ACADEMY BULLETIN: Week Seventeen

Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 15th December 2025 

Monday 15th December 

19:30 – Westfield (represented by Woking U17) v Aldershot Town: Allied Counties League – West Division 

Westfield FC, Woking Park 

19:45 – South Park (Reigate) v Woking U17: Isthmian League – Central Division 

South Park FC, King Georges Field, Whitehall Lane RH2 8LG 

Wednesday 17th December 

11:30 – Woking U18 v Sutton United: National League Alliance – Division F 

Woking College, Rydens 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 8th December 2025 

Monday 8th December 

Kingstonian 6 – 0 Woking U17: Isthmian League – Central Division 

South Park FC, King Georges Field 

Report from Ian Tilley 

The teams came into this fixture with virtually identical league records, with Kingstonian just two goals better off on goal difference. The result was, therefore, something of a surprise. 

With just one change to the starting XI, Callow in for Mansour, Woking’s start belied what was to follow, winning an early free-kick and Hurp creating a chance which Manly headed over. 

But after five minutes the captain missed his clearance and Aina made no mistake to give the hosts the lead. It was soon two, Woking opened up by good, close pass and move and Green applying the finish. 

Woking responded well, Callow with a shot deflected over and Leedham heading over from the resulting corner, before Loader also had a shot blocked. Then on 25 minutes Sam made a good run before passing to Loader who in turn set up Chislett, but his shot sent the ball over the crossbar. 

But Woking’s passing play was too little in evidence, and the scrappy nature of their performance soon saw them further behind. They had twice cleared the ball from close to their goal line, following defensive errors, before the third was conceded on 29 minutes. Woking’s ‘keeper misjudged the flight of a corner and Bocking-Fien headed home.  

Woking’s play was too predictable, and Allan was busy keeping the score down for the rest of the half. Aiyegbeni forcing him to tip one effort over the bar, before he made another save with his feet after the hosts had hit the crossbar, and saved again with his feet from Aina, who should have scored. 

Half-time: Kingstonian 3 – 0 Woking 

For fifteen minutes Woking looked to have steadied the ship, but when they just about managed to clear amidst a scramble they had only temporarily delayed the fourth goal. Leedham, Richards and Sam were involved in a good move, but when Richards’ shot was blocked, hopes of a comeback were soon gone. 

On 62 minutes a Kingstonian free-kick was knocked back across goal and finished by Kim. Allan made another good tip over to keep it at four, but things would soon go from bad to worse. On 66 minutes Sam’s response to being cautioned for dissent saw him receive a straight dismissal for foul and abusive language. 

Woking did seek a consolation goal, but it was Kingstonian who finished the game strongly, making the most of the space available to them. On 83 minutes a nice passing move was finished by Roberts, giving Allan no chance. Then it was hot knife through butter time, Gashi providing the emphatic finish to the move on 89 minutes. 

The referee decided that it was not necessary to add any additional time, and Woking were left to consider the demands of the game, especially when out of possession. 

Woking: Joshua Allan, Casper Hammond, Luke Manly ©, Sonnie Leedham, Will Hurp (Finn Salman 78), Jagger Chislett (Dan Wearden 61), Alfie Gales, Joe Callow (Jaden Mansour 61), Will Richards, Kameron Sam, George Loader (Joe Fisher 78). Unused substitute: Callum Collins (GK). 

 

Tuesday 9th December 

Binfield Reserves P – P Woking U18: Suburban League – Premier Division 

 

Wednesday 10th December 

Chatham Town 2 – 1 Woking U18 (Half-time 0 – 0): Alliance League Cup – Third Round 

Bauvill Stadium, Maidstone Road Sports Ground 

Woking took the lead through Jack Tricker, but Chatham came back and scored their winner with about two minutes to play. Woking knocked out of both National League U19 Academy Alliance League Cup competitions in the space of six days. 

Woking: James Moore, Jack Owen (Zack Rhioui 69), Ollie Rigby, Joel Jennison-Leppa, Jack Tricker, George Mattingley (Brian Rai 88), Will Ledbury, Louie Boyle, Frankie Bushby ©, Timothy Francis, Joe Callow (George Loader 80). Unused substitute: Kai Baverstock.  

Goal: Tricker 59. 

 

Southend United 2 – 1 Woking U19 (EDS): National Academy League – South Division 

Garon Park, Southend 

Report from Holly Porter 

One final EDS outing of the year saw a tough test as they took to the coast to take on front-runners Southend United. 

Despite having to soak up a lot of pressure in the first half, Page had an early chance to take the lead for the Cards. In the third minute, he found himself one-on-one with Southend’s goalkeeper Luca Sorrentino, who forced Page out wide, but couldn’t do enough to stop the forward getting his shot away. A well-positioned Julius Nwike came to Southend’s aid, clearing the ball out of the goalmouth to deny the visitors the early lead. 

It was then Southend who pushed on, with a ninth-minute free-kick, positioned in front of the corner flag, inviting a dangerous header from Prince Chinedum, which left the woodwork shaking. Joe Poxon also missed by a narrow margin before the opener, as his 21st-minute effort dragged just wide of the left post. 

Poxon did get his goal, breaking the deadlock in the 34th minute. Sisanda Maguranyanga found him in the box, with the Southend captain taking a touch before slotting in on Saward’s right. 

