GUS MAKES A FUSS
Boreham Wood 1-0 Woking
Tuesday 27th October 2020, 7.45pm
Meadow Park, Vanarama National League
Gus Mafuta’s first goal in a Boreham Wood shirt after 33 minutes was the difference between these two side in what was a hard fought and feisty encounter at Meadow Park.
The match started with a frenetic pace and for the large part, didn’t let up for the whole game. Boreham Wood started brightly against a solid Woking team and very quickly got a foothold in the game.
It wasn’t until the 21st minute that that there was a real clear cut chance for either side. Whitely played a superb ball to Tshimanga who was in on goal and just as he was about to pull the trigger, Woking defender Jack Cook came from nowhere to make a last-ditch goal saving tackle. The Cards then went close when former West Ham player Matt Jarvis was denied by another last-ditch tackle, this time from Wood’s from Kane Smith after 28 minutes.
Boreham Wood took the lead after 33 minutes when a superb Sorba Thomas free kick was bundled home by Gus Mafuta to score his first goal for the Wood. Just before half time Woking could have equalised. A well worked set piece routine between Matt Jarvis and Josh Casey allowed the latter a shot on goal but lucky for the Wood we were saved by the woodwork as Casey’s shot crashed off the crossbar.
In the early part of the 2nd half, Boreham Wood had chances to double their lead. Tshimanga’s shot on the half volley was well saved and held by Woking stopper Craig Ross, whilst Gus Mafuta had a golden opportunity double his goals tally on the evening but shot high and wide when well placed.
The Cards might have had a goal themselves on 70 minutes when Jarvis shot was cleared off the line by the outstanding Fyfield. Sorba Thomas was unlucky on 78 minutes when his fantastic volley nestled into the roof of the net, only for him to be given offside.
For the final 10 minutes or so, Woking began to enjoy more possession and looked like they could snatch an equalizer, forcing Wood boss Garrard into a formation change. However after much huffing and puffing from the Cards, referee Robert Massey-Ellis called a halt to proceedings to give Wood their 2nd win of the National League season and earn our 4th clean sheet in our last five games.\
It was a job well down for Boreham Wood. While we didn’t create the chances we have in other games this season, it was a professional workmanlike performance all round. Woking struggled to get to grips with Thomas and Smith for much of the first half, whilst Matt Rhead caused them all sorts of problems with his height and physical presence. Fyfield, Ilesanmi and Champion, in front of the ever reliable Nathan Ashmore, were outstanding all evening at the back. It’s easy to see why Boreham Wood have 4 clean sheets from 6 games so far this season.
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Smith, Thomas, Ilesanmi, Champion, Fyfield, Mafuta, Ricketts, Whitely, Rhead, Tshimanga (Murtagh 80.)
Subs not used: Stephens, Mingoia, Coulthirst, Huddart.
Woking: Ross, Cook, Casey, Shotton, Ferdinand, Jarvis, Lofthouse (Kretzschmar 68), Dempsey (Cooper 68), Reid, Block (Spasov 83), Davison.
Subs not used: Tarpey, Collier.
Man of the Match: Sorba Thomas
Match report written by Brett Lewis (Non-League Paper & Wood Army member)
