Academy Bulletin 25/26 - Week 8
Written by Ian Tilley & Holly PorterUpcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 10th November 2025
Wednesday 12th November
11:30 – Woking U18 v Eastleigh: National League U19 Alliance – Division F
Woking College, Rydens Way
19:45 – Eversley & California v Westfield (represented by Woking U17) – Allied Counties League – West Division
Eversley Sports Association, Fox Lane, Eversley Cross, Hook RG27 0NQ
Thursday 13th November
19:30 – Woking v Molesey Reserves: The Michael Bidmead (Suburban League) Challenge Cup – Second Round
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 3rd November 2025
Wednesday 5th November
Woking U18 2 – 3 Carshalton Athletic: National League U19 Alliance – Division F
Woking College, Rydens Way
Report from Ian Tilley
On an autumnal day to make one doubt the BBC’s ‘feels like’ temperature, Woking had the early running, Boyle and Tricker getting forwards well, and ‘keeper Moore starting attacks with good distribution.
The momentum continued after sickness got the better of Tricker, and Pepper continued in his stead, Callow and Bushby often at the heart of good play. But Jennison-Leppa was called on to provide very good cover on 18 minutes, and on 24 minutes Carshalton had the opener, Woking careless in defence and Benzahi able to slot past Moore.
Woking responded well, passing neatly throughout the pitch but not making the most of the (half) chances which came their way. However, Moore was called into action twice as the half drew to a close, and Davies sustained a knee injury which would force his withdrawal at the interval. (It looks like Dillan may be out of action for some time, so we wish him a speedy recovery.)
Half-time: Woking 0 Carshalton Athletic 1
Woking regrouped, with Owen coming on at left-back, and Jennison-Leppa moving to the not unfamiliar position of left-sided centre-back. The Cards continued to pass and attack, and on 52 minutes they had their reward. Jennison-Leppa battled hard and then passed infield, Bushby and Ledbury combined to release the overlapping Boyle, who drove to the byline before hitting a low near-post cross, which Callow anticipated well, arriving to finish smartly.
Woking tweaked again, Mattingley dropping deeper to replace Hammond at centre-back, so the industrious Nathaniel Flemming could make his competitive debut in centre-midfield.
The Cards continued to create chances, Callow coming the closest to giving them the lead, but a vulnerability to the counterattack was exposed on 62 minutes, Robinson heading home at the far post from an excellent cross.
Woking responded well, creating more chances, and Jennison-Leppa reacted quickest when his header from a corner hit the bar, to stab home the equaliser on 72 minutes.
Carshalton’s response was to have the upper hand for the remainder of the contest. Lita scoring the winner on 80 minutes, another far post header which the referee’s assistant was well placed to judge had crossed the goal line.
Game time for 36 players in 5 league games is reflective of the difficulties Woking are finding in Division F, and they will need to make the most of the chances they create in the weeks ahead.
Woking: James Moore, Louis Boyle, Casper Hammond (Nathaniel Flemming 55), Dillan Davies (Jack Owen 46), Joel Jennison-Leppa, George Mattingley, Frankie Bushby ©, Roshan Kigozi, Will Ledbury, Jack Tricker (Jack Pepper 8), Joe Callow. Unused substitutes: Aaron Zziwa (GK), Tyrell Ejakita.
Goals: Callow 52, Jennison-Leppa 72.
Maidstone United 2 – 8 Woking U19 (EDS): National League Academy Cup – First Round
The Gallagher Stadium, James Whatman Way
Report from Holly Porter
The EDS began their National League Academy Cup campaign on Wednesday afternoon, with a trip to the Gallagher Stadium, which Academy Manager Matt Winter described as “one of the hardest tests on paper”.
Indeed, the league clash between the two teams ended in a 2 – 4 defeat for the Surrey side back in September, so the Cards came out in Kent looking to make amends. It was the hosts, however, that went closest to opening the scoring in the early stages, with a 6th-minute free-kick from marginally outside the penalty area which shook the frame of Verga’s goal, an early showing of what the defending champions could threaten.
