MATCH PREVIEW – SOUTHEND UNITED (A) | Boreham Wood Football Club

Southend United v Boreham Wood
Tuesday 26^th April 2022, 7.45pm
Roots Hall Stadium, Vanarama National League

THE CONTEXT

This Tuesday, Wood go back on the road after finally ending their winless streak with a trip to Southend United up next.

The Shrimpers are enduring a disappointing campaign after their century-long stay in the Football League came to an end, and have been unable to bounce back as they sit 13^th with four games to go.

Wood’s poor run of form was finally brought to a close at game 11, and will be keen to kick-start a new run that could see a late charge for the play-offs with an eight point gap separating them and Notts County in seventh.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

“THE DESTROYER”
JAMES DUNNE

Veteran defender James Dunne began his career in the academy of Wimbledon FC, before moving onto Arsenal where he rose through the ranks over a five-year spell and departed after a brief loan spell at Nottingham Forest in which he made no appearances. A subsequent switch to Exeter City saw him feature over 100 times with him being a regular fixture for the Grecians in each of his three seasons, but his time at St James Park came to an end after the club’s relegation to League Two. He returned to League One with a move to Stevenage but was loaned out to Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone two years later before being released by Stevenage upon his return. A further two years at Portsmouth was succeeded by a loan spell at Dagenham & Redbridge, before stints at Cambridge United, Swindon Town and Barnet, prior to his move to Southend United ahead of the 2021/22 season.

“THE PLAYMAKER”
MATTHEW DENNIS

An Arsenal academy product, Matthew Dennis joined the Gunners at the age of six and went on to appear for the club at Under-18 and Under-23 level before leaving for Norwich City in July 2020. He scored five goals in 21 Premier League 2 appearances in his debut season along with a handful of appearances in the EFL Trophy, and in aid of his development joined Southend United on loan ahead of the 2021/22 season in search of regular game time, following a successful trial. He has scored seven goals in 24 National League games this season playing primarily on the wing.

“THE FINISHER”
SAM DALBY

Young striker Sam Dalby began his career at Leyton Orient, making his senior debut as a 16-year old and went on to play 17 times in his first season, whilst scoring 11 goals in 19 appearances for the Under-18 side which convinced the O’s to offer him his first professional contract. He impressed for much of his time at Brisbane Road and attracted interest from Championship and Premier League teams, eventually joining Leeds United on a two-and-a-half year deal. He continued his good form with the Under-23’s and featured in the travelling squad for a first team match against Fulham, eventually coming into his own during the following pre-season when he was named in the squad for their tour of Myanmar and scoring under new head coach Marcelo Bielsa against York City. A brief loan spell at Morecambe followed for the remainder of the 2018/19 season, before he departed Elland Road for Premier League club Watford and featured for the Hornets’ development squad. He scored a hat-trick in a pre-season match against RB Leipzig and earned a place on the bench in an FA Cup match against Everton, but failed to break into the first team squad and opted for loan spells at National League sides Stockport County and Woking, before being released at the expiry of his contract in May 2021. The striker made the switch to Southend United ahead of the 2021/22 season following the club’s relegation, top scoring for the club so far with nine goals in 38 appearances, more than any other player.

LAST TIME WE MET

Boreham Wood 1 – 0 Southend United
Saturday 30^th October 2021
LV BET Stadium Meadow Park, Vanarama National League

A late winner from Tyrone Marsh was enough to punish the ten men of Southend United, seeing out a narrow victory to end the day top of the National League table.

Although Will Evans went close within the first minute from a corner, it was a quiet first half that saw the hosts get the better of things with goalkeeper Steve Arnold being at the centre of two excellent chances, first expertly tipping over Josh Rees’ volley before spilling Marsh’s long-range free kick, although it went over the crossbar. Southend grew into the half as the Wood failed to make their dominance count, with Rhys Murphy, Zak Brunt and Kacper Lopata all producing openings before Sam Dalby headed the best chance of the game just wide shortly before the interval.

The hosts began to dominate once again into the second half and saw a whole host of chances go to waste, with Jacob Mendy Mendy, Evans, Frankie Raymond, Scott Boden, Kane Smith, Femi Ilesamni and Gus Mafuta all missing positive opportunities. However their luck began to turn with their dominance culminating in Abu Ogogo receiving two yellow cards in quick succession, and was subsequently sent for an early bath. The Wood smelt blood from this moment onwards and made their one-man advantage count when Marsh made no mistake with the rebound from a Raymond strike, sealing the victory with seven minutes to go.