn MacDonald (GK).
Goals: Akowuah-Addo 11, 49, Spence 27, Musi 44.
Loan (Dual Registration) Players Watch
Wednesday 7th October
Dom West, Goalkeeper, EDS – Binfield. Played the full game and was Man of the Match in the 2 – 1 victory over MK Dons in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup Second Round.
Saturday 10th October
Dillan Davies, Centre Back, EDS – Abbey Rangers: In the starting line-up for the 0 – 2 defeat to Tadley Calleva in the Combined Counties Premier Division South (Step 5).
Josh Ewing, Attacking Centre Midfield, EDS – Tadley Calleva: In the starting line-up for the 2 – 0 victory at Abbey Rangers in the Combined Counties Premier Division South (Step 5).
Will Ledbury, Attacking/Centre Midfield, EDS – Alton: Played the first 85 minutes of the 0 – 1 defeat at Balham in the Combined Counties Premier Division South (Step 5).
Ed Scott, Centre Back, EDS – Tadley Calleva: On the substitutes bench for the 2 – 0 victory at Abbey Rangers in the Combined Counties Premier Division South (Step 5).
Dom West, Goalkeeper, EDS – Binfield. Played the full game in the 1 – 2 defeat at Bognor Regis Town in the Isthmian League South Central Division (Step 4).
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.