Boreham Wood 1-1 Chesterfield
Saturday 12th March 2012
LV BET Stadium Meadow Park, Vanarama National League
WOOD REMAIN UNBEATEN AT HOME
The BT Sport cameras were present at the LV BET Stadium Meadow Park to capture the Wood’s homecoming, with Akwasi Asante’s late opener being cancelled out by an even later Adrian Clifton header to secure a draw with promotion rivals Chesterfield, in their first match back home after the historic FA Cup run came to an end at Goodison Park last week.
Luke Garrard made a single change following the disappointing defeat at Wrexham on Tuesday night, with Jamal Fyfield returning from his injury layoff to make his first start in seven games. The difference was noticeable, as the hosts remained firm against a strong Chesterfield attack who showed why they are the second highest scorers in the league for much of the first half.
The opening 25 minutes of the game was full of action, with the visitors were particular threatening. They took just four minutes to get up and running as Jim Kellerman sliced a shot from distance into the North Bank after the ball was cleared only as far as the edge of the box. Just six minutes later Wood wanted a penalty after Tyrone Marsh went down in the box following a counterattack, but nothing was given and Chesterfield continued to push.
The Spireites produced their best opening of the half and will have been disappointed to not take the lead, when Saidou Khan played a neat one-two with Calvin Miller who carried it forward with his effort taking a deflection that took it into the grateful arms of Taye Ashby-Hammond. Further chances for Liam Mandeville, Jeff King and Whelan in the space of four minutes went amiss while Rees and Marsh missed chances themselves, the former heading onto the roof of the net and the latter being unable to get enough power on his shot when well placed.
Another opportunity for Chesterfield followed with Khan showing some neat skill to evade Frankie Raymond and finding Quigley who held it up well and laid it off to Whelan, who cut onto his left foot and fires an effort straight into the arms of Ashby-Hammond. Chances dried up in the final 15 minutes of the half though, with Chesterfield struggling to break down a stubborn Wood defence, although Whelan did have a shot cleared off the line five minutes before the referee signalled the end of an action-packed first half.
HT – Boreham Wood 0-0 Chesterfield
The Wood would have been disappointed with their first half display and keen to see an improvement. This they achieved, enjoying the better of the early chances that saw Rees firing an effort from the edge of the box just wide, before a corner eventually fell to Stephens on the edge of the box who drove a vicious volley that skimmed the top of the crossbar.
Marsh would be involved in another great opportunity just after the hour-mark, with Rees again leading a counterattack with acres of space to run into before playing Marsh through, although his shot from range went well over the bar. Chesterfield fans screamed for a penalty after the ball seemingly struck the hand of Stephens shortly before the same happened up the other end when Fyfield looked to go down in the box, although nothing was given in either instance.
The Wood continued to dominate proceedings with Marsh at the heart of it. He chased a Will Evans clearance and controlled it by the corner flag, before floating in a cross that met the head of Rees to force Scott Loach into a wonderful, outstretched save, shortly before being slid in by Rees with his effort across goal going just wide of the far post.
The visitors were soon awarded a golden opportunity to take an invaluable lead, as a cross from the right was adjudged to have struck the hand of Mendy Mendy, though TV replays clearly show Mendy outside the box. Substitute Akwasi Asante stepped up to convert the spot kick, met by a roar from the travelling support.
Although a major setback, the Wood have shown time and time again that they don’t go down without a fight, and they went close to equalising almost immediately when substitute Adrian Clifton found room to shoot with his effort being well saved, before fellow substitute Danilo Orsi’s follow up was cleared. A first home defeat of the season was never on the cards though, and Clifton proved to be the hero when he met a Josh Rees corner right at the death to secure the all-important equaliser with a bullet header.
Wood made sure it wasn’t déjà vu, with Chesterfield being one of just four teams to get the better of them this season. Clifton’s late header was enough to secure a crucial point while extending their unbeaten run at home, and it bodes well going into the local derby at Barnet on Tuesday night.
FT – Boreham Wood 1-1 Chesterfield
Boreham Wood: Ashby-Hammond, Evans, Stephens, Fyfield, Lewis, C. Smith (Mafuta 59’), Raymond (Clifton 83’), Rees, Mendy Mendy, Boden (Orsi 67’), Marsh.
Subs Not Used: Comley, Ranger.
Chesterfield: Loach, King, Grimes, Maguire, Whittle, Khan, Kellerman, Whelan (Asante 73’), Mandeville, Quigley, Miller.
Subs Not Used: Weston, Williams, Kerr, Rowley.
Star Man: Jamal Fyfield.
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