Boreham Wood v Cambridge United
Match Preview
by John Mead.
This is surely the most important game so far this pre season for Gaffer Ian Allinson. Playing against full time opposition should not deter a Wood side who have yet to face a fellow part time outfit this summer! Already having beaten Arsenal and Luton Town, whilst gaining a draw against Reading, this is the game which will show both Allinson and the Wood fans exactly how ready we are for the coming season.
Our visitors finished 14th in the Conference Premier last season and Boss Richard Money and Director of Football Jez George have been frantically reshaping their side since then. Nine new signings have led to a prolific pre season to date for The U’s. Eighteen goals for and just two against have seen the side record victories over St Neots, Corby Town, Boston United, Bishops Stortford and Sutton United.
The one signing whom Wood fans will recognise has hit the ground running. Delano Sam-Yorke who was at Basingstoke Town last year has netted five times already for the side that are entering their ninth season in the Skrill Conference after their thirty five year stay in the Football league came to an end.
Two other familiar names are Tom’s Bonner and Champion who joined from Dartford to go full time. Money has strengthened in every position with Chris Maxwell drafted in from Fleetwood Town to keep goal, with the rest of his signing’s coming from the Skrill Conference.
United were last at Meadow Park in December 2011 when a 0-1 win saw them through to the 2nd Round of the F A Trophy at our expense.
Ian Allinson is confident “ two or three more faces will be joining us before the start of the season and myself and The Chairman are working hard behind the scenes to bring in the right people. We are a very settled dressing room and it is important that is maintained.”
With just an away trip to Potters Bar Town left after this tie, the new season is looming up. It promises to be another closely fought battle, with new sides keen to impress and old foes that are clearly in better shape than this time last season. We enter a new era ourselves with the anticipated opening of the new West Stand along with a real belief that we are not just making up the numbers after two successive top ten finishes. Let battle commence!
Boreham Wood v Cambridge United, Saturday August 3rd, kick off 3pm.
