ACADEMY BULLETIN: WEEK EIGHTEEN

Upcoming Fixtures 

The Academy now take a break until these fixtures in the new year: 

Week commencing 5th January 2026 

Tuesday 6th January 

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

Knaphill FC, Redding Way 

Wednesday 7th January 

13:00 – Wealdstone v Woking U19 (EDS): National Academy League – South Division 

Wealdstone FC, Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip HA4 6JQ 

Thursday 8th January 

19:30 – Woking U17 v Hanworth Villa: Isthmian League – Central Division 

Knaphill FC, Redding Way 

Saturday 10th January 

15:00 – Harrow Borough v Woking U18: Suburban Football League – Premier Division 

Earlsmead, Carlyon Avenue, South Harrow HA2 8SS 

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 15th December 2025 

Monday 15th December 

Westfield (represented by Woking U17) 1 – 1 Aldershot Town: Allied Counties League – West Division 

Westfield FC, Woking Park 

Report from Ian Tilley 

The ongoing search for consistency in both selection and performance, and the requirement for both Academy First Years’ teams to play on the same evening, led to five changes to the starting XI. The result was an improvement in application, although there is still some work to do on the eradication of errors. 

Westfield could easily have fallen behind early if Aldershot had punished them for cheap concessions of possession, although good play from Hosali and Moult, with a great run and cross, created a chance for Pepper who headed over. 

Partly due to their own errors, Westfield found themselves having to work hard out of possession, but O’Donnell, Moult, Bailey and Thomas should still be commended for a noticeable improvement when the visitors were having more of the ball. When Williams did have a clear chance on 21 minutes a good save from MacFadyen kept the scores level. 

After 28 minutes Thomas seized on a mistake and made an excellent dribble through the Shots’ defence only to overrun the ball before he could get his shot away. Then on 35 minutes Johnson drove forward well from midfield before setting up Pepper, who saw his shot go wide. 

Westfield’s improved efforts had earnt them parity as we reached the break. 

Half-time: Westfield 0 – 0 Aldershot Town 

Aldershot had the upper hand as the game continued, MacFadyen well beaten as Jama hit the outside of the post with a shot from the edge of the penalty area, as Westfield continued to work hard defensively. 

Westfield came into the game more after 65 minutes. Passing between Pereira and Moult led to Bailey having a shot saved, and Wells pass nearly threaded in McColl-Eljanfali. Bailey’s free-kick was deflected wide and Thomas was making good progress having moved from the left to the right-hand side of the attack. 

The breakthrough came on 78 minutes, McColl-Eljanfali won the ball in midfield and played forward to Bailey on the left, who made an excellent run between two defenders before his centre found McColl-Eljanfali ten yards out, timing his run perfectly to power home an unstoppable shot. 

Westfield sought to double the lead, Johnson and Bailey combining to create a chance for Pepper, but the ball came to him awkwardly and his header was miscued. 

The equalizer came on 90 minutes, as Westfield tired and weren’t covering back as effectively, Jama was perfectly accurate this time, dribbling across the edge of the penalty area before firing his shot into the top corner, too accurately for MacFadyen to reach. 

Of course it is painful to concede this late, but a draw at least puts an end to the recent run of three defeats.  

Westfield: Harry MacFadyen, Caleb Trickett, Dylan Hosali, Byron O’Donnell ©, Daejharn Wells; Nathaniel Flemming (Arthur Pereira 46), Harvey Johnson; Alfie Moult (Zack McColl-Eljanfali 56), Ben Bailey, Max Thomas (Logan Jacques 81); Jack Pepper. Unused substitutes: Lucas Montague (GK), Jack Kelly. 

Goal: McColl-Eljanfali 78. 

 

South Park (Reigate) 0 – 1 Woking U17 (Half-time: 0 – 1): Isthmian League – Central Division 

South Park FC, King Georges Field 

Woking: Joshua Allan, Casper Hammond, Luke Manly ©, Sonnie Leedham, Will Hurp, Finn Salman, Alfie Gales, Jaden Mansour, Will Richards, George Loader, Joe Callow. Substitutes: Callum Collins (GK), Alex Jefferies, Dan Wearden, Harry Munden. (Details of substitutions unavailable at time of publishing.) 

Goal: Mansour 44. 

 

Wednesday 17th December 

Woking U18 2 – 1 Sutton United: National League Alliance – Division F 

Woking College, Rydens Way 

Report from Holly Porter 

The academy’s final fixture of the year fell to the U18s, and in a game where “we wanted to start fast and assert our dominance,” as stated by academy coach George Doré, Woking suffered an early blow. 

