ACADEMY BULLETIN: Week Thirty One

Upcoming Fixtures – Week commencing 6th April 2026 

Wednesday 8th April 

14:00 – Boreham Wood v Woking U19 (EDS): National Academy League – South Division 

Meadow Park, Broughinge Road. WD6 5AL 

Thursday 9th April 

19:30 – Woking U17 v Kingstonian: Isthmian League – Central Division 

Knaphill FC, Redding Way 

Friday 10th April 

12:00 – Hertford Town v Woking U18: National League Alliance – Division F 

Hertingfordbury Park, West Street. SG13 8EZ 

13:00 – Woking U18 v Binfield: Suburban Football League – Premier Division 

Woking College, Rydens Way  

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 30th March 2026 

Monday 30th March 

Binfield 0 – 5 Woking U18: Suburban Football League – Premier Division 

The Iconic Stadium, Hill Farm Lane, Binfield 

Report from Ian Tilley 

Given Binfield’s lowly position in the league the victory may have been anticipated, but the result was a fitting reward for the players’ consistent application throughout the game. 

With this the first of three games in six days, including the cup semi-final on Thursday, there was squad rotation for the second years, with Greenstreet and Mezenner joining from the third years, and the welcome return from medium-term injury of Dillan Davies and Jalil Page. 

Woking came close to going ahead in the first minute, Akinwalere put over a very good cross and Gurang controlled his volley well back across ‘keeper Oliverson but wide. 

It took a while for Woking’s dominance to show on the scoresheet, Ledbury shooting wide from a Gurang cross on ten minutes, and the ball spinning favourably for Oliverson when he was closed down by Gurang on 20 minutes. 

Akinwalere opened the scoring on 21 minutes, Gurang’s pass found Christophers and his clever through ball allowed Akinwalere to gain ground before smashing the ball home from ten yards, Oliverson standing no chance of making a save. 

Two minutes later an offside flag stopped Woking from going two ahead, but the reprieve only lasted until the 28th minute. Greenstreet played a great long pass forward, and Ampah looked like he couldn’t believe his luck, given time to run on and shoot, with the rebound from Oliverson’s save also bouncing in his favour for a tap in. 

Lacey did have to make a good save from Blankendal, but Woking further increased their lead before the break, Ampah again seeking down the long pass, battling well for a lucky break, and firing home from the edge of the penalty area. 

Ampah nearly had a hat-trick two minutes later, Oliverson saving well as the forward shot after another fortuitous break of the ball. 

Half-time: Binfield 0 – 3 Woking 

With the cup semi-final in mind Woking rotated a little for the second half, without too much disruption to their control of the game, although Ledbury felt some pain blocking a well hit Blankendal free-kick. 

The hosts were unlucky to go further behind on 54 minutes, their defender’s mis-control of Ward’s ball forwards spinning to Ledbury, who took the chance well, beating the last defender and driving the ball almost through Oliverson. 

On 60 minutes Mezenner’s pass gave Page a chance to pull the ball back for Ledbury, but his shot was just over the stanchion. 

Woking continued in control, with the new centre-back partnership of Ward and Davies providing cover when required. 

With Gurang unable to continue due to cramp, and no further outfield substitutes available, ‘keeper Roles came on up front, but he didn’t have any real chances to score. 

Lacey was called into action on 79 and 81 minutes as Binfield threatened but the closing goal, on 85 minutes, was created by Page and finished by Ledbury, whose low shot was powerful enough to beat Oliverson’s touch. 

Binfield nearly had a consolation goal, Blankendal’s free-kick from 25 yards beating Lacey but going narrowly over the crossbar. 

Woking saw the game out well, blocking any further attempts on their goal, and thoughts turned to the cup semi-final. 

Woking: Jools Lacey, Thomas Ward, Dillan Davies, Joel Jennison-Leppa (Jalil Page 46), Freddie Greenstreet; George Mattingley, Leo Christophers © (Yousef Mezenner 46); Pranish Gurang (Jack Roles 73), Will Ledbury, Seyi Akinwalere, Jojo Ampah. 