Boxall’s 9th-minute effort was the closest the Cards came to an opener in the first 10 minutes, with a ball over the top of the defence from Cotton being chased down by the skipper. His effort stung the gloves of the Maidstone no.1 but was not enough to break the deadlock.
It was Trickett who began the high-scoring affair, with a double that saw his side in at the break with a two-goal cushion. His first came in the 30th minute, when he chased down a ball threaded through to him by Boxall, and powered an effort in at the near post. His second came from the spot 7 minutes later, after Dryer was brought down in attacking action. Composed from Trickett, he sent the keeper the wrong way to double his sides advantage.
A couple of dangerous deliveries from Parkes in quick succession looked set to add to the scoreline before the break, firstly with a 40th-minute free-kick which was headed narrowly wide by Trickett. Just a minute later, and in a similar fashion, Parkes’ corner was met by the rising Dryer, but the header met the same fate, and the Cards were forced to settle with two at the half.
Half – time: Maidstone United 0 – 2 Woking
The visitors came out after the break hungry for more, and it didn’t take long for the scoring to resume, with Dryer quick to net his first of the afternoon. The 49th minute saw Cotton drive out of defence into the abundance of space in front of him and thread the ball through the box. Left by Trickett, the ball rolled through to Dryer, who was then able to slot home.
Trickett nearly completed his hat-trick just moments after, with Dryer’s shot pushed back into the box by the Maidstone no.1. The follow-up effort from Trickett, however, was cleared off the line by the recovering defence.
Despite this, the fourth did not take long to be awarded. Boxall’s effort looked set for the bottom corner, but instead smacked the post, leaving the ball for Hayati to drive home with a first-time 54th-minute effort.
Smith got his first EDS goal of the season shortly after, with Patterson seeing the acres of space in front of the winger and doing well to switch the ball into his path. Chased down by Smith, he then slotted through the keeper’s legs in the 58th minute to make it five for the visitors.
It was Dryer who got Woking’s 6th and 7th goals, the first of which fell in the 61st minute when he picked up the ball on halfway, drove forward, and slotted home from the edge of the box. He completed his hat-trick in the 66th minute, when he rose highest in the box to nod home a corner ball.
In the 74th minute, the hosts managed to get one back, with a ball in the centre of the box being slotted home. Almost immediately after the restart, however, the referee pointed to the spot once again for the Cards, this time with Page bursting into the box, forcing the foul in the 76th minute. Indeed, it was Page that took the responsibility of the spot-kick, and nestled his penalty into the bottom corner, out of reach of the keeper who, this time, dove the right way.
One final goal of the 10-goal affair fell to Maidstone, after Woking’s attempt to play out from the back in the 80th minute saw them lose possession to the hosts. A quick turn of play then followed, with a close-range effort reducing their deficit, but ultimately the game had long been won by a clinical second half showing from the Cards.
“It’s a surprise when you go and win away from home like that, but actually it’s not a surprise with the group of players that we’ve got, and how good we know they can be”, reflected Winter after the game. “The aim for the group is to get to the final [..] They are a good enough group of players that we can go far. We’ll take it round by round, of course, but we’ve got really high aspirations with the cup competition.”
Woking: Mikey Verga, Bailey Cotton, Sonny Parkes (Freddie Greenstreet 75’), Quincy Patterson, Chris Rangel, Kemall Wilson, Jayden Smith, Lucas Boxall ©, Joden Trickett (Jalil Page 70’), Kooshan Hayati (Leo Christophers 60’), Tom Dryer (Jayden Hudson-Odoi 70’). Unused Substitute: Sam Saward (GK).
Goalscorers: Joden Trickett 30’, 37’ (pen), Tom Dryer 49’, 61’, 66’, Kooshan Hayati 54’, Jayden Smith 58’, Jalil Page 76’ (pen).
