Academy Bulletin 25/26 - Week 26
Written by Ian Tilley & Holly PorterUpcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 13th April 2026
Monday 13th April
12:00 – Sutton United v Woking U19 (EDS): National Academy League – South Division
River Lane, Leatherhead. KT22 0AY
19:30 – Westfield (Woking U17) v Eversley & California: Allied Counties – West Division
Westfield FC, Woking Park
Wednesday 15th April
11:30 – Woking U19 (EDS) v Wealdstone: National Academy League – South Division
Woking College, Rydens Way
Thursday 16th April
19:30 – Woking U18 v Metropolitan Police: Suburban Football League – Premier Division
Knaphill FC, Redding Way
19:30 – Hartley Wintney v Westfield (Woking U17): Allied Counties – West Division
Green Lane, Hartley Wintney, Hook. RG27 8DL
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
All of these bulletins for the current season, along with the photo gallery from the County Cup Final, 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 6th April 2026
Wednesday 8th April
Boreham Wood P – P Woking U19 (EDS): National Academy League – South Division
Match postponed due to Boreham Wood being unable to field a team.
Thursday 9th April
Woking U17 1 – 1 Kingstonian: Isthmian League – Central Division
Knaphill FC, Redding Way
Report from Ian Tilley
Woking’s U17s earnt a very creditable 1 – 1 draw with league champions elect Kingstonian in the penultimate (home) game of their Isthmian Youth Football League campaign.
Whilst Kingstonian made just one change to their starting XI from the recent County Cup Final which Woking’s U18s won 2 – 1, the Cards continued to give their first years every opportunity to prove themselves in the U18’s league.
There were four changes from the Woking line-up which had lost 0 – 6 in the reverse fixture in December, and many of the wrongs of that game were put right by a performance that Martin Tyler described as the most complete competitive performance he has seen in his two years working with the Academy.
On a Knaphill pitch that would have tested Glenn Hoddle’s ball control, the game ebbed and flowed throughout with neither side exerting commanding control.
For Woking, Harvey Johnson and Finn Salman battled well in central midfield and joined in with the determined attacking play of Max Thomas, Will Richards, George Loader and Joe Callow, with left back Will Hurp always dangerous from set pieces.
Centre-backs Luke Manly and Sonnie Leedham were at the heart of a Woking defence equal to Kingstonian’s attacking play on all but one occasion, with ‘keeper Joshua Allan alert when called on, and right back Alfie Moult providing good balance as well as possessing a dangerous long-throw.
When Woking were undone, on 36 minutes, it was by the work of Kameron Sam (who had been sent off whilst playing for Woking in the aforementioned 0 – 6 fixture). Sam, the one change in Kingstonian’s starting line-up, did well to get a quality cross in from the left and Sharu-Kamose Thomas steered his half-volley back across Allan and into the far corner.
Woking drew level on 42 minutes, a free kick won by Callow just inside the K’s half was delivered firmly by Hurp to the far post where Manly headed superbly across ‘keeper Szymon Rudz and just under the crossbar.
With good defending blocking Callow’s and Manly’s further attempts the first half drew to a close with the scores level, and a sense that further goals would be hard to come by in the second half.
Half-time: Woking 1 – 1 Kingstonian
Woking created the better chances after the break, with Callow frustrated by good defending and a ball that wouldn’t sit nicely for striking when he possibly had more time than he realised, whilst Richards and Johnson both had shots blocked.
Thomas and substitute Olivier Kostrycki came closest for Kingstonian, without causing too much concern, with Rudz nearly undoing his team’s work with an indecisive deflection on a Hurp long through ball that he was relieved to see go wide.
The only Woking substitute to be given any meaningful game time was Jaden Mansour who joined his teammates in striving to find a winner and also contributed one fine piece of covering defending.
With neither side able to find a winner, Kingstonian still need three points from their remaining three games to be guaranteed of winning the league, whilst Woking sit second, but with only one game remaining the runners-up position may slip away.
Woking: Joshua Allan, Alfie Moult, Luke Manly ©, Sonnie Leedham, Will Hurp; Harvey Johnson, Finn Salman (Ben Bailey 90+2), Max Thomas (Jaden Mansour 77), Will Richards, George Loader (Harry Munden 90+2), Joe Callow. Unused substitute: Dylan Hosali.
Friday 10th April
Hertford Town 2 – 2 Woking U18 (Half-time 1 –0): National League Alliance – Division F
Hertingfordbury Park, West Street
Hertford took a 2 – 0 lead before Woking staged a comeback, with ‘keeper Roles scoring the equaliser with a header from a corner kick in added time.
Woking: Jack Roles, Caleb Trickett, Dylan Hosali, Oliver Rigby, Daejharn Wells, George Mattingley, Dillan Davies, Pranish Gurang, Frankie Bushby, Max Thomas, Tyrell Ejakita. Unused substitute: Callum Collins (GK).
Goals: Ejakita, Roles.
Woking U18 5 – 1 Binfield: Suburban Football League – Premier Division
Woking College, Rydens Way
Report from Ian Tilley
Both teams made a number of changes from the reverse fixture on 30th March which Woking won 5–0. Binfield looked to have fielded a stronger team and, with their squad stretched, Woking’s team was largely made up of third years.
The final scoreline was similar, but this time it would take Woking until midway through the second half to add emphasis to the margin of victory.
