Woking FC (Youth & Academy) U19’s 6-1 Maidstone United FC U19’s Academy - Match Report

(As seen in the Non-League Paper on 30/10/2022)

U19’s National League Alliance Academy South, 16th October 2022, 1:30pm, Woking, Surrey.

Woking FC (Youth & Academy) U19’s put on a sensational display as they hit Maidstone United U19’s Academy for six in a fantastic encounter at Westfield. A thumping second half saw The Cards take all three points and remain unbeaten after their first four league games.

The hosts came into this game with a few disappointments last time out, after they conceded late on against Welling United U19’s National Youth All but managed to put that behind them early on when Felix Ezekwuka put them in front. It was two before half time when George Wallace found the back of the net, to give them a comfy lead after the first forty-five minutes.

In the second half, Woking (Youth & Academy) U19’s opened the floodgates and did not sit back and allow Maidstone U19’s the chance to get back into the game. Ezekwuka got his second of the match after some very good play which meant that’s now three in his last two games. Denny Roberts was next up on the scoresheet to make it 4-0 and put the game to bed. Woking U19’s could have used this big lead to drop off the tempo and rest some key players, but they didn’t and before you knew it was five, thanks to Sam Wright. The Stones were allowed a consolation late on when they won the ball in midfield and slotted past the ‘keeper, which means that despite going unbeaten, the hosts have now conceded eight goals in their opening four league games. This is something they will need to be focusing on in training. The scoring was rounded off when a Maidstone U19’s own goal added to their misery, meaning that they are still yet to taste victory this season.

Speaking to Woking FC (Youth & Academy) U19’s coach Scott Harrison after the game, he said, “If we are going to have any real ambition of competing to win the league, then we needed this result today.” He further went on to say, “From the word go, we were on the front foot and even at half time, we were a little bit kind as we did miss some chances that should have been put away.”

I later put the question to him that last week he said that his side needed to shore up the defence and whether he was happier or still disappointed to have conceded, to which he replied, “I was happier, however the individual goal was disappointing to concede. There was no real reason for us to have conceded today but we were better and hungrier than we have been in recent weeks. Off the ball we were much better for larger periods of the game and that led to a comfortable victory in the end.”

The Cards next fixture is back at Westfield, as they will be taking on Oxford City FC U19’s National League, hoping to keep a clean sheet as well as taking the win. The Stones will also be back at home as they take on Maidenhead United CT U19’s, looking to get those first three points of the season.