A ball that split the home defence in the third minute proved costly, as Sutton were able to slot home from just inside the penalty area courtesy of Joshua Jenkins. 

“After the setback, the resilience from the boys to get back to the level we expected was excellent,” reflected Doré. Indeed, after conceding, the Cards controlled much of the first half, with most of the play unfolding in Woking’s attacking third. 

With Sutton failing to clear their lines in the 12th minute, the hosts nearly placed themselves level. Ledbury’s delivery into a crowded penalty area saw Rhioui’s effort blocked, with Francis hitting the bar with his follow-up. Rhioui then attempted again, but this time his effort rose over the crossbar. 

The 27th minute saw a clearance upfield for Woking, with a poor touch from Sutton’s defence playing the ball in behind perfectly for Francis. He chased it down, rounded the goalkeeper, but dragged his shot wide. 

Woking did draw level before half-time, with Ledbury’s free-kick from the edge of the penalty area being pushed back into the box by Sutton’s shot stopper, allowing Jennison-Leppa to slot home a close-range 40th-minute effort. 

Rhioui almost put Woking ahead in the 45th minute, as he tried to guide the ball in at the near post, but he hit the outside netting, and nothing separated the teams at the break. 

Half-time: Woking 1 – 1 Sutton United 

The second half began in a similar fashion to the first, but this time the early goal fell to the hosts. Once again, it was Ledbury’s delivery that caused the problem for Sutton, this time with Boyle heading home at the back post in the 48th minute. 

A period followed where Sutton attempted to falter Woking’s control, most notably with a 60th-minute free-kick delivery which was touched just wide from close range. 

Despite this, Woking “managed the game really well” as the clash reached the latter stages. Ledbury continued his influence, with an effort that almost fell to the underside of the crossbar in the 68th minute, but instead left the woodwork shaking. 

A 77th-minute corner saw Jennison-Leppa recover the ball at the back post, doing well to then find Francis in the goalmouth, but the forward’s first touch fed the ball into the arms of Sutton’s number one. 

Woking hit the crossbar once more before the game came to a close, this time as Bushby struck from the edge of the area in the 89th minute. Moments later, the captain attempted again, this time with a free-kick which flew narrowly over the crossbar. 

In the sixth minute of additional time, Ledbury looked to sign off his superb performance with a goal, but his effort from close range was fired over the framework. 

The full-time whistle shortly followed, with the scoreline failing to reflect the attacking threat that the hosts posed throughout the game, but confirming a win in the academy’s final game of 2025. 

Woking: Jack Roles, Louie Boyle (Kai Baverstock 67’), Jack Owen, George Mattingley, Ollie Rigby, Joel Jennison-Leppa, Zack Rhioui (Brian Rai 82’), Frankie Bushby ©, Timothy Francis, Will Ledbury, Jack Tricker (Tyrell Ejakita 25’). All substitutes used. 

Goalscorers: Jennison-Leppa (40’), Boyle (48’). 

 

Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch 

Tuesday 16th December 

Sam Saward, Goalkeeper, EDS – Horley Town: Played the full game in the 5 – 2 victory over Sheerwater in the Surrey Senior Cup Second Round. 

Saturday 20th December 

Lucas Boxall, Midfield, EDS – Sheerwater: Was an unused substitute for the 0 – 1 defeat at Knaphill in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South (Step 5). This game saw Woking Academy graduates Ben Mitchell (Knaphill) and Tom Gardner (Sheerwater) go head-to-head. 

Tom Dryer, Midfield, EDS – Westfield: Came on as a 75th minute substitute in the 3 – 3 draw at Harrow Borough in the Isthmian League South Central Division (Step 4). Having gone from 2 – 0 up to 2 – 3 down, Dryer scored in the 90+7 minute, tapping home after a goalmouth scramble. 

Sam Saward, Goalkeeper, EDS – Horley Town: Played the full game in the 2 – 0 victory at Chipstead in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South (Step 5). 

Joden Trickett, Forward, EDS – Abbey Rangers: In the starting line-up for the 1 – 0 victory over Badshot Lea in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South (Step 5). 

 

Season’s Greetings 

Thank you all for reading, and for your encouragements. Thank you to Matt and everyone at the Academy and CitC for your help and support. Thank you to Kevin and Holly for all you do to help me and support the Academy and its part in Woking FC. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. 

 

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.