FC Halifax Town v Boreham Wood
Saturday 6th May 2021, 3.00pm
The Shay Stadium, Vanarama National League
THE CONTEXT
Wood are on the road this weekend as they face FC Halifax Town, in the Vanarama National League on Saturday afternoon at The Shay Stadium.
The Shaymen’s last fixture was just five days ago when they faced Yeovil away which resulted in a 3-0 victory for the Shaymen, thanks to goals from Luke Summerfield, Kieran Green, and Jake Hyde.
It has also only been five days since the Wood last played, which was alternatively, at home when they faced National League newcomers King’s Lynn Town. A clinical second half performance allowed the Wood to take all three points in a 5-1 win over the Linnets.
THE FORM GUIDE
THE WOOD
Previous six games (in all competitions): –
King’s Lynn Town (H) | VNL | 5-1 W
Stockport County (H) | VNL | 0-2 L
Barnet (H) | VNL | 0-0 D
Yeovil Town (A) | VNL | 1-0 L
Chesterfield (A) | VNL | 0-0 D
Wealdstone (H) | VNL | 3-1 W
Wood faced National League newcomers King’s Lynn Town on Bank Holiday Monday where they displayed a clinical team performance to result in a 5-1 victory.
Despite the visitors taking an early lead it was thanks to goals from Gus Mafuta, Kane Smith and a hat-trick from Kabongo Tshimanga that the Wood were able to take all three points.
Monday saw Tshimanga score his first ever hat-trick for Boreham Wood FC and although the Wood Army were not at Meadow Park to celebrate, we are sure there will be many more to come from Kabby!!
THE SHAYMEN
Previous six games (in all competitions): –
Yeovil Town (A) | VNL | 0-3 W
Stockport County (H) | VNL | 0-1 L
Woking (H) | VNL | 1-0 W
Bromley (H) | VNL | 1-2 L
Chesterfield (A) | VNL | 1-2 W
King’s Lynn Town (H) | VNL | 4-2 W
The Shaymen currently sit strong in 5th place, which would secure them a place in the 2020/21 Play-Off’s. However, Wrexham sit closely in 6th with a game in hand and just four points difference.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
“THE DESTROYER”
NEIL BYRNE
27-year-old Neil Byrne started his career as an apprentice at Nottingham Forest before being released in 2011. The commanding centre back then went on trial with League One side Rochdale. Byrne impressed on trial for the Dale earning himself an 18-month contract.
After spending one month on loan at Conference Premier side Barrow, he was released by Rochdale in 2013, which saw him make a move to Conference North side AFC Telford despite interest from many other clubs. Byrne played a pivotal role in the Telford side that gained promotion to the Conference Premier in 2014, where they won the title with a victory on the penultimate game of the season.
The central defender then went on to spend a successful two years with Macclesfield Town, notably leading his side to the final of the FA Trophy. Departing from the Silkmen in 2017, Byrne spent one season at Gateshead and then two years at AFC Fylde.
In his debut season for the Coasters Byrne achieved a Wembley Double by reaching both the Vanarama National League Play-Off Final and the FA Trophy Final. Defeat in the Play-Off Final at the hands of Salford City was followed a week later with another walk down Wembley Way, where Fylde went on to be successful in winning the FA Trophy against Leyton Orient following a spectacular Danny Rowe free kick.
However, the following season couldn’t have differed more as AFC Fylde went from fighting for promotion to relegation, which in turn saw Byrne sign a two-year deal at The Shay with FA Halifax Town.
“THE PLAYMAKER”
JACK EARING
Earing came through the Bolton Wanderers Academy and made one appearance for the first team in 2016 in the EFL Trophy against Everton, where they lost 2-0.
The attacking midfielder was then loaned to Curzon Ashton in January 2019, where he featured five times. At the end of the 2018/19 campaign, Earing signed a professional contract with the Shaymen and featured 12 times prior to a loan spell with Farsley Celtic, where he would then go on to spend the remainder of the season.
The 21-year-old has a promising career ahead of him and has scored in both of the Shaymen’s opening league games against Dagenham & Redbridge and Stockport County.
“THE FINISHER”
JAKE HYDE
The 30-year-old striker, who has scored 12 goals in 25 appearances this season came from National League Opponents to join the Shaymen at the start of the 2020/21 season.
Hyde, who scored 16 league goals for Woking last season, has previously played for Swindon Town, Weymouth (on loan) Barnet, Hayes & Yeading, Dundee, Dunfermline, York, Stevenage and Maidenhead.
Scoring over 80 career league goals it was a signature that first team manager Pete Wilde was delighted to gain ahead of the 2020/21 campaign as he said “Every time I’d fall upon Woking, he’d score, he’d be the threat”.
LAST TIME WE MET
Boreham Wood 0-0 F.C Halifax Town
Saturday 10th October 2020, 3.00pm
Meadow Park, Vanarama National League
The Wood were back at Meadow Park for their first home League game since the end of February. In truth, this was a fairly uneventful encounter between two teams who contested the National League Play-Off Eliminator at the end of last season. Boreham Wood came out on top the last time these two teams met but it would have been unfair on the visitors had the same result occurred on this occasion…
The Shaymen came out of the blocks flying, with the dangerous Jamie Allen making a good run down the right only to be tackled superbly by Sorba Thomas when he was about to pull the trigger. Keeper Nathan Ashmore was quickly called into action, saving well from an excellent Jeff King shot. While the opening stages were dominated by the visitors, Boreham Wood will feel they should have taken the lead after 11 minutes when Shaquile Coulthirst, in his first start, headed wide when well-placed.
Boreham Wood were much improved in the second half and enjoyed the majority of possession. Murtagh, Tshimanga and Jamal Fyfield had efforts on goal.
A goalless draw was probably a fair score line in a game that was high on effort and intensity but ultimately, low on quality. Boreham Wood Manager Luke Garrard said, “I thought we were average and Halifax probably deserved to win. They started better than we did. Our forwards were lacklustre. It was nice to get a clean sheet though.”
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 The Shaymen’s live stream for £9.99.
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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
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