The Wood continue their pre-season campaign this Saturday, July 28 (3pm), when they welcome to AFC Wimbledon first team to Meadow Park. Here’s our preview…
Match Details
Entrance fees for the game are as follows: Adults £12; OAPS £12, under 16’s £6 and under 5’s are free.
The match will not be segregated, and the nearest public car park is stationed in Brook Road and adjacent to stadium.
If you collect your Season ticket on, or prior to, the match against AFC Wimbledon, on Saturday, July 28, it will be valid for the match against Crystal Palace, on Tuesday, July 31
Team News
The game is Boreham Wood’s penultimate pre-season friendly, and Luke Garrard has a full squad at his disposal once again.
With just two matches to go until the start of the new campaign, Garrard will be looking to finalise his starting eleven.
Form Guide
The Wood have won two and lost three of their opening pre-season matches so far, with victories over both Hitchin Town and Barnstaple Town.
A loss to Slough Town last time out featured a slightly rotated starting line up and will have given Garrard plenty to think about.
The challenge of League One Wimbledon will prove a stern test, as the Wood look to assess their strength going into the new season.
Bradley Ash’s minutes have increased throughout pre-season, following his recovery from a long-term injury and he will be hoping to enjoy more game time against The Dons.
PASE Academy graduate Sorba Thomas impressed in the right-wingback berth against Slough and will be wanting to take his chance again should it arrive
Managed by 45-year-old Neal Ardley, AFC Wimbledon finished in 18th place in League One last season, as they once again cemented their position in England’s third division.
The likes of Scott Wagstaff, Anthony Wordsworth and James Hanson have all been recruited this summer, with The Dons aiming to improve on 18th place.
The likes of those three, as well as the rest of the first team, will all be in contention to start against the Wood.
One to Watch – Scott Wagstaff
An impressive summer recruit from League One rivals Gillingham, Wagstaff has plenty of Football League experience under his belt, having made in excess of 200 appearances.
A wide player who can play anywhere down the right-hand side, Wagstaff is known for his work rate and creativity.
A former fans’ favourite at Championship Bristol City, The Dons will be hoping he can have a big say in their performances this season.
From the Dugout – Luke Garrard
“I am very excited, I still speak to Simon Bass regularly and I still speak to the fans regularly. I have a love for the club, I was there for six seasons and enjoyed promotions with them.
“I believe that they are a club who do it properly and you can see that in the manner in which they have been promoted through the levels – the way that they did it was fantastic. To have been a part of their history is something that will live long in my memory.
“I have got to be honest, in terms of having Arsenal and Brentford here, they are another level, and I can imagine that AFC will also be another level.
“For me, yeah it is going to be a tough test, we are no fools, we know that they are going to turn up here and want to deliver.
“We are ready in terms of where we are going and in terms of where we are moving, I think that I am pretty set in certain areas.
“We have got to understand that we are a team now who reached the National League Promotion Final. We are not making up the numbers in the National League, everyone knows what we are about this year.
“For me, Saturday will probably go some way towards showing where we are at in terms of the starting eleven, but that changes, with injuries and performances.”
