Sutton United v Boreham Wood
Saturday 13th February 2021, 3.00pm
Gander Green Lane, Vanarama National League
THE CONTEXT
Boreham Wood travel to Gander Green Lane on Saturday where we match up against 3rd place Sutton United in the Vanarama National League.
The U’s were knocked out of the 5th round of the Buildbase FA Trophy on Saturday when Woking travelled to Gander Green Lane and won 1-0 thanks to a Malachi Napa goal in the 45th minute.
Tuesday’s fixture for the Wood against Weymouth was called off due to a frozen pitch, so the last time we were in action was last Saturday when we travelled to York Road and beat Maidenhead United 1-0.
THE FORM GUIDE
THE WOOD
Previous six games (in all competitions): –
Maidenhead United (A) | VNL | 0 -1 W
Weymouth (H) | VNL | 1-0 W
Eastleigh (H) | VNL | 1-2 L
Chesterfield (H) | VNL | 0-0 D
Stockport County (A) | VNL | 1-1 D
Torquay United (H) | FAT | 0-4 L
Tyrone Marsh re-signed for Wood on an 18-month contract in midweek and scored on his second debut on Saturday in a 1-0 victory at York Road against Play-Off contenders Maidenhead United.
In the opening minute of the match, Zaine Francis-Angol struck the woodwork with a header after he found himself on the end of an inviting cross from Kane Smith. After 11 minutes played, Wood should have taken the lead when Junior Morias advanced on a loose ball, but his shot cannoned over the bar.
Wood came out the blocks flying in the second half and in the 51st minute, Junior Morias won the ball and played into the path of Francis-Angol who delivered an excellent cross to find Tyrone Marsh at the back post who knocked in his debut goal.
Wood defended well in the latter stages of the game and saw the game out comfortably, Krystian Pearce commanded the backline all game and was applauded by Gaffer Luke Garrard in his post-match interview.
THE U’S
Previous six games (in all competitions): –
Woking (H) | FAT | 0-1 L
Stockport County (A) | VNL | 0-2 W
Hartlepool (A) | VNL | 1-0 L
Torquay United (A) | VNL | 0-0 D
Eastleigh (H) | VNL | 3-0 W
Dagenham & Redbridge (H) | VNL | 3-1 W
The U’s come into this fixture off the back of a 1-0 home defeat to Woking in the 5th round of the Buildbase trophy on Saturday.
Prior to Saturday’s loss, Sutton had lost just once in their previous seven fixtures in all competitions, which is an impressive record considering they faced four of the top eight in Hartlepool, Torquay, Eastleigh, and Stockport along the way.
Matt Gray’s side have been emphatic in front of goal this season scoring 30 goals in 18 games, which is the joint second-most goals in the entire division.
The U’s have also been particularly solid on their defensive duties this season, with only the Wood and Notts County conceding fewer goals than their 17 so far.
With four games in hand over league leaders Torquay and sitting 10 points behind the Gulls, Sutton have a chance to leapfrog the leaders if they win all of their games in hand.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
“THE DESTROYER”
BEN GOODLIFFE
Goodliffe is a BW PASE Graduate and it was his performances at Meadow Park along with captaining the English College’s FA, and his first start for the first team away to Tranmere Rovers in the National League, that attracted the attention of Championship side Wolves who came calling.
Ben signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at Molineux, enjoying a successful loan spell with Dagenham & Redbridge, before signing permanently with Sutton United of the National League in the summer of 2019.
The centre back has made nearly 50 appearances for the U’s and bagged himself two goals along the way.
“THE PLAYMAKER”
HARRY BEAUTYMAN
In the 2010/11 season, Beautyman was an essential part of Leyton Orient’s youth team as well as captain of the reserve squad where he scored 24 goals in 105 games, winning the Supporters’ Club Player of the Year award as well as gaining recognition at England C level. In 2011 Beautyman was released and subsequently joined the U’s.
The attacking midfielder made a move to Welling United in 2013 and only a year later earned himself a move to the Football League with Peterborough United where the deal was made permanent in the January Transfer window of 2015.
Beautyman followed this with a year stint at Northampton town in 2016 and then in the summer of 2017 signed a two-year deal with Stevenage and scored his first goal for The Boro in an EFL Trophy tie against Oxford United.
Harry returned to Sutton in 2018 on a Two-and-a-half year deal. Last season Beautyman scored 17 goals which saw him make the National League team of the season as well as voted Club Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and Supporters’ Club Player of the Year.
“THE FINISHER”
ISAAC OLAOFE
Isaac began his career at Championship side Millwall FC in 2019.
Olaofe moved on loan to The U’s for the 2019/20 in February 2020 where he made just 4 appearances before the season was cut short.
For the 2020/21 season, the 21-year-old still with Millwall started the season with Scottish Premiership side St.Johnston, where previous Millwall assistant manager Callum Davidson was now Gaffer. It was in November 2020 with a mutual decision that Oloafe return to Millwall with only two appearances from off the bench under his belt.
The young forward then returned to The U’s, making his second debut one to remember as he scored a hat-trick on his return during a 5-0 defeat over Kings Lynn Town.
Isaac has scored nine goals in all competitions so far this season.
LAST TIME WE MET
Boreham Wood 0-1 Sutton United
Saturday 17th August 2019
Meadow Park, Vanarama National League
Sutton came close to breaking the deadlock in the first half as Craig Eastmond came close on two occasions, but David Gregory saved well.
Tyrone Marsh then had an opportunity for the hosts, but Jamie Butler saved well to deny the goal.
In the 82nd minute of the game, substitute Tommy Wright grabbed a late winner for the U’s in a game which finished 1-0 to the visitors.
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 live stream provided by Sutton for £9.50.
TO BUY YOURS, CLICK 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)