Goals: Akinwalere 21, Ampah 28, 39, Ledbury 54, 85. 

 

Thursday 2nd April 

Woking U18 0 – 1 Aldershot Town: The Michael Bidmead, Suburban Football League, Challenge Cup – Semi Final. 

Knaphill FC, Redding Way 

Report from Holly Porter 

After a spirited performance against an older Aldershot side, the under-18s exited the Michael Bidmead Challenge Cup at the semi-final stage. 

“On the balance of play, Aldershot just about deserved to get through”, stated academy manager Matt Winter. “We had our moments, and for long spells we dug in and did well. It was really cruel to lose out with a goal that late.” 

Both teams had their chances in the opening stages, with the first falling to Jennison-Leppa, but his fourth-minute strike was aimed straight at Aldershot’s number one. 

It wasn’t as easy a save for Lacey in the eighth minute, who reacted excellently to Aldershot’s close-range effort to palm the strike over the bar. The 22nd minute saw Lacey called into fine action once again, this time as Aldershot powered a delivery through the goalmouth, with Woking’s number one getting down to deny the effort that came in. 

The Cards looked dangerous going forward throughout much of the first half, with deliveries into the box, as well as Boyle’s long throw, causing issues for the Shots. 

It was Boyle who went incredibly close to opening the scoring on 26 minutes, as he broke into the box, but saw his shot blocked, with Page unable to tap home the rebound. Moments later, Vally let fly, but his effort deflected wide. A similar effort then came in from Mathieson, but his attempt back across goal saw him drag his strike wide. 

The closest Aldershot came to breaking the deadlock before the break fell in the 33rd minute, with an effort hit first time from just inside the penalty area, which almost fell just to the inside of the post, but instead curled narrowly off target. 

Whilst both teams enjoyed plenty of forward play in the closing stages of the first 45, nothing separated the teams at the break, a theme which continued for much of the second half. 

Half-time: Woking 0 – 0 Aldershot Town 

A tight second-half display saw a game unfold in which it felt like the winner could go either way. The closest the Cards came to that was through Christophers’ 84th-minute effort, but the skipper saw his strike saved, with the goalkeeper also reacting to deny Ledbury’s follow-up. 

Then, it was Lacey to keep the scoreline level, as Aldershot broke into the box in the 89th minute, seeing the keeper off his line to excellently block the effort that came in. 

Just when the game looked set for penalties, Aldershot found their way through. It was a 91st-minute free-kick delivery which saw the Shots strike from the goalmouth, the deciding moment which earned them a place in May’s final. 

With a lengthy stoppage time period unfolding, Woking had their chances to level, most notably in the 94th minute, with the ball falling for Akinwalere to hit from close range, an effort he directed over the bar. 

Then, in the 99th minute, one final chance fell for the Cards, with everyone forward for Lacey’s free-kick delivery, but Aldershot were able to clear, confirming their cup finalist status. 

Woking: Jools Lacey, Jack McGibbon, Louie Boyle (Seyi Akinwalere 79’), Amario Malhotra (Pranish Gurang 90+3’), Dillan Davies, Joel Jennison-Leppa, Calum Mathieson, Leo Christophers ©, Jalil Page (Jojo Ampah 73’), Hayden Vally (Will Ledbury 62’), Jack Tricker. Unused substitutes: Josh Allan (GK), Yousef Mezenner. 

 

Saturday 4th April 

Harrow Borough 1 – 2 Woking: Suburban Football League – Premier Division 

Earlsmead, Carlyon Avenue 

Report from Ian Tilley 

The third game in six days for the second years, with the injuries mounting, saw Woking call on a number of first and third years to help secure this hard-fought victory. 

A strong wind added to the determination required, with Harrow Borough a challenging opponent, particularly when crossing the ball in from wide areas and at set pieces. 

