By John Mead
This Saturday Wood welcome Garry Hill’s Woking to Meadow Park, with £5000 and a place in the next round at stake.
The two sides last met in this competition back in the 2005-6 season, when Wood pulled off the greatest cup giant killing feat in their history. Playing at Step Four in the Non League pyramid Wood made it right to the Semi Finals of the Trophy, losing a two legged tie to the National League side. Woking went on to face Grays Athletic in the Final played at Upton Park, losing 2-0.
Since then both Wood and Woking have had little to enthuse about in Non League’s version of the F A Cup. The Cards best efforts post 2006, was reaching the last sixteen on two occasions. Wood have failed to win through two consecutive rounds, entering the competition at the 2nd Qualifying Round in the early years post 2006. Since then Wood have progressed through the League’s from the Southern League Division One East as it was then, to join our visitors at the top table of Non League football, earning the right to enter the competition at the First round Proper, with four rounds having already taken place.
Woking have won the competition on three occasions between 1994 and 1997. Another cup draw threw the two sides together last season in the F A Cup 4th Qualifying Round, when our visitors won a close game 2-1 at the Kingfield. The two sides have met on five further occasions in League encounters in the past decade, with Wood to date win less, recording two draws and three defeats.
The last time the two sides met at Meadow Park was in a Vanarama National League fixture back in August, which ended in a 1-1 draw. It was the only occasion that The Cards dropped points in their first six outings in a superb start to the season.
A slump in form followed with just two wins in 12 matches throughout September and October, before a recent revival has pushed them back up to 11th in the table. Three wins in four matches has raised the spirits down in Surrey, with The Cards just six points shy of the play off spots.
Their latest result was a 3-1 home win against Lincoln City. Leading marksman Dan Holman, the 25 year old striker on loan from Colchester United hit a brace, taking his tally to 15 in all competitions. The other one to watch is 22 year old John Goddard who has found the net on 11 occasions this season, a remarkable return for a midfield player.
With both sides exiting the F A Cup to lower league opposition this year, the F A Trophy will serve as an opportunity for retribution.
According to Wood Gaffer Luke Garrard; “ This is a game that both sides will feel they have a chance of winning. We know we will have to be at our best, but the confidence gained from a win will be priceless for the boys. They have been performing well of late and are due some reward.”
F A Trophy 1st Round.
Boreham Wood v Woking.
Saturday December 12th. Kick off 3pm.
