ACADEMY BULLETIN: WEEK TWENTY SIX
Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 2nd March 2026
Monday 2nd March
19:30 – Westfield (Woking U17) v Yateley United: Allied Counties – West Division
Westfield FC, Woking Park
19:45 – Bedfont Sports v Woking U17: Isthmian League – Central Division
Bedfont Sports Club, Bedfont Recreation Ground, Hatton Road, Feltham TW14 9QT
Wednesday 4th March
13:30 – Welling United v Woking U19 (EDS): National Academy League – South Division
GB10 Sports Ground, 171 Footscray Road, Eltham, London SE9 2SZ
13:00 – Sutton United v Woking U18: National League Alliance – Division F
Cheam Sports Club, Peaches Close, Cheam, Sutton SM2 7BJ
19:45 – Guildford City v Woking U18: Surrey Floodlit Cup – Second Round (Round of 16)
Spectrum, Parkway, Guildford GU1 1UP
Thursday 5th March
19:30 – Woking U18 v Aldershot: Suburban Football League – Premier Division
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
All of these bulletins for the current season 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 23rd February 2026
Monday 23rd February
Metropolitan Police 2 – 5 Woking U17: Isthmian League – Central Division
Imber Court, Ember Lane
Report from Ian Tilley
On an evening which saw league leaders Walton & Hersham beaten at Uxbridge, Woking took the opportunity to close to within three points at the top of the table.
It wasn’t all plain sailing. Woking did hit the bar on 10 minutes, but the hosts took the lead on 12, a shot from a free kick was saved, but the rebound was tapped home by Brown.
The equaliser came on 22 minutes, ‘keeper Allan distributed well and the passing of Munden, Richards and Callow set up Mansour, who ended up in the net with the ball and the ‘keeper in his efforts to ensure the ball had crossed the line.
Statistics don’t support the old adage that you’re at your weakest when you’ve just scored, but this wasn’t to be the only time this week the opposition would go straight up the other end and score. Met. reclaiming the lead through Sharpe, the defence not giving Allan enough protection.
And then within three minutes Woking had equalised, Hurp picking up Salman’s usual, tidy pass, driving into the corner of the penalty area and rocketing home.
The closest we came to another goal in the rest of the half saw Richards hit the post with a curling effort from the edge of the area.
Half-time: Metropolitan Police 2 – 2 Woking
Woking started the second half on the front foot, and on 52 minutes took the lead for the first time. Hurp’s ball in left Callow work to do but, turning and finding space with a neat first touch, he was able to finish from close range.
Then Richards hit the crossbar with a free-kick, before an incident that was out of keeping with the spirit in which the game had been played. Putney’s frustrations seemed to get the better of him all at once as he ploughed through the back of Richards, and if the referee had any doubts about sending him off they were removed as he aimed a further kick at the man on the floor, the Police down to ten after 56 minutes.
Richards was replaced, a few minutes later, after treatment, but would be back in action on Thursday, and Woking soon took advantage of the Met. losing their way.
Two goals in three minutes sealed the victory. On 65 minutes a fine weaving run and drilled finish from Mansour doubled the advantage. Then an incisive through ball from Callow played in Gales, running from midfield and dinking smartly over the ‘keeper.
Good goalkeeping from Allan, and poor finishing from the hosts, meant that the possibility of a more dramatic finish didn’t materialise.
A good start to the week, with further good news to follow later in this bulletin.
Woking: Joshua Allan, Casper Hammond, Luke Manly ©, Sonnie Leedham, Will Hurp, Finn Salman, Alfie Gales, Jaden Mansour (Alex Jefferies 76), Will Richards (Arthur Pereira 62), Harry Munden (George Loader 62), Joe Callow (Alfie Moult 81). Unused Substitute: Harry MacFadyen (GK).
Goals: Mansour 22, 65, Hurp 26, Callow 52, Gales 67.
Wednesday 25th February
Woking U19 (EDS) 2 – 0 Dorking Wanderers: National Academy League – South Division
Woking College, Rydens Way
Report from Holly Porter
After a week off, two games in three days loomed for the EDS, with them first maintaining their unbeaten home record this season with a victory over Dorking.
“We left quite a few goals out there today, we were quite wasteful in the final third”, reflected academy manager Matt Winter. “But we’re really pleased with the start, getting ourselves into an early lead.”
That lead was almost as early as the first minute, as Boxall found himself through on goal, but he fired straight at Sam Allison in Dorking’s net. Shortly over ten minutes later, Woking did take the lead, with an excellent 12th-minute ball from Christophers, played across the goalmouth, tapped over the line by the arriving Boxall.
Woking hunted a second, and they didn’t have to wait long to enjoy the doubled advantage. In the 23rd minute, Patterson found himself one-on-one with Allison, and did excellently well to round the shotstopper, before slotting into the vacant net.
