Aldershot Town 0 – 1 Boreham Wood
Tuesday 31st January 2023
EBB Stadium, Vanarama National League
MARSH FIRES THE SHOTS
A Tyrone Marsh goal on eighty-three minutes was enough to confirm Boreham Wood’s second away victory in three days in the Vanarama National League lifting the team to seventh place in the table.
Luke Garrard made two changes from Saturday’s victory at Altrincham. Following six goals in eight games while on loan at Gateshead, Danny Elliot returns to add some much needed firepower to Boreham Wood’s frontline with Dennon Lewis dropping to the bench. Zak Brunt started instead of Josh Rees in midfield.
First Half
The match started off at a frenetic pace with both sides immediately trying to gain the initiative. The hosts had the first chance of the game on two minutes when Inih Effiong played in Jake Hutchinson, but his effort was blocked by Chris Bush. . A minute later, the returning Danny Elliot headed just wide from a Zak Brunt corner. Almost straight away, Lee Ndlovu was one on one with keeper Luca Ashby-Hammond, but he managed to screw his shot just wide. Just as Ndlovu looked like getting the better of the Shots defence, he was forced off injured in what looked like a repeat of the niggling injury that forced him off the pitch at Altrincham on Saturday. Tyrone Marsh came on to replace him.
Wood continued to have the better of the chances with Will Evans volleying over from a Brunt corner on fifteen minutes and Elliot going close again soon afterwards. On eighteen minutes a lovely flowing move involving Femi Ilesamni and George Broadbent, created a chance for Zak Brunt, whose shot was well saved by Ashby-Hammond. Six minutes later an excellent pass from Jake Payne found Tyrone Marsh but Ashby-Hammond was equal to it once again. The match then went through a quite spell where although Boreham Wood were still in the ascendency, a resolute Shots defence, didn’t give them any chances. Wood went into the interval rueing those missed chance early on.
Second Half
The hosts were better after the break and threatened Boreham Wood down both flanks. Nathan Ashmore produced a really good save from Joe Partington on fifty-two minutes before Brunt went close for Wood. The Shots continued to apply more pressure for a time but were unable to create more chances with the Wood defence keeping the dangerous Inih Effiong quiet. On sixty-three minutes, Erico Sousa went on a fantastic run from the edge of Boreham Wood’s penalty area and when it looked like he would score before being outmuscled by the Shots defence. The former Grimsby Town player seemed to have added a new dimension to the team since coming in at right back for the last two matches. Two minutes later, Ashmore made another good save, this time from Justin Amaluzor.
From this point, Wood started to dominate the game again. Marsh was a constant threat to the Shots defence and on seventy-five minutes he played in substitute Dennon Lewis who was denied by Ashby-Hammond from a tight angle. Just when it looked like Wood would have to settle for a point, Tyrone Marsh came up trumps on eighty-three minutes. Broadbent delivered an excellent ball in from the left and Marsh was on hand to thump the ball home from inside the penalty area. The hosts weren’t done yet and Ashmore was called into action twice in the final five minutes by denying both Effiong and Oliver Pendlebury. Boreham Wood held out for a well deserved three points.
It was an excellent performance from Luke Garrard’s men. They could have been out of sight in the first half but missed some gilt edged chances. However, it all came good in the end and they were great valuable for their win. Danny Elliot buoyed by his successful spell at Gatehead, proved a real handful and definitely added something to the frontline. Chris Bush was magnificent at the back and kept the Aldershot forwards quiet. He also showed what a skilful player he is with a range of passing and the ability to bring the ball out of defend with such ease.
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Sousa, Ilesamni, Bush, Evans, Agbontohoma, Broadbent, Brunt (Rees 77), Payne, Ndlovu (Marsh 15), Elliot (Lewis 69)
Subs not used: Newton, Coxe
Aldershot Town: Ashby-Hammond, Harfield, Anderson, Partington, Mnoga, Pendlebury, Hutchinson (Amaluzor 59), Jordan, Klass (McQuoid 81), Willard, Effiong
Subs not used: Elva-Fountaine, Abimbola, Milner-Smith
Man of the Match: Chris Bush
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