Travin nearly levelled on two occasions before the break, firstly as his 42nd-minute free-kick took a deflection which saw it steered away from the bottom corner. In the first minute of injury time, Boxall threaded the ball into the box for Travin, but he was met by Sorrentino, who was off his line to make the block. 

Half-time: Southend United 1 – 0 Woking 

Travin continued his search as the second half got underway, with a 53rd-minute effort firing over the bar. Straight back down the other end, Harrison Lamb’s shot from the goalmouth met the same fate. 

A golden chance for the Cards to draw themselves level came in the 57th minute, as the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Patterson stepped up to take, but his attempt fell to the wrong side of the right post. 

To add to the impact, Southend then went on to double their lead in the 68th minute. A quick turn of play following a Woking free-kick saw Lamb burst forward for the hosts before finding Ronnie Durussel in the box, who netted from six yards out. 

Woking continued their attempt to get the better of Southend on the counterattack, but to no avail as several tactical fouls on halfway saw them struggle to break forward. Christophers had a clear chance to get one back in the 86th minute as he received the ball just inside the box, but he could not direct his shot away from substitute Joshua Barrett, who had replaced Sorrentino in Southend’s net. 

In the second minute of injury time, Mpoy forced a good save from Barrett, who pushed the substitute’s effort out for a corner ball. Mpoy made no mistake in the resulting play, as he nodded Hayati’s corner in at the back post to get one back for the Cards. 

A desire to level followed, but the remainder of injury time slipped away, and the full-time whistle confirmed a defeat at the hands of the league leaders. 

Reflecting on the game, academy manager Matt Winter stated: “When you play against sides who are excellent, you’ve got to be close to your best. Unfortunately, we made some key errors at key moments in the game […] We gave away sloppy goals, particularly the first one, and at the other end we didn’t show enough quality when we did counter, and that sums it up.” 

Woking: Samuel Saward, Josh Solecki (Joden Trickett 90+3’), Freddie Greenstreet (Jayden Hudson-Odoi 46’), Cameron McQueen (Kooshan Hayati 73’), Kemall Wilson, Denis Travin (Malachy Mpoy 73’), Quincy Patterson, Jalil Page, Leo Christophers, Lucas Boxall ©. Unused substitute: Sam Cockwell (GK). 

Goalscorer: Malachy Mpoy (90+2’). 

 

Thursday 11th December 

Cove 2 – 0 Westfield (represented by Woking U17): Allied Counties League – West Division 

Squirrel Lane, Farnborough 

Report from Ian Tilley 

With seven changes from last week’s 2 – 5 reverse against Knaphill this was another frustrating evening as the first years struggle for consistency in both selection and performance. The pitch was not the best of surfaces, with the thought that any more rain may have put the fixture in doubt. 

Westfield were behind within five minutes, a ball straight through the middle finding Leon Mugurasave who took the chance well, rounding MacFadyen and passing the ball into the net. 

It looked like the ongoing threat from Cove would be manageable, but failure to clear the ball on 20 minutes gave Grant an easy chance to drive the ball under MacFadyen from the edge of the penalty area to make it two. 

Unfortunately, Westfield were not able to gain control and Cove were reasonably comfortable, the efforts of Ceuvas and Munden not troubling Mansfield in the Cove goal. 

Half-time: Cove 2 – 0 Westfield 

After six minutes of the second-half Hibbins of Cove was given a temporary dismissal, but Westfield were not able to capitalise on the ten minutes of playing time with an extra player. 

Westfield did come close to a goal on two occasions, firstly on 64 minutes, Thomas’ pass giving Ceuvas the chance to cross, and McColl-Eljanfali’s header well tipped over by Mansfield. Then Thomas took the ball off a defender but the ‘keeper was able to save as Thomas tried to knock the ball past him. 

On 79 minutes a good challenge from Kelly kept Westfield looking forward, but it was Cove with chances to add to the scoring, Laister’s stabbed shot saved and Tashinga Mugurasave missing a very good chance. 

Even so, Cove had done more than enough, and Westfield were left to reflect on whether players can pay too much attention to the current fashions regarding a player’s appearance. 

Westfield: Harry MacFadyen, Adriel Gondwe (Caleb Trickett 73), Dylan Hosali, Jack Kelly, Daejharn Wells, Nathaniel Flemming, Harvey Johnson, Logan Jacques (Alfie Moult 56), Harry Munden ©, Max Thomas, Santiago Ceuvas (Zack McColl-Eljanfali 56). Unused substitute: Joshua Allan (GK). 

 

Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch 

Tuesday 9th December 

Joden Trickett, Forward, EDS – Abbey Rangers: A third involvement with Abbey Rangers for Joden, this time featuring in the starting line-up for the 1 – 0 victory over Tadley Calleva in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South (Step 5). 

Wednesday 10th December 

Jojo Ampah, Forward, 2nd year – Guildford City: Came on as a substitute on 58 minutes in the 0 – 1 defeat to Alton in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South (Step 5). 

Saturday 13th December 

Lucas Boxall, Midfield, EDS – Sheerwater: Was an unused substitute for the 2 – 1 victory over Alton in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South (Step 5). Woking Academy graduate Tom Gardner was made Sheerwater’s Man of the Match. 

 

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.