Seventh Heaven.
The Skrill South.
Boreham Wood 7 Tonbridge Angels 0,
by John Mead
A quite magnificent display in front of goal turned this relegation six pointer into a mauling for the hapless Angels. On a day when none of the other bottom nine sides managed maximum points this victory, the biggest in Ian Allinson’s career as Wood Manager was built on a shrewd piece of business carried out midweek.
The decision to extend the loan spell of Wycombe Wanderers pair Junior Morias and Lee Angol allowed both teenagers to come of age. It was a decision that may have raised eyebrows given the fact that Angol has had limited opportunity, whilst Morias has remained goal less after three starts. The doubters were treated to a goal feast that nobody would have predicted.
Amazingly Wood now have the joint fourth best goalscoring record in the Division yet sit just four points above the drop zone!
The opening goal in the sixth minute featured one of two first class assists on the afternoon. Matty Whichelow picked out Luke Garrard’s training ground run from a left sided corner. Garrard’s recently discovered forte as a “Fox in the Box” surfaced again, clipping a first time ball across the face of goal finding Callum Reynolds who bundled home from close range.
Morias then tested Clark Masters in the Angels goal before the visitors went close twice inside a minute.
A well struck free kick from Lee Browning forced James Russell into a flying save diving to his left. Then veteran Chris Piper turned inside the box with seemingly nothing on and hit and audacious shot that curled beyond the grasp of Russell coming back into play via a post.
Wood were at this stage struggling with their build up play and wasting their majority of possession. A helping hand from David Ijaha the Tonbridge midfielder gave Wood the break they needed. His poor clearance ran straight to Morias who strode forward to slip the ball beyond Masters, opening his account for Wood, with 24 minutes played.
Ben Nunn who had a superb afternoon, thwarted the dangerous run of Michael Bakare who had already passed two defenders with a perfectly timed challenge. His one error of the contest then allowed Nathan Green a run on goal, but Russell was again in fine form and the two goal advantage remained intact.
With forty minutes played Whichelow slipped a pass under the feet of Henry Muggeridge as the pace and movement of the Wood attack began to drain the belief of the visitors defence. Morias saw two shots blocked in quick succession, the latter falling just in front of Graeme Montgomery’s left foot around twenty yards out. His rifled volley was tipped onto the crossbar, sending Masters into the back of the net. He was closely followed by the ball with Morias expending energy beyond belief to hone in and head home from close range.
Piper then wiped out any hope his side and their travelling supporters had of a second half revival when he lost his mind scything Morias to the ground way out by a corner flag to earn a straight red card.
Kudos Oyenuga looked in desperate need of a goal and it nearly came two minutes after the restart, his effort was met by a point blank save from Masters. Undeterred he opened his account a minute later. The supply came from the peerless Morias down the right as the ten men were cut open by a rampant Wood giving the Dundee United loan striker the chance to pick his spot.
With Ian Allinson roaring his side on for more from the touch line they duly delivered a fifth after 54 minutes in a ruthless attack against the ten men. Oyenuga snatched possession on the right finding Whichelow who slipped Morias through on goal to complete his hat trick.
Charlie O’Loughlin headed just over before more poor defending allowed Oyenuga to toy with two defenders, twice dragging back before hitting the side netting. Ijaha then compounded his sides misery earning two yellow cards in as many minutes reducing his side to nine.
Angol entered the fray with twenty minutes remaining, with Wood quickly earning a penalty when Oyenuga’s thirty five yard free kick was spilled by Masters, leading to more ill discipline from the Kent side. Masters was equal to Oyenuga’s weak effort which earned a reprimand from Allinson after the final whistle, given that he was not the designated penalty taker!
Angol then set up Montgomery for number six , the leading goal scorer complimenting his superb first half assist crashing home into the roof of the net with twelve minutes remaining. Angol then added a seventh himself after Nunn played a ball inside from the right. His first time shot an unstoppable effort into the bottom left hand corner.
For Ian Allinson it was, “ One of six or seven victories we need to remain in the Division. At 1-0 we looked nervous and it could have gone away from us. However their ill discipline let us command proceedings and it is just as important to gain confidence as it is denting the belief of those around us in the bottom half of the table.”
When questioned on his new front three he added, “ None of them have played more than six competitive matches recently. What you get from them all is a hunger and a desire to play football. I cannot remember three players being accepted so quickly into the dressing room. Their energy and buying into what we are trying to achieve is unprecedented for loan players.”
In summary he added, “ We will take this on to Wednesday when we host Havant And Waterlooville who are a very decent side as their berth in the F A Trophy Semi Final suggests.”
Team: Russell, Nunn, Morgan, Garrard ( Brown 75), O’Loughlin, Reynolds, Whichelow, Cox, Morias ( Angol 71), Oyenuga (Vasey 81), Montgomery.
Subs not used; Noto, Courtnage.
Bookings: Whichelow, Morgan.
Goals: Boreham Wood: Reynolds 6, Morias 24, 41, 54. Oyenuga 48, Montgomery 78, Angol 82.
Man of The Match: Junior Morias.