Thursday 6th November
Woking U17 3 – 2 Metropolitan Police: Isthmian Football League U18 – Central Division
Knaphill FC, Redding Way
Report from Ian Tilley
On a misty evening, Woking started well, Mansour’s ball into the penalty area was controlled smartly by Richards, who then hit neatly into the ‘keeper’s bottom right hand corner, claiming the lead after just three minutes.
But the visitors soon showed Woking they wouldn’t have things all their own way, King heading over from six yards when he might well have scored.
Woking did go on to have the upper hand, and made it two on 24 minutes, Manly finally heading home from a few yards after the ball was knocked back to him after his header from a Wearden corner had hit the bar.
The hosts’ third, on 33 minutes, was unfortunate for Spears, his defensive header from a Weardon free-kick lobbing his stranded goalkeeper. It threatened to be more, a good hit from the edge of the penalty area from Mansour not going far wide.
But as the interval approached a Sharpe corner was misjudged by Zziwa and went straight into Woking’s net, giving the Met. Police side renewed hope.
Half-time: Woking 3 – 1 Metropolitan Police
The second-half was more even, with Zziwa the busiest of the ‘keepers. It soon became a rather scrappy affair. 80 minutes were gone before the scorer was troubled again, and it was the Met reducing the lead to one, with Sharpe getting his second, from close range.
The pressure on Woking grew, but good work from Richards and Wearden brought relief, and good defensive play from Leedham and Zziwa saw out the victory.
Not the best of performances, but Woking are now three wins from three in the Central Division.
Woking: Aaron Zziwa, Alex Jefferies (Casper Hammond 46), Luke Manly ©, Sonnie Leedham, Dan Wearden, Jagger Chislett (Finlay Salman 70), Alfie Gales, Jaden Mansour (Harry Munden 70), Will Richards, Kameron Sam (Joe Callow 84), George Loader. Unused substitute: Joshua Allan (GK).
Goals: Richards 3, Manly 24, OG (Spears) 33.
Saturday 8th November
Sheerwater Reserves 2 – 1 Woking U18: Suburban Football League – Premier Division
Sheerwater FC, Albert Drive
Woking: Jools Lacey, Jack McGibbon, Oliver Rigby, Joel Jennison-Leppa, Joe Frawley, Amario Malhotra (Frankie Bushby 65), Leo Christophers, Jalil Page, Hayden Vally, Seyi Akinwalere (Will Ledbury 75), Calum Mathieson (Louie Boyle 46). Unused substitutes: Aaron Zziwa (GK), Jack Tricker.
Goal: Boyle 48.
Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch
Tuesday 4th November
Jack Lewis, Defender, EDS – Knaphill: Making his debut, he played the full game in the 4 – 2 victory over Badshot Lea in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South (Step 5).
Wednesday 5th November
Jojo Ampah, Forward, 2nd year – Guildford City: Kick off for the game against Yateley in the Aldershot Cup was delayed due to floodlight failure, and then the match was abandoned after 17 minutes for the same reason. Unfortunately for Jojo the last meaningful action was his goal, which made the score 1 – 1.
Saturday 8th November
Bailey Cotton, Left-back, EDS – Broadbridge Heath: An unused substitute for the 2 – 3 defeat at Margate in the Isthmian League South East Division (Step 4).
Tom Dryer, Midfield, EDS – Westfield: After playing for the EDS, rather than Westfield, in midweek Tom was straight back into the starting line-up and played 80 minutes of the Isthmian League South Central Division (Step 4) game at Metropolitan Police. Not surprisingly, there were further goal involvements for him, winning the penalty for the opener on 14 minutes, and reestablishing the lead on 18 minutes, smoothly finishing O’Connor’s quality through ball. The game calmed down after this, with Westfield clinching their 3 – 1 victory in the 90th minute.
Jack Lewis, Defender, EDS – Knaphill: Played the full game in the 1 – 0 victory over Chipstead in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South (Step 5).
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. 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.
Westfield play in the Allied Counties Youth League – West Division. This season they are represented by Woking U17. Westfield FC, Woking Park, 19:30, Monday.