Academy Bulletin 25/26 - Week 3
Written by Ian Tilley & Holly PorterUpcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 8th September 2025
Wednesday 10th September
11:30 – Woking U18 v Hertford Town Whites; National League Alliance – Division F
Woking College, Rydens Way
13:00 – Maidstone United U19 v Woking U19 (EDS); National League Academy - South Division
The Gallagher Stadium, James Whatman Way, Maidstone ME14 1LQ
Thursday 11th September
19:30 – Woking U18 v St Albans City Reserves; Suburban Football League – Premier Division
Knaphill FC, Redding Way
For up-to-date 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
Match Reports and Team Details – Week commencing 1st September 2025
Wednesday 3rd September
Woking U19 (EDS) 4 - 0 Slough Town U19; National League Academy - South Division
Woking College, Rydens Way
Report from Holly Porter
Tom Dryer starred once again at Woking College as the EDS continued their winning start to the 2025/26 campaign, with Dryer on the scoresheet in just the 4th minute. He did excellently well to put pressure on the Slough defence, and claimed the ball as his own before he rounded former Woking Academy goalkeeper Bob Honey and slotted into the vacant net.
Despite some quick turns of play and the early goal, much of the opening stages lacked a real threat on either goalkeeper. Nonetheless, as the game progressed, both were called upon to step up for their sides. Firstly, the 17th minute saw Joden Trickett attempt to power a shot in at the near post, with Honey reactive to the effort.
The 36th minute saw Mikey Verga off his line to meet the approaching Slough attack, to which he made an excellent save, blocking the shot with his body to deny the visitors a chance at an equaliser. Dryer doubled his tally in the 40th minute after the ball was left to him just outside the box, and he powered low into the net to send his side in at the break with a two-goal advantage.
Half-time: Woking 2 - 0 Slough Town
Lucas Boxall started the second half in strong pursuit of the net, firstly with a 47th-minute effort which floated wide of the left post. In the 55th minute, he drove into the box from the right side and forced a diving save from Honey, who got a glove to the effort mid-air to deny the captain. A 71st-minute effort from Boxall was less of a threat to Honey, as the central shot proved an easy catch, before the captain was replaced by 2nd year Hayden Vally, who was keen to impress in the EDS.
Dryer secured his hat trick in the 78th minute with a goal made by Trickett. The forward battled in the box and did well to square the ball to Dryer, who was lurking in the goalmouth. A touch was all it needed from Dryer, with Honey no chance of keeping it out. The fourth and final goal of the affair saw Trickett net his first of the season after he picked up a loose ball and rounded Honey to slot in from close range in the 88th minute.
The encouraging performance also saw Josh Solecki back in the EDS matchday squad, returning from injury with his off-the-bench appearance in the closing stages after missing pre-season. Following the game Academy Manager, Matt Winter, enthused “Another positive result... showed some really good individual moments, hunted well in the final third to win the ball back on a couple of occasions, and scored off that. So, another pleasing day”.
Woking: Mikey Verga, Bailey Cotton, Sonny Parkes (Jack Lewis 57), Cameron McQueen (Josh Solecki 83’), Chris Rangel, Harrison Stevens, Lucas Boxall © (Hayden Vally 74’), Quincy Patterson, Joden Trickett, Kooshan Hayati (Freddie Greenstreet 89’), Tom Dryer. Unused substitute: Sam Cockwell (GK).
Goals: Dryer 4, 40, 47, Trickett 88.
Boreham Wood Blues 2 - 1 Woking U18 (Half-time 0 – 1): National League Alliance – Division F
Meadow Park, Broughinge Road
Woking led at half-time through a Jack Tricker goal on 35 minutes, the Cards benefitting from a goalkeeping error. But conceded on 49 minutes after a free-kick rather surprisingly went Woods’ way, and again on 52 minutes, this time a rather scrappy goal, to finish with a 1 – 2 defeat.
