MATCH REPORT: BARNET (H)

Boreham Wood 0-1 Barnet
Mangata Pay UK Stadium, Meadow Park
2nd September 3.00pm, Vanarama National League

Luke Garrard made one change from Monday’s 4-0 defeat at Oxford City with new loan signing Regan Griffiths coming in for the injured David Stephens. Boreham Wood other new loan signing from Crewe Alexander Billy Sass-Davies took his place on the bench.

In a bright opening, the visitors controlled a lot of early possession and Harry Pritchard struck the wall with a free kick on two minutes. Two minutes later Boreham Wood had a good chance to take the lead when a delightful Kwesi Appiah pass picked out Lee Ndlovu but he was off target with his shot. On ten minutes Ndlovu had another chance but was denied this time by Bees keeper Laurie Walker, albeit, from a tight angle. A might later, Walker denied Ndlovu again after the Wood forward got on the end of a lovely cross from Tom Whelan. On twelve minutes, former Wood loanee Zak Brunt forced a save from Nathan Ashmore. The Boreham Wood keeper produced an even better save, three minutes later when Dale Gorman let fly from distance and Ashmore somehow kept it out. Brunt went close again on nineteen minutes for the visitors but shot narrowly wide. Brunt went close again on nineteen minutes for the visitors but shot narrowly wide.

After this frenetic opening period, the game quietened down for a time. Barnet still dominated possession and played some good football but were denied any real goalscoring opportunities by a resilient Boreham Wood defence marshalled by the excellent Jamal Fyfield. On thirty-five minutes Nicke Kabamba’s effort was saved by Ashmore. Seven minutes later, Gorman shot wide when well placed. Just before the fourth official signalled three minutes of added time, Kwesi Appiah went down injured with what looked like a hamstring injury, He was quickly replaced by Billy Sass-Davies. A minute later, Fyfield did brilliantly to deny Bees dangerman Kabamba with a block when it looked like he’d score.

HALF TIME: BOREHAM WOOD 0-0 BARNET

The second half continued in the same vein as the first with the visitors well on top but not creating anything clearcut. In fact, the first real opportunity of the second period fell to Boreham Wood on fifty-six minutes. Ndlovu did well to win the ball back from Ben Wynter on the edge of the Bees penalty area and squared the ball to Tom Whelan who manoeuvred himself to shot, only to be denied by Barnet keeper Laurie Walker with the goal at his mercy. Four minutes later, Danny Collinge’s effort was saved by Ashmore. Harry Pritchard was off target three minutes later. On sixty-seven minutes, Fyfield went down with a worrying looking injury, adding to Luke Garrard’s injury woes. He was replaced by Liam Miller. On seventy-eight minutes Barnet got a deserved goal with Adebola Oluwo heading past Ashmore following a corner, sending the away supporters into raptures. Boreham Wood were unable to offer much of a response after that and the visitors ran out comfortable winners.

While it was a disappointing result for Boreham Wood, the performance was better than in the second half against Oxford City. More worrying than the result, is the expanding injury list with Appiah and Fyfield now set for a spell on the sidelines alongside the already stricken, David Stephens, Davis Agbontohoma, Erico Sousa, Jack Payne, Mo Sagaf, Charlie Owens, Angelo Balanta. Hopefully some of these players will be back for the trip to York City next Saturday.

FULL TIME: BOREHAM WOOD 0-1 BARNET

By Brett Lewis

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