Wood return to the EBB stadium this Saturday in the National League, although that might not have been the case had they not got the crucial 2-1 victory back in April which was the first of three straight victories to preserve the clubs status in the top tier of non league football.
The sides have met on numerous occasions in the past, since Town replaced the former Aldershot club back in 1992. Fifteen meetings have resulted in just three victories for Wood to date in League campaigns, twelve of those in the Ryman League in a period spanning nine seasons, beginning in 1994.
The two sides also fought out a Ryman League Cup Final in the 1997-98 season. Staged at the long defunct Wexham Park, home of Slough Town, the tie went to extra time, with the vast majority of the crowd of over 1600 going home happy, with Non League legend Gary Abbott netting the winner in extra time, his second of the game to cancel out Junior Samuels’ strike for The Wood.
How times have changed since then. Town went on to gain promotion back to the Football League, before returning to the National League in 2014 after a six year absence. It has taken Wood thirteen seasons to catch up with The Shots, since the 2002-3 season saw them go their separate ways, quite literally. Wood were relegated from the Ryman Premier, whilst Town gained promotion the the Conference, romping to the title by a thirteen point margin.
Back to now and the two sides met at Meadow Park back in October and again it was a game the Wood would have been disappointed not to have taken the three points after taking the lead through Morgan Ferrier, but had to settle for a share of the points.
Aldsershot have two former Wood players in their squad. Former Luton Town striker Charlie Walker enjoyed a loan spell at the club in our promotion winning season, whilst former Captain Callum Reynolds made the switch to the shots in the summer.
Both sides find themselves in a decent position at the half way stage of the season and will be looking to kick on in order to keep in touch with the teams currently occupying the play off positions.
Vanarama National League.
Aldershot Town v Boreham Wood.
Saturday 3rd December, kick off 3pm.
The EBB Stadium.
High Street,
Aldershot.
GU11 1TU.