Woking had the better of the play in the opening 20 minutes, but without unduly troubling Binfield ‘keeper Brody Popp.
Then on 24 minutes a careless Woking backpass from midfield was easily intercepted by Isaiah Blankendal, who had come close to scoring in the reverse fixture, and this time made no mistake, rounding Verga and slotting into the empty net.
Much of Woking’s threat was coming from Sonny Parkes set piece delivery, yet it was from open play that he nearly got on the end of a fine Tricker pass, shortly before Tricker himself drew the sides level.
Boxall running into the right-hand side of the penalty area on 37 minutes had Binfield alarm bells ringing, and his diagonal ball to the far post was well anticipated by Tricker who continued his goalscoring form with a confident finish.
Tricker turned provider within five minutes, his pass to Ampah still left the striker with work to do, but his low shot from the edge of the penalty area was too powerful for Popp and gave the Cards the lead going into the break.
Half-time: Woking 2 – 1 Binfield
Both of Woking’s half-time substitutes, Solecki and Page, would make significant contributions as Woking stretched their lead.
Binfield would rue two missed opportunities to equalise at the start of the half and Woking would soon have the majority of the play, although it took until the 68th minute for them to move further ahead.
Page’s work on the right-hand side made the way for Woking and his cross was volleyed home by Solecki, although his contact wasn’t as clean as it could have been.
Two minutes later Boxall’s pass found Page and once again his right-wing cross created the goal, Ampah the beneficiary of the opportunity to tap home.
Woking continued in the ascent, although Verga did have to make a very good reflex save on 83 minutes.
The goalmouth action continued to the end. On 89 minutes Solecki made it five, intercepting the ball in midfield, running through and finishing neatly.
There was still time for Binfield’s Felicien Leger to strike a shot against the crossbar, and for Vally to dribble through brilliantly but mishit his finish, before the referee signalled the end of five minutes of added time and Woking’s completion of a five-goal double.
Woking: Mikey Verga, Jack Lewis, Kemall Wilson, Freddie Greenstreet, Sonny Parkes; Cameron McQueen (Josh Solecki 46), Kooshan Hayati, Jayden Smith (Jalil Page 46), Lucas Boxall © (Hayden Vally 75), Jack Tricker, Jojo Ampah. Unused substitute: Samuel Saward (GK).
Goals: Tricker 37, Ampah 41, 70, Solecki 68, 89.
Other News:
Congratulations to our U16s boys who clinched their Junior Premier League White Division Title with a 4 – 1 victory at Luca FC on Saturday 11th.
Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch
Monday 6th April
Freddie Greenstreet, Defence, EDS – Molesey: A 90+2 minute substitute in the 0 – 0 draw with Spartans Youth in the Combined Counties League Division One (Step 6).
Quincy Patterson, Midfield, EDS – Binfield: Played the full game in the 2 – 1 victory at Bedfont Sports in the Isthmian League South Central Division (Step 4). This result moved Binfield above Bedfont Sports and the results of the day left them four points clear of relegation with three games remaining.
Sam Saward, Goalkeeper, EDS – Horley Town: Having completed their fixtures in the Combined Counties Premier Division South (Step 5) Horley were in a play-off position, and Knaphill’s victory at Redhill confirmed Horley’s place in the play-offs.
Josh Solecki, Midfield, EDS – Banstead Athletic: A 54th minute substitute in the 1 – 0 victory over Lewisham Borough in the Southern Counties East First Division (Step 6). This result strengthened Banstead’s position six points clear of relegation with four games remaining.
Saturday 11th April
Joel Jennison-Leppa, Defender, 2nd year – Sheerwater: Played the first 72 minutes of the 3 – 0 victory over Balham in the Combined Counties Premier Division South (Step 5). Sheerwater finish their league season ninth of the twenty teams.
Jools Lacey, Goalkeeper, 2nd year – Walton & Hersham: Played the full game in the 1 – 3 defeat at Evesham United in the Southern League Premier South (Step 3). W & H have already won the League and promotion to the National League South.
Quincy Patterson, Midfield, EDS – Binfield: Played the first 69 minutes of the 3 – 0 victory over South Park (Reigate) in the Isthmian League South Central Division (Step 4). Binfield now need two points from two games to be sure of avoiding relegation.
Joden Trickett, Forward, EDS – Abbey Rangers: In the starting line-up for the 3 – 3 draw with Reading City in the Cherry Red Records Premier Challenge Cup third round. Joden scored the goal which put Abbey 2 – 1 up, and after Reading had equalised on 90+8 minutes Abbey went through to the quarter-final 3 – 2 on penalties.
Forthcoming fixtures
Sam Saward, Goalkeeper, EDS – Horley Town: Horley’s fifth place finish in the Combined Counties Premier Division South (Step 5) means they will play their play-off semi-final at Tadley Calleva on Saturday 18th April.
Abbey Rangers have their cup quarter-final to look forward to, against the winners of the Epsom & Ewell v Sutton Common Rovers tie to be played on 21st April.
Binfield: 18th April – Kingstonian (H); 25th April – Bognor Regis Town (A).
Sheerwater have a Southern Combination Cup quarter-final against Reading City to be arranged.
Walton & Hersham: 18th April – Uxbridge (H); 25th April – Gloucester City (A).
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 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 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, usually Monday.