MATCH PREVIEW – DOVER ATHLETIC (H) | Boreham Wood Football Club

Boreham Wood vs Dover Athletic
Friday 15^th April 2022, 3.00pm
LV BET Stadium Meadow Park, Vanarama National League

THE CONTEXT

This Friday, the Wood return to the LV BET Stadium Meadow Park after two successive away games, looking to bring their retched run of form to an end against already-relegated Dover Athletic.

The Whites continue to prop up the rest of the National League, sitting at the foot of the table on minus points having suffered relegation as early as March after a 2-0 defeat to Yeovil Town, with their narrow loss to Maidenhead United last time out extending their winless run to 11 games.

Wood are enduring a winless run of their own, with defeat at Aldershot Town last week stretching it to nine games and seeing them unable to build on their improved display at Dagenham & Redbridge four days prior.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

“THE DESTROYER”
JAKE GOODMAN

Experienced defender Jake Goodman came through the ranks at Millwall and enjoyed loan spells in the non-league with Staines Town, Luton Town, Aldershot Town and AFC Wimbledon, before departing the Den permanently ahead of the 2015/16 season when he joined Margate. Further spells with Braintree Town, Maidenhead United and Bromley followed where he was a mainstay in each backline, but an ACL injury forced him to miss the entirety of the 2019/20 season whilst playing for the latter. After recovering he joined Ebbsfleet United, but signed for Dover during the summer after failing to nail down a regular place.

“THE PLAYMAKER”
HENRY WOODS

A Gillingham academy graduate, Henry Woods gained valuable experience on loan at Sittingbourne and Concord Rangers and made his league debut for the Gills as a substitute in a 3-1 victory over Oxford United. With a handful of appearances to his name, Woods would find himself out on loan once again when he joined Dover Athletic in the summer, with his initial six-month deal being extended until the end of the season. He has been a mainstay in the Whites midfield this season, playing more games than anyone else.

“THE FINISHER”
MICHAEL GYASI

German-born attacker Michael Gyasi initially joined the Chelsea academy from Northampton Town before making the switch to Leicester City, leaving youth football behind when he left Stoke City for spells at Nuneaton, Bedford Town and Barton Rovers. He briefly returned to his home country to join Phönix Lübeck in 2020 but came back to England to sign for St. Ives Town. His form for the Saints caught the eye of King’s Lynn Town who signed him in December 2020, but he departed for Dover Athletic on loan two years later. The 22-year old opened his Whites account with a hat-trick.

LAST TIME WE MET

Dover Athletic 0-1 Boreham Wood
Saturday 30^th August 2021
The Crabble, Vanarama National League

An own goal on the brink of half time was enough to secure all three points against a Dover Athletic side playing their first home league game since January.

A bright start from the hosts was marshalled well by an outstanding Wood defence, with a number of chances for Frankie Raymond, Will Evans, Jamal Fyfield, Jacob Mendy Mendy, Kane Smith and Scott Boden following as the visitors began to dominate. Despite this it would be a Dover player who opened the scoring, however at the wrong end with Jake Goodman turning in Smith’s cross four minutes before the break. The Wood continued their good work into the second half with Tyrone Marsh going close with two good chances, but although they were unable to add to their tally, they were able to see out some late Dover pressure and hold on to secure the victory nonetheless.