Bromley 1 – 1 Boreham Wood
Monday 10th April 2023
Hayes Lane, Vanarama National League
HONOURS EVEN AT BROMLEY
An excellent performance from Boreham Wood ensured they got an important point in their push for a play-off place in the Vanarama National League. The Ravens took the lead through Michael Cheek on twenty-four minutes with Lee Ndlovu equalising, two minutes later.
Luke Garrard made two changes from Friday’s defeat at home to Dagenham & Redbridge with Erico Sousa replacing Dion Kelly-Evans at right wing back and Lee Ndlovu replacing Dennon Lewis up front.
First Half
It was clear from the first whistle that this was going to be a much better performance from Luke Garrard’s men against a very good Bromley side. Wood nearly took the lead on two minutes when an under hit back pass fell into the path of Lee Ndlovu but he couldn’t get any real connect on it before Reice Charles-Cook gathered it in the Ravens goal. Three minutes later, following an excellent run by Ndlovu, George Broadbent fired over with the goal at his mercy. A minutes later Nathan Ashmore saved well from former Wood player Corey Whitely. Ryan Stirk’s follow up was well blocked by Will Evans.
On thirteen minutes, Erico Sousa fired into the side netting following an excellent run. Shortly afterwards, Broadbent went close again with a shot that just sailed wide of the post. Zak Brunt, then had a long-range effort saved by Charles-Cook. Against the run of play, Michael Cheek gave the hosts the lead on twenty-four minutes with a well taken goal. Two minutes later, the outstanding Lee Ndlovu scored an excellent equaliser for the Wood, cutting in on his right and unleashing a long-range effort into the corner of Charles-Cook’s goal. It was no more than Boreham Wood deserved. The game quietened down after that with Wood still in the ascendancy. Brunt was denied by Charles-Cook on thirty-eight minutes, following a well struck shot.
Second Half
The Ravens were better in the second half. Soon after the restart, Deji Elerewe went close for the hosts but was denied by Ashmore. Stirk fired just wide four minutes later. Following a lot of subsequent Bromley pressure, Wood managed to regain the initiative. Broadbent went close on the hour mark, but his shot was blocked. On seventy-eight minutes, Omar Sowunmi headed just wide from a Stirk corner. On eighty-four minutes, Erico Sousa nearly scored the goal of the season for Boreham Wood as he ran the whole length of the pitch, only to be denied by Charles-Cook when he got his shot in. In the second minutes of added time, a Harry Forster free kick was headed just wide by Adam Marriott.
It was an impressive display from Boreham Wood overall. Although it was a match they should have won, it was important not to lose as Wood maintained their three-point lead over the Ravens Just as importantly, Aldershot’s late equaliser at Eastleigh, ensured Boreham Wood stay in sixth play in the league table. Luke Garrard will want to get three points on Saturday at home against Wealdstone and increase the pressure on the chasing pack as we head into the final couple of weeks of the season.
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Sousa, Ilesamni, Bush, Evans, Agbontohoma, Broadbent, Brunt (Rees 71), Payne, Ndlovu (Lewis 90), Marsh (Newton 81)
Subs not used: Kelly-Evans, Coxe
Bromley: Charles-Cook, Reynolds, Sowunmi, Dennis, Stirk, Vennings (Arthurs 85), Topalloj (Marriott 79), Elerewe, Whitely, Cheek, Fisher (Forster 66)
Subs not used: Bingham, Webster,
Man of the Match: Lee Ndlovu
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