The first clear cut opportunity saw Woking take the lead on 27 minutes. Ampah showed his strength driving down the right wing and his low, hard cross saw Hayati’s run to the near post distract ‘keeper O’Leary and his defenders and leave a tap in from six yards which Tricker dispatched authoritatively. 

Woking’s work out of possession had been good until a badly judged challenge conceded a penalty on 36 minutes. McKenzie finished neatly, sending Verga the wrong way. 

The visitors came close to reclaiming the lead within a couple of minutes, a great pass from Tricker giving Ledbury a one-on-one with O’Leary, but the ‘keeper proved equal to the challenge. 

Half-time: Harrow Borough 1 – 1 Woking 

The second-half started dramatically, Ampah fouled as he looked to run through on goal, with the referee considering a caution to be sufficient, and Tricker foiled by the wall as he took the free-kick from the edge of the area. 

Both sides were carrying a threat, with Ledbury involved in a lot of Woking’s good play, and it was he who would score the decisive goal from the penalty spot on 63 minutes. A determined run and quality pass from Ampah gave Tricker the chance to make a great run into the penalty area and get goalside of his opponent who brought him down. A confident Ledbury struck the penalty firmly into the bottom corner. 

Minutes later Ledbury nearly turned provider, his back-heeled pass giving Ampah the chance to run into the penalty area, but the ball just wouldn’t sit right for him to get his shot away and the chance was smothered. 

Woking came close again, Hayati hitting the face of the crossbar from a corner-kick. And with 70 minutes gone the game was about to become rather disjointed as Woking’s injury problems grew. 

Page and Ledbury both sought to make the most of Tricker’s pass and Ledbury was caught in the challenge with the defender, hopefully the ice-pack on the outside of his ankle is not a sign of significant damage. 

More chances came for Woking to add to their lead, Hayati hitting the post and Thomas shooting narrowly wide, although the hosts still looked dangerous on the counterattack. 

With Ampah forced off by cramp, and Woking’s remaining substitute being centre-back Leedham, the Cards reorganised to 5-4-1 for what would be the remaining 12 minutes, with Tricker doing well as the lone forward. 

Harrow nearly had an 88th minute equaliser, Lleshi hitting the crossbar and the rebound going begging. But Woking kept battling through five minutes of added time and should be proud of their efforts, exemplified by Davies playing three full games in six days on his return from injury. 

Woking: Mikey Verga, Bailey Cotton ©, Luke Manly, Dillan Davies, Freddie Greenstreet; Will Ledbury (Will Richards 73), George Mattingley, Jalil Page (Max Thomas 72), Kooshan Hayati, Jack Tricker, Jojo Ampah (Sonnie Leedham 83). 

Goals: Tricker 27, Ledbury 63 (pen). 

 

Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch 

Saturday 4th April 

Quincy Patterson, Midfield, EDS – Binfield: An 86th minute substitute (with the score already 1 – 2) in the 1 – 2 defeat to Southall in the Isthmian League South Central Division (Step 4). Binfield are now two points clear of relegation with four games remaining. 

Sam Saward, Goalkeeper, EDS – Horley Town: Played the full game in the 2 – 0 victory over Alton in the Combined Counties Premier Division South (Step 5). Having completed their fixtures Horley are in a play-off position, but a combination of Fleet Town and Redhill could mean they miss out. 

Josh Solecki, Midfield, EDS – Banstead Athletic: A 69th minute substitute in the 1 – 0 victory over Tooting Bec in the Southern Counties East First Division (Step 6). There is still some work to be done to ensure safety from relegation for Banstead. 

Joden Trickett, Forward, EDS – Abbey Rangers: Played the full game in the 0 – 1 defeat at Fleet Town in the Combined Counties Premier Division South (Step 5). Fleet go above Abbey and unfortunately, with all their fixtures played, Abbey will finish outside of the play-off positions. 

 

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.