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MATCH REPORT: BOREHAM WOOD VS SUTTON UNITED
Wood put Saturday’s performance behind them at Meadow Park on Tuesday evening as a 5 star performance produced 5 goals and ensured Wood booked their place in the last 8 of the FA Trophy by easing past a tired Sutton United side.
Luke Garrard was forced into changes defensively with Joe Devera still out injured and David Stephens and Danny Woodards picking up knocks on Saturday. The Gaffer recalled Ben Nunn at right back and 17 year old Ben Goodliffe from the club’s successful PASE Academy at centre back. There was also a start for Angelo Balanta.
Wood started where they left off on Saturday on the front foot, albeit with more energy and a higher tempo and it was no surprise that after just five minutes they opened the scoring through Balanta. Bruno Andrade down the Wood right checked back and laid the ball off to Nunn who on his left foot delivered a curling ball that was met by Balanta who looped his header over Ross Worner and into the back of the net.
Sutton really were on the back foot and the pace and quality of the Wood attacks were the best seen at Meadow Park since the FA Cup game against Notts County as just moments later it should have been two. Matt Paine saw the run of Andrade and played the ball over the defence for the Portuguese winger to run onto. Andrade got the better of Dan Spence and pulled the ball back for Kenny Davis who timed his run into the box superbly only to toe poke wide from 8 yards first time not realising he had acres of space and time to take and touch and compose himself.
Wood continued to dominate as Sutton could not find a way out, a further two half chances fell again to Davis, a cross-cum-shot was palmed away by Worner before a neat interchange out on the left between Anthony Jeffrey and Morgan Ferrier, resulted in a cross from Jeffrey into the box where Davis rose highest but glanced his header over the bar.
The second was not long coming and Davis finally got his name on the score sheet. It was a pin point ball from Balanta to Andrade who split the defence in half, Andrade delivered across goal and Ferrier looked to have scored but for a good save by Worner, but he could only palm Ferrier’s effort into the path of Davis who tapped in to double Wood’s lead.
The half time whistle couldn’t come soon enough for Sutton United Manager Paul Doswell and he reacted at half time by bringing on Craig McAllister and Craig Dundas as they looked to get themselves back in the game. The third goal in the game was crucial as a Sutton goal would have got them right back into the game, however it took just four minutes into the second half for Wood to put the game to bed.
Nunn and Ferrier combined well setting free Andrade who was heading towards goal, his shot across goal was saved by Worner into the path of Morgan Ferrier who got his goal his performance deserved.
Despite being 3 goals up Wood did not let their tempo drop or the way in which they pressed Sutton in their own half. Ferrier and Andrade forced the Sutton back line into a mistake and Andrade nicked the ball from Spence, going through on goal only to be fouled just outside the box. Balanta put the resulting free kick over the bar.
Sutton finally tested Grant Smith, with the Wood keeper making a smart save down to his left. Despite Sutton sending on two big forwards and looking to get the ball forward at every opportunity both Paine and young Goodliffe at the heart of the Wood defence were strong and organised winning their aerial duels.
Wood got their fourth following a Sutton corner, the ball broke loose to Tom Hitchcock and Wood attacked at pace and in numbers. Hitchcock played a one two with Balanta who then spread the ball out wide to Jeffrey. He delivered a cross deep to the back post where Hitchcock rose highest cushioning his header for Davis to run onto and volley into the top corner from 10 yards.
Smith was on hand to tip a an effort from Craig McAllister over the bar as the Sutton forward looked to loop his header over the Wood number one.
Wood then finished the game in style by adding a fifth. Hitchcock beat the offside trap and despite being one on one with Worner unselfishly put the ball across goal to Anthony Jeffrey to tap into an empty net.
Wood progress to face Lincoln City in the quarter finals at Meadow Park on February 25th 2017.