Whilst that concluded the goal celebrations for the fixture, it certainly did not conclude the chances, most notably with a 45th-minute free-kick positioned narrowly outside the box. Patterson struck, but he could not direct his effort around the wall, confirming the two-goal cushion at the break.
Half-time: Woking 2 – 0 Dorking Wanderers
Shortly after the restart, a 50th-minute red card saw the visitors reduced to ten men, after Ampah charged forward and was brought down in a second yellow offence.
Despite a man disadvantage, Dorking responded well, and forced Verga into a low save moments later, with a shot which made its way through a crowded box, which required Woking’s number one to block down to his right.
Woking had the better of the chances in the latter stages of the tie, but the Cards couldn’t find a way through. In the 64th minute, Hudson-Odoi collected in the goalmouth, but the visiting defence threw bodies in the way to deny the winger a goal. Shortly after, Patterson attempted from a wide angle, but his effort was saved at the near post.
A couple of chances fell to Trickett before the close, firstly in the 78th minute as he tried to slot back across goal from close range, but dragged his effort narrowly wide. Then, in the 88th minute, Cotton lifted a delivery towards the forward, but he directed his header off target.
Nevertheless, the two first-half goals were enough to earn another three points, extending the unbeaten home run to a total of nine games.
Woking: Mikey Verga, Bailey Cotton, Josh Solecki (Freddie Greenstreet 84’), Leo Christophers, Kemall Wilson, Joel Jennison-Leppa, Jayden Smith (Malachy Mpoy 63’), Quincy Patterson (Kooshan Hayati 75’), Jojo Ampah (Joden Trickett 68’), Lucas Boxall ©, Jayden Hudson-Odoi (Hayden Vally 71’).
Goalscorers: Boxall (12’), Patterson (23’).
Thursday 26th February
Woking U17 3 – 2 Chipstead: Isthmian League – Central Division
Knaphill FC, Redding Way
Report from Ian Tilley
Following Monday evening’s success, a game that was not as straightforward as might have been imagined, with selection complicated by the need to field a competitive team in the Allied Counties game against Hartley Wintney on the same evening.
Although Chipstead had a shot well saved in the opening exchanges, it was Loader who came closest to opening the scoring, hitting the post on 10 minutes.
Both sides looked to get forward in what was an open game, and on 26 minutes Thomas played in Richards, but ‘keeper Markley stood up well to the shot, and his parry went begging.
Flemming and Munden were the next to come close and on 35 minutes Woking had the lead. Richards, showing no ill effects from the strong challenge he received on Monday, shaped to cross but the ball looped over Markley and inside the far post.
Gales came closest to increasing the lead before the break, his drive from well outside the penalty area crashing into the bar. But the next goal came from Miguel-Bewasi drawing the scores level with a curler into the top corner punishing a missed opportunity to clear.
Half-time: Woking 1 – 1 Chipstead
Woking started the second-half on the offensive, and Richards had already had one shot saved when he restored the lead on 49 minutes. Once again, a mishit cross from the right-hand side deceiving the ‘keeper and landing inside the far post.
The Cards went on to have the majority of the attacking play with Gales coming close to scoring when his low drive was tipped around the post.
Manly was even closer on 72 minutes, his header from a Richards corner brilliantly saved by Markley.
It took until 87 minutes for Woking to double their lead, Richards played a corner to Callow on the edge of the area and his touch to tee himself up took him past the defender before he struck powerfully along the ground and in.
As they had on Monday, Woking fell for the quick riposte, a long ball was not dealt with and Braganza shot across Collins into the bottom corner.
But Chipstead were to run out of time, with a saved Thomas shot for Woking the closest either side came to another goal.
So, Woking move top of the table, with six games to play, as a dramatic looking finish to the league season unfolds.
Woking: Callum Collins, Casper Hammond, Luke Manly ©, Jack Kelly, Daejharn Wells, Alfie Gales, Nathaniel Flemming (Finn Salman 64), Max Thomas, Will Richards, Harry Munden (Joe Callow 76), George Loader. Unused substitute: Joshua Allan (GK).
Goals: Richards 35, 49, Callow 87.
Westfield (Woking U17) 1 – 4 Hartley Wintney: Allied Counties – West Division
Westfield FC, Woking Park
I hope to be able to bring you details of this game soon. Westfield’s goal was scored on 32 minutes.
Friday 27th February
Aldershot Town 1 – 2 Woking U19 (EDS): National Academy League – South Division
Bottom Meadow, Yorktown Road
Report from Holly Porter
A dramatic end to derby day saw Woking seize bragging rights, with a 96th-minute winner completing a turnaround victory against rivals Aldershot Town.
“Whenever we play Aldershot, we know what a tough game it is and what it means to both clubs”, reflected academy manager Matt Winter. “To come out on the right side of it, obviously, we’re really delighted.”