Woking: Aaron Sings, Jack Owen, Kai Baverstock, Jack McGibbon, Daejharn Wells, George Mattingley (Arthur Pereira 65), Jack Tricker, Pranish Gurung (Tyrell Ejakita 60), Seyi Akinwalere (Roshan Kigozi 50), Timothy Francis, Frankie Bushby.
Goal: Tricker 35.
Thursday 4th September
Woking U18 2 - 1 Chessington & Hook United Reserves; The Michael Bidmead (Suburban League) Challenge Cup, 1st Round
Knaphill FC, Redding Way
Report from Ian Tilley
This was rather a scrappy affair, perhaps to the visitors’ liking, won by a fine goal not really in keeping with the nature of the game.
Woking nearly had an early lead, Christophers’ 6th minute shot from the edge of the area cannoning back off the post, with Page’s follow up just deflected over by the covering defender. Frawley and Vally had combined well down the left-hand side in the build-up, but unfortunately the promising start soon developed into a game littered with break-ups in play.
The Cards did look to have a little more control than in their previous outing against Sheerwater, and the enterprising Boyle looked, as always, to drive forwards from right-back, but the Cards were finding clear-cut chances hard to come by. As the half wore on Woking were also at odds with some of the referee’s decisions, and this sense of frustration would be taken into the break.
Half-time: Woking 0 – 0 Chessington and Hook United
The visitors started the second half with good intensity and went ahead on 48 minutes, a recycled corner headed home at the far post by Kanatov.
This, perhaps, inspired Woking to increase their efforts. Their 54th minute equaliser was rather in keeping with the untidiness of the game. Whilst Vally, Malhotra and Ledbury did well in the build-up, Christophers’ shot from the edge of the area caught a deflection which wrong-footed Palfreyman, leaving him unable to prevent the ball from rolling into the net.
Woking were now in the ascendency, and Mathieson and Vally both had shots saved as the hosts went in search of a winner. The corner count increasing in Woking’s favour.
The Cards fine winner came on 67 minutes. Page looked like he might not keep the ball in play on the right wing but drove towards the bye-line with great determination before delivering a superb cross to the far post. It called for timing, rather than height, and Ledbury met it with a powerful header which went in off the post.
Chessington fought back, and Malhotra had already made a good clearance, before the visitors won a penalty on 86 minutes, Ledbury’s high foot catching his opponent and the referee pointing to the spot. Thompson seemed to rather casually strike the ball wide, a let off for Woking.
The stop-start nature of the game led to 7 minutes of added time, but although the previously cautioned Mathieson was sent-off for kicking the ball after a free kick had been awarded to the opposition, Woking were able to see out the victory.
Woking: James Moore, Louie Boyle (C), Oliver Rigby, Mason Drew, Joe Frawley, Amario Malhotra (Casper Hammond 89), Leo Christophers, Jalil Page, Will Ledbury (Frankie Bushby 82), Hayden Vally, Calum Mathieson. Unused substitutes: Jools Lacey (GK), Jack Tricker, Jojo Ampah, Seyi Akinwalere.
Goals: Christophers 54, Ledbury 67.
Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:
Friday 5th September
Joden Trickett, Forward, EDS – Ascot United: Came on as a substitute in the 2 – 0 victory over Three Bridges in the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round.
Saturday 6th September
Quincy Patterson, Midfield, EDS – Westfield: Came on after 65 minutes of the 4 – 2 victory over Margate in the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round.
Luke Staight, Midfield, EDS – Broadbridge Heath: Played the full game in the 2 – 1 victory at South Park (Reigate) in the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round.
League fixture (home) details for the 2025/26 season
EDS, National League Under 19 Academy South Division. Midweek, daytime, at either Westfield Football Club or Woking College.
Woking play in the Premier Division of the Suburban Football League. Whilst there is not an age limit for this League most teams 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. Knaphill FC, 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, with opportunities for ‘progressing’ first years. Woking College, Wednesday, daytime.
Woking continue in the Central 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. Knaphill FC, 19:30, Thursday.