Boreham Wood 1-1 Bromley
Mangata Pay UK Stadium Meadow Park
11th November 3.00pm, Vanarama National League
It was an excellent reaction from Boreham Wood to last week’s disappointing FA Cup exit as they came from a goal down to draw 1-1 despite playing most of the match with ten men due to Jamal Fyfield’s sending off on forty-two minutes. Luke Garrard made one change from the defeat at Eastleigh with the fit again, Angelo Balanta coming in for Cameron Coxe who takes his place on the bench. Erico Sousa, reverted to his right wing-back position.
The first chance fell to Michael Cheek who went close for the visitors on seven minutes, but his shot was deflected wide by Fyfield. Four minutes later, a lovely move for Boreham Wood involving Tyrone Marsh and Erico Sousa, created a chance for Jack Payne, but his effort was saved by former Boreham Wood keeper Grant Smith, just as it looked like creeping in the corner. On seventeen minutes Angelo Balanta went close for the Wood but his effort was saved by Smith. Three minutes later, Bromley took the lead. A Lewis Leigh corner was headed on by Chin Okoli and Olufela Olomola was well placed to finish at the far post.
Wood reacted well to going behind and almost immediately, came close to equalising. A Matt Robinson cross was headed goalwards by Marsh, but he was denied by an excellent save from Smith before Payne’s long range sailed just over the crossbar. Boreham Wood were reduced to ten men on forty-two minutes when Jamal Fyfield was given a straight red card for a foul on Olomola.
HALF TIME: BOREHAM WOOD 0-1 BROMLEY
Despite their one-man disadvantage, Wood came out for the second half in a positive frame of mind as they took the game to the visitors. This work was almost undone on fifty-two when Bromley nearly doubled their lead. Sam Woods shot beat Nathan Ashmore in the Wood goal but Billy Sass-Davies, somehow scrambled the ball off the line. Woods went close again, nine minutes later but his header was tipped over the bar by Ashmore.
On seventy-four minutes, Lee Ndlovu went close for Boreham Wood, but his shot was saved by Smith. Six minutes later Erico Sousa equalised with a fantastic strike from distance which gave keeper Smith no chance. From here on, Boreham Wood looked more likely to snatch the points. Six minutes later Ndlovu, was played through by Sousa but skyed his shot when it looked like the net would bulge. In the last minute of stoppage time Wood had another good chance when Ndlovu headed the ball across goal, but recently introduced substitute, Liam O’Neil was unable to get on the end of it with the goal gapping. If the former Cambridge United midfielder was a couple of inches taller, Boreham Wood would have been celebrating three points instead of one.
Following last week’s disappointing FA Cup defeat, the Boreham Wood players and supporters would have wanted a reaction and they got it, against one of the best sides in the Vanarama National League. However, not for the first time this season, they were unable to turn dominance into three points. Apart from Eastleigh, the performances have been very good in recent weeks and if this continues, Wood will move up the league table. The impact Erico Sousa is having on this team is growing week by week. As well as the goals and assists, he is at the centre of every positive piece of play and seems determined to host his own goal of the season competition. Luke Garrard will want this form to continue when his side go up against an out of form Dorking Wanderers next Saturday.
FULL TIME: BOREHAM WOOD 1-1 BROMLEY
By Brett Lewis
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Sousa, Ilesamni, Bush, Fyfield, Sass-Davies, Payne, Robinson, Balanta (Coxe 62 (O’Neil 90), Ndlovu, Marsh (Abraham 78)
Subs not used: Stephens, Whelan,
Bromley: Smith, Passley, Elerewe, Webster, Leigh (Arthurs 76), Okoli (Miller 26), Whitely, Topalloj, Krauhaus Woods 46), Olomola, Cheek
Subs not used: Sharman-Lowe, Dennis,
Man of the Match: Erico Sousa
