Academy Review - Week 36
Written by Ian Tilley & Holly Porter Upcoming Fixtures
There are no further fixtures this season.
For up-to-date information on fixtures for next (pre-) season please refer to the Woking Football Club Academy X (twitter) page.
Information is also available on the fulltime.thefa.com website.
The Academy website, where you can also find details of the Elite Development Squad launch, is wokingcitc.org
This bulletin will return when competitive fixtures for the 2025-26 season begin in mid-August.
Match Reports and Team Details – Week commencing 28th April 2025
Wednesday 30th April
Maidenhead United U19 1 - 3 Woking U19; National League Academy - South Division
Berkshire College of Agriculture, Hall Place, Maidenhead
Report from Holly Porter
One final game of the 2024/25 campaign remained for the u19s, and this week they travelled to Maidenhead, fuelled by the 5-1 victory in the reverse fixture.
A fast start to the game saw some big chances for both sides to take an early lead. The first of those chances fell to Mitchell. In just the 3rd minute, Brook did excellently well in midfield to control the ball and found Mitchell who was on a run down the left side. Mitchell hit his effort well and forced Hybert into early action, who saved the effort mid-dive.
Boxall had his first chance at goal just a minute later, with a free-kick just outside the box well within goal-scoring range. His effort, however, flashed just wide of the top left corner in a dominant opening spell from the travelling side.
The closest that Maidenhead came to breaking the deadlock in the opening 10 minutes was a 6th-minute effort from Pashley. He made strong contact at the back post from a corner, but the angle of the connection sent the ball just wide.
A second big chance for Maidenhead to take the lead fell in the 13th minute when the ball was pulled back to their unmarked forward in the box. A clear chance to net, but the effort lacked accuracy and went wide, with no trouble for Honey.
After a pacy start, the game started to settle, with a lot of possession in the middle of the park and quick turns of play for both sides, but nothing that really troubled the ‘keepers.
This was up until the 25th minute when Boxall forced Hybert into action once again. The forward turned in the box and got a decent effort away, but Maidenhead threw their bodies in the way of the effort and blocked the initial attempt. A second effort from Boxall just moments later forced a decent reactive save from the home ‘keeper, who did well to keep the effort out.
Nothing could keep the ball out of the net in the 26th minute, however, with Mitchell adding to his tally for the season. A corner ball from Young was turned in by Mitchell who rose highest at the back post, contacted with his shoulder, and placed his side in the lead.
McDonald was the next to go close with an effort, his being struck from range. The edge-of-the-area shot, however, was met by Hybert in the 38th minute, who spilt the ball back into the box, but then reacted quickly and picked up the pieces before Mitchell could attempt for a second.
Back down the other end, Long tried his luck from a similar position in the 42nd minute, but his fate was to watch the ball fire wide of Honey’s net.
In one final big chance to end the half, Boxall took an effort well from the edge of the area, which forced a reaching mid-air save from Hybert in the 44th minute, a save which meant that the young Cards went in at half-time with just the one goal advantage.
Half-time: Maidenhead United 0 – 1 Woking
The second half did not start with the same pace as the first and, despite decent play from both sides, neither ‘keeper was troubled in the opening stages.
A good move forward from Boxall in the 52nd minute found Young on the outside, with his ball being fired across the goalmouth, but no one was there to turn it in.
The first time Maidenhead really troubled Honey in the second half was in the 64th minute, with an effort that searched for the bottom corner, but went just wide. Moments later, they challenged for a bouncing ball in the box, but Honey came off his line quickly to collect and eliminate the danger.
The two substitutes showed their attacking threat in the 73rd minute, firstly with Lewis who burst down the line, a foul the only way he could be stopped. In a promising position, it was Seale who stood over the set piece, with a deep ball into the box which wasn’t an easy clearance for Maidenhead, but they eventually managed to get the ball clear.
They could not, however, do the same in the 75th minute, and the visitors doubled their advantage. A corner came in towards the back post, which was headed back into the danger area by Silverstein and turned in from the goalmouth by Mitchell for his second of the afternoon.
Despite a quieter start to the second 45, the closing stages were certainly the opposite. In the 79th minute, Honey was called into action and tipped a good delivery from Maidenhead over the bar.
Back down the other end, in the 81st minute, Boxall continued his search for one final goal this season, but this time his effort from range fired over the crossbar.
An 85th-minute lifeline for Maidenhead saw an effort turned in from close range and sparked a fire to hunt down an equaliser, with the Cards forced to weather a short storm from the home side.
Despite this, Woking managed to restore the 2-goal advantage and secure the win in the 1st minute of injury time. Substitute Page battled in the box, doing excellently well to come away with the ball, then opened his body for a cross-shot across the goal. The effort was met at the back post by Boxall tapping home to ensure the Cards signed the season off with a win.
Academy Manager Matt Winter reflected on the game, stating: “Delighted. I said last week that we were craving those three points, and it certainly wasn’t our best, but we’re really pleased to end the season with a win.”