While Woking did fall behind in the fixture, they looked the better of the two sides in the opening ten minutes and almost took a sixth-minute lead. It was Hudson-Odoi who struck, but his first-time effort made contact only with the woodwork.
Aldershot grew into the game, with a 17th-minute corner almost proving costly for the Cards. The delivery was headed back across goal, and needed to be tapped over the line, but the touch instead directed the ball over the bar.
The Shots were able to take the lead on the 30-minute mark, as a long goal-kick was chased down by Thomas Neail, who, in behind the defence, calmly slotted across goal and into the far bottom corner.
In almost a second before the break for Aldershot, the ball was poorly given away in Woking’s penalty area, which allowed Koby Kircher to strike from close range, but a crucial intervention from Verga saw him quickly off his line to block.
Half-time: Aldershot 1 – 0 Woking
A half in which Woking “lacked the intensity that you’d expect with a derby” saw a triple change at the break, with a far more desirable second half unfolding. Aldershot still had their chances, most notably with a 66th-minute effort, which took a critical deflection to direct over the bar, but ultimately Woking exercised more control.
It was a 71st-minute effort that placed the Cards back on level terms, as Mpoy, within ten minutes of his substitute appearance, held off the defence excellently, to slot home from just inside the penalty area.
As the clock ran ever closer to full-time, the Cards had to hold on to the belief, after they were frustrated by the home defence, and narrow misses, in the closing stages.
“Sometimes in these games it’s about the desire and the work rate, and we managed to keep going right through until the end”, praised Winter.
Indeed, in the 86th minute, Patterson showed such desire as he attempted from range, searching for the bottom corner, but his effort fell narrowly wide.
Then, in the 89th minute, an excellent free-kick delivery from Patterson was headed goalward by Boxall, and then almost turned in from the goalmouth, but Aldershot scrambled to clear off the line. Back down the other end, the Shots almost claimed the victory, with a 93rd-minute back-post volley which hit the side netting.
Right as it seemed the match was destined for a draw, Patterson picked out an excellent pass to Boxall, who, through on goal, was brought down by Aldershot’s goalkeeper Louis Knight, earning the Cards a 96th-minute penalty.
An “incredible amount of composure” followed from Boxall, as the captain struck the ball into the top left corner, leaving Knight no chance of heroics.
After celebrations ceased, a further five minutes played out, but the hosts couldn’t create anything to trouble Verga, with Boxall’s injury-time brilliance stealing the derby honours.
Woking: Mikey Verga, Bailey Cotton, Joel Jennison-Leppa, Cameron McQueen (Yousef Mezenner 76’), Kemall Wilson, Chris Rangel (Freddie Greenstreet 46’), Jack Lewis (Malachy Mpoy 62’), Lucas Boxall ©, Joden Trickett (Jojo Ampah 46’), Kooshan Hayati (Quincy Patterson 46’), Jayden Hudson-Odoi.
Goalscorers: Mpoy (71’), Boxall (90+6’, pen).
Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch
Monday 23rd February
Mikey Verga, Goalkeeper, EDS – Sandhurst Town: Played the full game in the 0 – 1 defeat to Penn & Tylers Green in the Combined Counties League Division One (Step 6).
Tuesday 24th February
Quincy Patterson, Midfield, EDS – Binfield: A 77th minute substitute in the 3 – 0 victory at Horndean in the Isthmian League South Central Division (Step 4).
Joden Trickett, Forward, EDS – Abbey Rangers: Came on as a half-time substitute in the 1 – 1 draw with Alton in the Combined Counties Premier Division South (Step 5). Joden scored the equalising goal on 84 minutes.
Saturday 28th February
Joel Jennison-Leppa, Defender, 2nd year – Sheerwater: A 90+3 minutes substitute in the 4 – 0 victory over Fleet Town in the Combined Counties Premier Division South (Step 5).
Kemall Wilson, Defender, EDS – Binfield: A 64th minute substitute in the 3 – 2 defeat at Egham Town in the Isthmian League South Central Division (Step 4).
Quincy Patterson, Midfield, EDS – Binfield: A 65th minute substitute in the 3 – 2 defeat at Egham Town in the Isthmian League South Central Division (Step 4).
Sam Saward, Goalkeeper, EDS – Horley Town: Played the full game in the 2 – 0 defeat at Tooting & Mitcham United in the Combined Counties Premier Division South (Step 5).
Josh Solecki, Midfield, EDS – Banstead Athletic: In the starting line-up for the 1 – 0 victory over SC Thamesmead in the Southern Counties East First Division (Step 6).
Joden Trickett, Forward, EDS – Abbey Rangers: In the starting line-up for the 3 – 1 victory over Eversley & California in the Combined Counties Premier Division South (Step 5). Joden scored the second goal to put Abbey 2 – 1 up on 73 minutes.
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, usually Monday.