MATCH PREVIEW – YEOVIL TOWN (A) | Boreham Wood Football Club

Yeovil Town v Boreham Wood
Saturday 7^th May 2022, 3.00pm
Huish Park, Vanarama National League

THE CONTEXT

This Saturday, Wood enter the final three games of the season looking to build on two stunning results against the top two, and head to Somerset to take on Yeovil Town.

The Glovers have embarked on an inconsistent season that has seen them pick up 14 wins, 13 draws and 15 defeats, sitting 13^th in the National League table.

Wood shocked the non-league by taking four points off Stockport County and Wrexham in their last two to throw a spanner in the works of the title race, and will be keen to make it three unbeaten for the first time since the start of February.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

“THE DESTROYER”
DALE GORMAN

Northern Ireland youth international Dale Gorman began his career at his hometown club Letterkenny Rovers before signing a scholarship with Stevenage in 2013, breaking into the first team after just two seasons in the club’s academy. He made both his senior debut and then full debut in the space of a week-and-a-half and went on to make 14 appearances in his first season in professional football, establishing himself as a first team regular during the following campaign with 30 appearances in all competitions, with the 2016/17 season also seeing him score his first professional goal in an EFL Cup win against Ipswich Town, the same ground and competition he made his debut at a year earlier. He played a further 27 times in 2017/18 as the Boro finished 16^th in League Two, before being released the following summer. After his departure from Stevenage he dropped down a division to join Leyton Orient in the National League and played 39 times in two years, briefly moving to Newport County on loan for the remainder of the 2019/20 season. He would return to Northern Ireland after his release from Orient when he joined Glentoran ahead of the 2020/21 campaign, before making the switch to Yeovil Town after just a single season. He has been an ever-present for the Glovers in his first season at the club, with 42 appearances.

“THE PLAYMAKER”
TOM KNOWLES

A Cambridge United academy product, Tom Knowles caught the eye of the U’s while playing for Newmarket and impressed for the club’s youth team after rising through the ranks. Loan spells at St Neots Town and Cambridge City saw him gain experience during 2017/18, and he would be briefly recalled as a result of his good form to feature in the club’s matchday squad. He returned on loan at St Ives Town but was recalled once more and made his first team debut on the final day of the season. A number of further loans followed during 2018/18 with stints at Dartford, Hemel Hempstead Town, Kettering Town and Royston Town, and he scored his first goal for Cambridge after returning towards the end of the season. He continued to struggle to break into the first team and joined Chelmsford City on a loan deal which would be extended until the end of the 2019/20 season, but was recalled early once again. He departed the club permanently with just 12 appearances to his name in November 2020, making the switch to Yeovil Town where he has scored 14 goals in 76 games.

“THE FINISHER”
ADI YUSSUF

Born in Zanzibar, Adi Yussuf came to England at a young age and joined the Leicester City academy, but failed to make a senior appearances and was released after a brief loan spell at Tamworth. Spells at Burton Albion and Lincoln City saw him attempt to gain more first team experience but found more success out on loan with Gainsborough Trinity, Harrogate Town and Histon. He subsequently joined Oxford City ahead of the 2014/15 campaign and scored 27 goals in 39 appearances, earning a move to League Two when he attracted interest from Mansfield Town. He was unable to adapt to a higher division and couldn’t rediscover his goalscoring form, moving on loan to Crawley Town before departing permanently, agreeing an 18-month contract with Grimsby Town. He would score on his debut in a 2-1 victory over Carlisle United that ended the Cumbrians’ unbeaten home record and made it two in two a week later, but made the switch to Barrow after completing six of the initial 18 months. He later moved to Solihull Moors and scored 23 times in 73 games, catching the eye of Football League clubs once more and making the switch to Blackpool as a result. He was unable to feature in the Tangerines’ first team though and returned to Solihull on loan, before further temporary spells at Boreham Wood, Wrexham and Chesterfield. Following his release from Blackpool he returned to the National League on a permanent basis, joining Yeovil Town.

LAST TIME WE MET

Boreham Wood 2 – 1 Yeovil Town
Saturday 25^th September 2021, 3.00pm
LV BET Stadium Meadow Park, Vanarama National League

An entertaining game of football saw Josh Rees secure all three points after an own goal and a red card for the visitors cancelled out Dale Gorman’s early opener.

Although neither side were able to find a way through during the opening stages, it didn’t take long for the Glovers to take the lead as a well-struck free kick from Gorman beat a seemingly unsighted Nathan Ashmore in the Wood goal after just 15 minutes. Despite this setback, the hosts refused to give up easily, with Frankie Raymond forcing a corner when his long-range effort was saved, with which ex-Wood keeper Grant Smith palmed onto the back of Josh Staunton to gift their oppon##ents an equaliser. The drama continued into the business end of the first half, with Adi Yussuf being shown two yellow cards in quick succession for fouls on Jamal Fyfield, giving the referee no choice but to show him the red card. This sparked some life into the Wood, with Will Evans heading over on the stroke of half time.

They began to show dominance after the interval and took the lead on the hour-mark when Raymond’s free kick was met by Kane Smith who headed across goal for Rees to tap home. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Yeovil had the better of the last half an hour as they searched for an equaliser with Tom Knowles, Joe Quigley and Gorman all going close, but some heroic goalkeeping from Ashmore right at the death allowed the Wood to see out the win.