Maidenhead United Lineup: Joseph Hybert, Ethan Kitching, Soul Hale, Finely Viotto, Harry Pashley, Ethan Holliday, Nathan Long, Joe Reid, Enzo Pashaj, Alex Groom, Joel Ellis. Substitutes: Rio McFarlane, Nuno Cook, Anton Watson, Quaye Vine.
Woking Lineup: Bob Honey, Louie Boyle (Jack Lewis 63’), Ryan Scott, Jermaine Junior Young (Tommy Seale 63’), Tom Gardner ©, Aidy Silverstein, Ben Mitchell, Henry McDonald, Harvey Brook (Jalil Page 76’), Lucas Boxall, Jayden Smith.
Goalscorers: Mitchell 26’, 75’, Boxall 90+1’.
Hertford Town Whites 2 – 5 Woking U17; National League Alliance – Division E
Hertingfordbury Park, West Street, Hertford
Report from Ian Tilley
With nothing more than mid-table order at stake, this was an enjoyable close to the under 17’s season at a most welcoming club, in a picturesque, sun-drenched setting.
Woking were soon on the attack, Will Ledbury seeing his shot saved within two minutes. On nine minutes Woking had the lead, a fine team goal began with Jools Lacey’s ball out to Jack Tricker on the left-wing, Tricker made good ground before finding Ledbury driving into the penalty area and pulling it back for Hayden Vally to calmly side-foot home from ten yards.
Hertford were soon on level terms, George Kingham had already had two efforts well saved when, on 16 minutes, careless Woking defending left Lucas Titchmarsh with the easy task of planting the ball in the back of the net.
The rehydration-break midway through the half seemed to refresh the hosts the more, but they could not make the most of their opportunities, Lacey’s positioning a credit to him.
The time added on at the end of the half saw goals for both sides. Firstly, Woking’s good passing got its reward, a move ending with Ledbury pulling the ball back for Tricker to fire a shot from 16 yards diagonally into the top corner.
Hertford equalised on 45+5 minutes, Kingham was fouled on the edge of the area, and took the free-kick himself, somehow squeezing the ball into the bottom corner, despite Lacey getting a touch on the effort.
Half-time: Hertford Town 2 – 2 Woking
Woking started the second-half the stronger, and on 52 minutes they were back in the lead. The goal was made by a very fine pass inside the full-back from Roshan Kigozi, and scored with a neat finish under Herbie Conquest from six yards, by Zak Rhioui.
Hertford nearly hit back immediately, Harry Foot lobbing Lacey directly from the restart, and hitting the top of the crossbar.
But within two minutes Woking had extended their lead. Tricker was involved again, this time his skilful cross from the left set up Ledbury 15 yards out in the centre of the penalty area. The ball was dispatched into the top corner most efficiently.
On the hour Woking refreshed both personnel and positions, and their passing was even more to the fore, and this time the rehydration break seemed to reinvigorate the Cards more than their opponents.
Woking continued in the ascendency and both Ledbury and Gurang could have extended the lead, although Lacey was called in to action by Kingham, and Titchmarsh also shot narrowly wide.
As the game drew to a close Woking created half-chances for Vally and Tyrell Ejakita, and in stoppage time they had their fifth. Lacey’s long clearance became an assist as the ball went over the pushed-up Hertford defence and found Vally who was able to run on, round the ‘keeper, and slot home.
It has not always been a straightforward season for the first years, but this positive showing should now see them looking forward to proving themselves next season.
Woking: Jools Lacey, Zak Rhioui, Ollie Rigby, Joel Jennison-Leppa, Joe Frawley, Amario Malhotra ©, Joe Scanlon (Tyrell Ejakita 59), Will Ledbury (Brian Rai 75), Roshan Kigozi (TJ Francis 59), Hayden Vally, Jack Tricker (Pranish Gurang 75).
Goals: Vally 9, 90+4, Tricker 45+1, Rhioui 52, Ledbury 54.
End of Season News Summary
Congratulations to our ‘Player of the Season’ award winners.
First years: Leo Christophers.
Second years: Lucas Boxall (our leading scorer with 16 goals).
Third years: Tom Gardner.
Unfortunately, the under 16’s National League Cup Final against King’s Lynn Town ended in defeat. King’s Lynn winning 8 – 7 on penalties after a 1 – 1 draw.
Woking’s outstanding Suburban Premier League fixture against AFC Dunstable was awarded to Woking as a Home Walkover.
Thanks to Holly for all her excellent work on this weekly bulletin; and thanks to Tony for being our team bus driver.
Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:
Wednesday 30th April
Oliver Mason, Central Midfield, 3rd year – Ascot United: Was not involved in the 1 – 2 defeat at Hanworth Villa in the Isthmian League - South Central Division (Step 4) Play-Off Semi-final.
Thursday 1st May
Bob Honey, Goalkeeper, 2nd year – Kingstonian: Kingstonian’s Under 18s were defeated 2 – 4 on penalties (after a 0 – 0 draw) at Tonbridge Angels in the semi-final of the end-of-season Champion of Champions tournament.