by John Mead
Another Saturday and another game on the road, Wood’s tenth in eleven Saturday’s sees Ian Allinson and his boys pack their kits and head to the coast to face Dover Athletic at The Crabble.
Given that we have been drawn away yet again in a Cup Competition, next Saturday in the F.A. Carlsberg Trophy First Round Proper, when we travel to Bromley, relying on home advantage is a luxury we have long forgotten.
Our trips to Dover Athletic in recent Seasons have brought mixed fortunes, yet we currently have the upper hand. Last Season an injury and suspension ravaged side clawed out a 0 – 2 victory. The Season before we looked good for a solid away point until Adam Birchall’s strike three minutes from time gave the hosts a victory.
Our last trip to The Crabble prior to that was two years before in the 2008/09 Season, the year that Athletic romped to the Ryman Football League Premier Division title. We formed a guard of honour in front of 1,400 fans to acknowledge their achievement. Thereafter the pleasantries ended with Wood running out 1 – 2 winners.
The recent run in the League for both sides has been interrupted by involvement in the F.A. Challenge Cup and F.A. Carlsberg Trophy.
Dover Athletic bowed out of the latter midweek with a 2 – 4 defeat to Chelmsford City after extra time, after holding the Essex side 1 – 1 away, whilst it was the team we face next Saturday in the same Competition that inflicted a 1 – 2 home defeat on The Whites in the Third Qualifying Round of the F.A. Challenge Cup.
Looking at our respective League form it is the hosts who boast a slightly better record over the last six outings, picking up thirteen points to our eleven. With that in mind it promises (but who keeps promises these days), to be a close encounter in a League that seems to get tighter by the week, as long as somebody can hold onto Salisbury City’s shirt tails.
With just a point separating Wood and Dover Athletic in third and sixth place respectively and the leaders ten points ahead having played two games more, a draw is not an option for either side should they have their sights set firmly on the title this Season.
So get down to the gateway to the Continent and cheer on the lads!
Come on the Wood!
Dover Athletic v Boreham Wood – Saturday 17 November. 3.00pm Kick off.
Crabble Athletic Ground, Lewisham Road, Dover, Kent. CT17 OJB.
