Maidenhead United 0 – 1 Boreham Wood
Tuesday 7th March 2023
York Road, Vanarama National League
ERICO THE HERO
An excellent second half goal from Erico Sousa confirmed a fourth win in a row and yet another clean sheet for Boreham Wood in a hard-fought encounter in Berkshire. Ironically, it’s the third time in the last eight years that Boreham Wood have won 1-0 at Maidenhead on 7th March, having won by the same score line on this day in 2015 and 2020!!
Luke Garrard made one change from Saturday’s victory at Oldham Athletic with Erico Sousa coming in for the injured Femi Ilesamni.
First Half
Boreham Wood started on the front foot and after two minutes Zak Brunt played the ball to George Broadbent who’s shot from distance was easily gathered by Alexis Andre Jr in the Maidenhead goal. Two minutes later, Brunt was again the provider, this time for David Agbontohoma, who headed wide. Boreham Wood continued to dominate possession and forced a succession of corner. However, they were unable to take advantage of this pressure.
Lee Ndlovu did have a half chance on twenty minutes but was denied by Andre Jr. On thirty-one minutes, a lovely one two between Brunt and Tyrone Marsh ended with Brunt shooting wide when well placed. The home started to improve as we approach half time and hit the crossbar following a corner, on forty-four minutes. Boreham Wood might have taken the lead a minute later when, after an excellent run by Marsh, he played a good pass to Broadbent who shot wide.
Second Half
The second half started with the host on the ascendancy. So many times over the years, in this fixture, Boreham Wood have dominated, only to concede the first goal. On forty-seven minutes Ashley Nathaniel-George, looked like doing just that but a deflection, prevented his shot from going in the top corner. That was as good as it got for the Magpies as Boreham Wood started to dominate again. Brunt went close on fifty-one minutes but fired over the bar. Just before the hour mark, Boreham Wood took the lead. Erico Sousa who didn’t give the Maidenhead defence a moment’s peace all night, went on an excellent run and after beating a Magpies defending, cut in and unleashed a shot past keeper Andre Jr, that went in off the post. The fact that he only started because of Ilesamni’s injury shows how strong this Boreham Wood squad is. Four minutes later Sousa was denied by the Mapgies keeper from a similar position.
The hosts then upped their game and enjoy a lot of possession in the Wood half. Luke Garrard’s men would have been mindful of their late equaliser against top of the table Wrexham on Saturday. There was no way through on this occasion against a team who appear to have forgotten how to concede a goal. Shawn McCoulsky fired wide for the hosts on seventy-seven minutes. With four minutes left on the clock, Marsh would have doubled Boreham Wood’s lead, but his well struck shot cannoned off the post. Boreham Wood held out comfortably in the end for the three points.
It was a well-deserved win for Luke Garrard’s men as they were always in control of the match. Boreham Wood have a week off now due to Gateshead’s participation in the FA Trophy at the weekend. They will want to continue this terrific form against Southend United in a massive match at LV Bet Stadium Meadow Park in a week’s time.
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Coxe, Sousa, Bush, Fyfield, Agbontohoma, Broadbent, Brunt (Rees 83), Payne, Ndlovu (Newton 73), Marsh (Lewis 87)
Subs not used: Kelly-Evans, Evans,
Maidenhead United: Andrew Jr, Asare, Clerima, (Beckwith 75) Barratt, Nathaniel-George (Panayiotou 80), Ferdinand, Acquah, Odutayo, Smith (McCoulsky 65), Massey, Adams
Subs not used: Leathers, Upwards,
Man of the Match: Erico Sousa
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