MATCH PREVIEW – DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE (H) | Boreham Wood Football Club

Boreham Wood v Dagenham & Redbridge
Tuesday 10^th November 2020, 7.00pm
Meadow Park, Vanarama National League

THE CONTEXT

On Tuesday, Wood host ex-Football League side Dagenham & Redbridge at Meadow Park in the Vanarama National League, 10-days after our original fixture was postponed due a COVID related event with our visitors.

Thankfully all tests for our visitors following their COVID event came back negative and all those involved are safe and well.

The Daggers have started the league campaign in a poor form but managed to cause an Emirates FA Cup upset on Saturday when they beat League Two side Grimsby Town 3-1 at Victoria Road.

The Wood will come into tonight’s fixture full of confidence as they are now three games unbeaten in all competitions after completing a giant killing of their own too, beating League Two strugglers Southend United on penalties at home on Saturday.

Unfortunately, this fixture will be held behind closed doors, however there are several ways for fans to stay-up to date on proceedings including the BWFCtv live stream, or Wood’s twitter and Instagram.

THE FORM GUIDE

THE WOOD

Previous six games (in all competitions and friendlies): –

Boreham Wood put themselves in the hat for the Emirates FA Cup Second Round draw, after we impressively beat League Two outfit Southend United at Meadow Park. Wood dominated the early stages of the match and it took just six minutes before Jamal Fyfield opened the scoring after a deep freekick from Nathan Ashmore ricocheted in the Shrimpers 18-yard box, eventually popping up for Fyfield to head home, bagging his second goal in two successive Emirates FA Cup appearances.

After several chances from the home side, the deficit was eventually doubled in the 51st minute when club captain Mark Ricketts struck a spectacular volley from the edge of the box into the top left corner after Matt Rhead’s header from a Sorba Thomas corner cannoned off the Shrimpers bar.

However just 11 minutes later, the Football League side made it level thanks to goals from Brandon Goodship in the 59th minute and Terrell Egbri in the 62nd.

The game went to extra time, and despite Tshimanga’s early goal just two minutes into play from the penalty spot after Lennon was adjudged to have fouled the frontman in the Shrimpers box, Southend pegged Wood back again with an equaliser from Arsenal loanee James Olayinka meant the game would go to a penalty shootout.

Wood progressed into the Second Round thanks to penalty heroics from Nathan Ashmore.

THE DAGGERS

Previous six games (in all competitions and friendlies): –

After six league games, the Daggers currently sit bottom of the National League as they have won just once in their league campaign so far.

Despite a disappointing start to league proceedings, the Daggers see themselves in the Second Round of the Emirates FA Cup after they convincingly beat League Two outfit Grimsby Town on Saturday. Scott Wilson opened the scoring after just 10 minutes, but West Bromwich Albion loanee Owen Windsor restored parity for the Mariners in the 60^th minute from the penalty spot.

There was late drama at Victoria Road when Wilson, who signed for the Daggers just a couple of weeks ago, capitalised on a defensive error in the 91st minute to score the winner, before Mitch Brundle put the game out of sight in the 96th minute from the penalty spot as the Daggers ran out deserved 3-1 victors.

Although it has not been the start to the season that Daryl McMahon would have hoped for, his team have faced some tough opposition in the form of FC Halifax Town, Barnet and Yeovil Town, three of last season’s play off sides, so will be looking to use their victory against Grimsby Town on Saturday as a springboard to ignite their season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

“THE DESTROYER”

KENNY CLARK

Club captain Kenny Clark began his youth career with the Daggers, however before making a senior appearance at Victoria Road, he moved onto Thurrock in 2006. Clark spent four enjoyable years at Thurrock at National League South level and captained his side at just 19 years old before signing for Chelmsford City in 2011.

The central defender became a real fans favourite for the Clarets during a two-year spell at the club, as he helped his side reach the National League South play-offs. After making over 80 appearances for the Clarets over two seasons, Conference Premier side Dartford came calling and won the race to the well sought after signature of the defender who went on to make 31 league appearances for the Kent outfit.

In 2014, Clark moved to Ebbsfleet United, then under the management of now-Daggers boss Daryl McMahon, and went on to make over 200 appearances for the Fleet before signing for Daggers in 2018. The 32-year-old was made club captain at the start of last season and has since made over 50 appearances for the Daggers.

“THE PLAYMAKER”

MITCH BRUNDLE

Brundle spent his youth career with Yeovil Town before moving onto Bristol City in 2013. During his spell at Bristol, he spent a period on loan at Cheltenham Town, before signing a permanent deal with Braintree Town in 2014.

The midfielder reached the National League play-offs with the Irons in 2016, but unfortunately were beaten in the semi-finals against eventual play-off winners Grimsby Town.

Brundle then went on to sign for National League side Dover and during the 2018/19 campaign, he registered eight goals and thirteen assists, which meant Brundle was involved in a third of the white’s goal that season, either through scoring or assisting.

After many National League clubs showing interest in the versatile midfielder, who can also play at full back, it was the Daggers who won the race to capture his signature in 2019, stating he hoped to help them see a return to the Football League.

“THE FINISHER”

ANGELO BALANTA

Ex-Wood striker Angelo Balanta started his youth career with QPR but went on loan to several Football League clubs such as Wycombe Wanderers, MK Dons and Yeovil Town during his time at Loftus Road.

Balanta left the Championship side in 2014 and joined Bristol Rovers where he made 18 appearances in the single-season that he was at the Memorial Stadium, helping the Gas return to the Football League via the National League play-offs. In 2015, Balanta then moved on from the Pirates to join Carlisle United where he would spend a single season before signing for the Wood in the 2016 off-season.

The forward was with us at Meadow Park for two successful seasons, where he made 92 appearances and became a real fans favourite. Upon an American consortium acquiring the then-financially troubled Daggers, they made Balanta their number one target, and after Wood accepted a bid for the front man, he signed for the Daggers and to no surprise, has been a mainstay for his side since joining, becoming a firm fans favourite at Victoria Road.

LAST TIME WE MET

Dagenham & Redbridge 0 – 3 Boreham Wood
Tuesday 13th August 2019
Victoria Road, Vanarama National League

The comfortable 3-0 victory for Wood against the Daggers was our first league win of last season’s successful campaign.

Kabongo Tshimanga opened the scoring for the Wood after 18 minutes of play as he finished a through ball from Kieran Murtagh after a well worked passage of play from the visiting side.

Tshimanaga had several chances throughout the match to double his sides lead, but it wasn’t until the 86^th minute from the penalty spot when he eventually grabbed his second to give Wood a 2-goal advantage.

To cap off a brilliant away performance from the Wood, substitute Justin Shaibu headed home with only two minutes left to play to make the final score 3-0.

PRE-MATCH WORDS

STAY HOME, STAY SAFE

LIVE STREAM

Unfortunately, no fans will be allowed to attend this fixture, however, you can watch the game live by purchasing our BWFCtv Match Pass for just £9.99. You will receive the live stream, match commentary and an e-programme worth £5, too – BUY YOURS HERE

LIVE UPDATES

Alternatively, you can keep up with the action via our Twitter and Instagram pages, where there will be regular updates throughout the course of the match.

Instagram: @boreham_woodfc
Twitter: @boreham_woodfc

OUR CLUB. OUR TOWN. OUR COMMUNITY.

Match Preview written by Joe Karadzas (Press Assistant)