MATCH PREVIEW – SOLIHULL MOORS (A) | Boreham Wood Football Club

Solihull Moors v Boreham Wood
Saturday 17^th October 2020, 3.00pm
Damson Park, Vanarama National League

THE CONTEXT

On Saturday, Wood travel to the West Midlands where we match up against promotion candidates Solihull Moors in the Vanarama National League.

The Moors come into this fixture with high spirits due to an emphatic 5-0 victory over newly promoted King’s Lynn in their previous game last Saturday. Identical to Solihull, Wood’s previous game was also against the Linnets as we travelled to Norfolk on Tuesday evening and managed to come back with all three points from a comfortable 3-0 win.

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 Solihull Moors live stream, or Wood’s twitter and Instagram.

THE FORM GUIDE

THE WOOD

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

Kings Lynn Town (A) | VNL | 0-3 W
FC Halifax Town (H) | VNL | 0-0 D
Wrexham (A) | VNL | 2-1 L
Welling United (A) | PSF | 0-1 W
Peterborough United XI (H) | PSF | 2-0 W
Finishing Touch Football (H) | PSF | 2-0 W

Wood picked up their first win of the season, on Tuesday evening, against King’s Lynn as strike partnership Matt Rhead and Kabongo Tshimanga controlled the scoresheet with a goal and a brace to secure a 3-0 victory.

Manager Luke Garrard has emphasised in the past the importance of a solid defensive performance and after Tuesday nights result, its now two clean sheets in two consecutive games for Garrard and his side.

After Saturday’s goalless draw at home to Halifax Town, Garrard made four changes to the starting line-up notably giving Zaine Francis-Angol and Gus Mafuta their competitive debuts. The pair impressed as they worked tirelessly for the team and adapted well to the pressing game that Wood implement.

THE MOORS

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

King’s Lynn Town (H) | VNL | 5-0 W
Wrexham (H) | VNL | 1-0 W
Woking (A) | VNL | 2-1 L
Leamington (H) | PSF | 3-1 W
Hereford (A) | PSF | 2-0 L
Hereford (H) | PSF | 0-1 L

Solihull Moors ran riot on their last time out as they won 5-0 at home against The Linnets. Prior to their recent good form, Solihull struggled in their pre-season and opening game of the 2020/21 season as they lost 2-1 away at Woking, meaning they had won just one of their previous six games.

The Moors were in the top third of the table for the entirety of the 2019/20 campaign but narrowly missed out on a playoff position as they finished in 9^th place after the league was decided on a points per game basis.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

“THE DESTROYER”

CALLUM HOWE

Howe signed for the Moors from Harrogate Town on a three-year deal in July 2019. The central defender was crucial for Harrogate in the season prior to signing for Solihull as he helped his side reach the National League playoffs.The 25-year-old defender played 45 out of the 46 league games that season, scoring nine times and keeping 14 clean sheets. This earned him the Players’ Player of the Season award at the end of the year.

Howe has an abundance of experience at a National League level as he has also played for Halifax Town, Port Vale, and Lincoln City.

Most memorably, Howe was crowned a National League champion of the 2016/17 season as Lincoln finished the season top of the table. Despite going out on loan for the first half of that season, Howe featured 13 times in the later stages of the 2016/17 campaign after re-joining his side in January.

“THE PLAYMAKER”

JAMEY OSBORNE

Osbourne came through the youth system at Hednesford Town and was promoted to their first team at the start of the 2009/10 season.

After a spell at Redditch United for the 2015/16 season, the creative midfielder then signed for Solihull in the summer of 2016 and was vital in the side that helped the Moors re-gain their National League status.

After one season at Damson Park, Osbourne parted ways with the club as he signed for Grimsby Town. Featuring 21 times during his opening season at the club, Osbourne was then back on loan at the Moors for the remainder of the 2017/18 campaign.

Much to the delight of the Solihull faithful, the loan deal was made permanent in July 2018, Osbourne then went on to be named in the National League team of the year in his following season at the West Midlands side.

From midfield, Osbourne was impressively the Moors second top scorer last season with seven goals and several assists along the way, just behind Paul McCallum.

“THE FINISHER”

CAMERON ARCHER

Archer started his footballing journey at Aston Villa at just six years old and progressed through the youth teams before breaking into the U’23 side at the age of just 16 years old.

At 17 years old, Archer made his senior debut for Villa in an EFL Cup tie away from home against Crew Alexandra in 2019. Archer later scored his first senior goal in the EFL trophy against Tranmere in a 2-1 defeat away from home.

At the start of the 2020/21 campaign, the 19-year-old centre forward signed for the Moors on loan from Villa until January 2021 and made his debut coming on with 20 minutes to play on the opening day defeat against Woking.

He then made his full debut against King’s Lynn and bagged an impressive brace meaning he is his sides top scorer so far this season.