WHAT A “WEY” TO START
Weymouth vs. Boreham Wood
Saturday 21st August 2021, 3.00pm
Bob Lucas Stadium, Vanarama National League
After what seems like a long pre-season and an even longer period when Boreham Wood supporters couldn’t watch their team away, it was finally down to the action for Luke Garrard’s men who started the Vanarama National League season in style with a dominant 2-0 victory in Dorset against Weymouth.
Luke Garrard handed debuts to summer signings Will Evans, Jacob Mendy Mendy, Josh Rees and Scott Boden and they quickly came out of the blocks. A lovely turn and pass from Boden picked out Mendy Mendy down the left and his inch perfect cross created a chance for Tyrone Marsh who was denied by Ross Fitzsimons in the Terras goal.
On nine minutes Boreham Wood took the lead and what a goal it was. Kane Smith struck a shot from outside the penalty area which in truth was a goal from the moment it left his boot. Its hard to see the Wood getting many better goals than that this season.
In the next period of the match Weymouth came out of their shell and started to put a few passes together. However, a resolute Wood defence prevented them from having any clear cut chances. The next chance fell to the away side when a Mark Ricketts pass picked out Marsh whose effort was well saved by Fitzsimons. Boden and Marsh then combined to create a chance for Rees but he was denied by a Weymouth defender. It wasn’t until the thirty third minute that the home side had a shot on target when Omar Mussa’s free kick went straight into the arms of Nathan Ashmore. Thirty-nine minutes in, Josh Rees had a good chance but his effort was saved by Fitzsimons. A minute later Boreham Wood doubled their lead through Marsh when the Wood No 10, delightfully chipped Fitzsimons in the Terras goal to add another terrific goal for Boreham Wood.
The second half started a bit slower and it was the home side who started the brighter. On fifty-one minutes Calvin Brooks strike was blocked by Femi Ilesamni. Seven minutes later, following some excellent interplay between Kane Smith and Mendy Mendy created a chance for Marsh’s who headed wide when well placed. Just after the hour, former Wood player Bradley Ash had a good chance to halve the visitors lead but scuffed his shot. Another former Wood player Sean Shields then created an opportunity for Ahkeem Rose whose header went straight at Ashmore. On eighty-eight minutes Scott Boden nearly scored the goal that his impressive performance deserved but his header cannoned off the crossbar. In the last minute of the ninety, Ashmore was forced into his first difficult save of the afternoon when he dived across his goal to deny Andy Robinson’s long range effort. Wood held out comfortably during the five minutes of added time.
It was an impressive performance from Luke Garard’s men and they certainly got the result their performance deserved. Scott Boden got unfairly criticised by some supporters following the recent Hitchin pre-season game. However, he had only joined the club that afternoon and hadn’t even met his team mates yet. He was immense today when it really mattered and clearly benefitted from the last week ten days, getting fitter and used to his new team mates. Weymouth couldn’t live with his centre forward play and he was a great focal point in attack, creating space and opportunities for his team mates. It’s a shame he didn’t get the goal his performance deserved
Weymouth: Fitzsimons, Cordner, Goodship, Mussa (Rose 59), McQuid (Bearwish 72), Ash, Robinson, Brooks, Harfield, Olomowewe, Shields.
Subs: Morgan, Leslie-Smith, Murray.
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Ilesamni, Evans, Fyfield, Mendy Mendy, K.Smith, Ricketts, Rees (C.Smith 79), Mafuta, Boden, Marsh.
Subs: Green, Stephens, Raymond, Munns.
Star Man: Scott Boden
Match report written by Wood Army member Brett Lewis.
