MATCH REPORTS ARE KINDLY SPONSORED BY
Boreham Wood made it two wins from two pre-season games as goals from Ricky Shakes (2), Bradley Sach and Angelo Balanta secured a 4-0 victory over Biggleswade Town
It was the Wood’s second match of pre-season following their return from a training camp in Devon and Tuesday’s victory over Haringey Borough.
After a goalless first half, substitute Bradley Sach broke the deadlock before a quickfire Ricky Shakes brace put Wood in command. Angelo Balanta rounded off the scoring with a overhead kick following a corner.
Boreham Wood went with the same squad as Tuesday night with the addition of Ryan Johnson who joined on a season long loan on Friday.
Angelo Balanta had a chance early on, Kane Smith delivered a pin point ball into the box which Balanta got his head to, but was well defended by the Waders centre half.
Despite not creating many clear cut chances Wood controlled possession and had the home side chasing the ball for large periods.
The Wood did then have the ball in the back of the net. Kane Smith played the ball to Angelo Balanta on the overlap. The Colombian delivered into the box which Shaun Jeffers met guiding the ball into the back of the net but from an offside position.
Ex-Wood Player Graeme Montgomery went close for the home side just minutes later, the winger latched onto a loose ball on his deadly left foot from the edge of the box. Thankfully for Grant Smith it wasn’t a great connection and the Wood stopper saved well.
The final chance of the first half fell to Bruno Andrade; Grant Smith distributed the ball out wide Andrade travelled 25 yards before he cut inside from the left and thrashed a shot from 20-yards, forcing the keeper into a good save.
Garrard rung the changes at the break. On came Paul Benson, Ricky Shakes, Bradley Sach & Kieron Murtagh in place of Shaun Jeffers, Bradley Ash, Mark Ricketts and Bruno Andrade.
It didn’t take long for Wood to take the lead. Danny Woodards from the back played the ball into Kane Smith, once again on the overlap Angelo Balanta got to the by-line and squared for Bradley Sach to tap into an empty net for his first senior Wood goal.
Kane Smith was involved in the Wood’s second goal as he intercepted the ball on the right, Playing the ball into the feet of Paul Benson who showed all his experience in shielding the ball playing into the path of Ricky Shakes who glided past his man and into the back of the net.
The home side were clearly tiring and Wood took full advantage. A very simple third goal followed. A long ball from the back was flicked on by Benson, Shakes gambled and got on the end of the loose ball firing into the roof of the net.
Garrard then introduced both Quba Gordon and Frank Keita in place of Champion and Woodards.
Wood continued to push forward and won a corner down on the right. The corner found Balanta at the near pot who took an impecable first touch and then cheekily with his back to goal put the ball over the keeper into the back of the net to give the Wood a 4th goal.
Frank Keita nearly made it 5 late on with a powerful drive from 20 yards that was just wide of the post.
Boreham Wood XI: G Smith, K Smith, Woodards (Gordon), Ricketts (Murtagh), Champion (Keita), Stephens, Johnson, Andrade (Shakes), Jeffers (Sach), Balanta, Ash (Benson)
Subs not used: Awakhie (GK)
Goals: Sach, Shakes (2), Balanta
