MATCH PREVIEW – WEALDSTONE (A) | Boreham Wood Football Club

Wealdstone vs Boreham Wood
Monday 18^th April 2022, 3.00pm
Grosvenor Vale, Vanarama National League

THE CONTEXT

This Monday, Wood continue their Easter fixtures with another away trip, this time taking on Wealdstone as they look to bounce back from a disappointing home defeat last time out.

The Stones find themselves towards the bottom end of the table, but a win last week against Southend United to end a five-game winless run was a big boost, with the gap to the relegation zone stretching to 14 points.

Wood tasted defeat at home to Dover Athletic last week, and are now winless in ten games with a dire need to improve the form as we reach the business end of the season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

“THE DESTROYER”
ASHLEY CHARLES

A Watford academy product, Ashley Charles featured in a handful of pre-season matches ahead of the Hornets’ successful 2018/19 campaign, but was unable to break into the first team competitively with his first taste of senior action coming out on loan with Barnet where he played four times during his brief stay at the Hive. He would be released the following summer and made the switch to Wealdstone, finding himself at home at Grosvenor Vale with 51 appearances in the centre of the park since he arrived in 2020, although he did briefly move on loan to Concord Rangers midway through the 2020/21 season as well.

“THE PLAYMAKER”
RHYS BROWNE

After beginning his career with Interwood, Rhys Browne spent a season in the Norwich City youth setup before making the switch to Charlton Athletic, eventually being released once more following a brief loan spell with VCD Athletic. A move to Aldershot Town saw him enjoy senior football for the first time with 39 appearances in his debut season, and his form earned him a move to newly promoted League Two side Grimsby Town. He would feature just a handful of times for the Mariners though and moved on loan to Macclesfield Town, leaving on a permanent basis at the end of the season where he would enjoy further spells with Yeovil Town, Port Vale, Wealdstone and Sutton United. A second spell for the Stones came to fruition after previously playing just 27 minutes prior to his move to Gander Green Lane, being one of seven players released despite being a part of Sutton’s 2020/21 title-winning side, with his return to Grosvenor Vale leading to a further 24 appearances that has brought six goals primarily from the wing.

“THE FINISHER”
JOSH UMERAH

A Charlton Athletic academy graduate, Josh Umerah helped the under-18 side win the Development League 2 in 2014/15 after finishing the season as top scorer, earning a call-up to the first team where he made his senior debut as a substitute midway through the 2015/16 campaign in a 6-0 win over Hull City. He would gain valuable experience out on loan with Kilmarnock, Wycombe Wanderers and Boreham Wood before leaving the Addicks to join Ebbsfleet United, spending a single season at Stonebridge Road. A stint at Torquay United brought just two goals in 28 appearances prior to a switch to Wealdstone, but he has impressed at Grosvenor Vale so far, scoring on his debut and notching five in his first seven appearances before taking his tally up to 12 in a defeat to Chesterfield at the start of April.

LAST TIME WE MET

Boreham Wood 1-0 Wealdstone
Tuesday 11^th January 2022
LV BET Stadium Meadow Park, Vanarama National League

The Wood secured their first victory of 2022 thanks to a second half Danilo Orsi strike, confirming a narrow victory over local rivals Wealdstone

A dull first half display saw chances kept to a minimum along with little quality in possession, with early openings for Gus Mafuta and Josh Rees going amiss although the latter’s proved to be the host’s best of the half. With Wealdstone growing into it as the game progressed, the Wood had to be at their best to deny a couple of half chances, although Josh Umerah would have a golden opportunity when he found himself unmarked in the box to collect a quick free kick with his powerful header being saved by Taye Ashby-Hammond.

A slight scare at the start of the second half would see Craig Fasanmade go the closest the visitors came to scoring for the rest of the game, with the Wood beginning to take control and dominate proceedings. With a spell of sustained pressure that saw chances for Dave Stephens and Jacob Mendy Mendy along with a penalty shout that was waved away, the hosts finally found a deserved breakthrough when Orsi was picked out free inside the box with 23 minutes to go, firing in from close range to net his first goal for the club. The momentum was all with the Wood, and although they continued to put pressure on the Wealdstone defence they were unable to double their lead. Nonetheless, they were able to comfortably see out another crucial victory.