Boreham Wood 4-2 Woking
Mangata Pay UK Stadium Meadow Park
25th November 3.00pm, Vanarama National League
On an excellent afternoon at Mangata Pay UK Stadium, Meadow Park, Boreham Wood came from 2-0 down to win 4-2 to get a much needed three points in their quest to get away from the drop zone. Early goals from Reece Grego-Cox and Rhys Browne for the visitors were following by goals for Boreham Wood from Angelo Balanta, two from Tyrone Marsh and one for Tom Whelan. Luke Garrard named an unchanged line up from Tuesday night disappointing defeat at Eastleigh.
In a lively opening, Zak Bradshaw had a good chance for the visitors on two minutes but his shot was well blocked by Billy Sass-Davies. Three minutes later, Chris Bush’s long throw fell into the path of Tyrone Marsh who fired just wide when well placed. Woking took the lead on nine minutes with a penalty from Reece Grego-Cox after Jack Payne fouled Rhys Browne in the penalty area. The Cards doubled their lead six minutes later with an unbelievable goal from Browne who beat Nathan Ashmore from fully thirty-five yards out.
On twenty-five minutes Angelo Balanta pulled one back with a neat finish at the near post. On thirty-one minutes, Woking went close when former Wood defender, Luke Wilkinson fired just over with a fierce volley. Eight minutes later an excellent overhead kick from man of the match Tom Whelan crashed off the Woking crossbar. What a goal that would have been.
HALF TIME: BOREHAM WOOD 1-2 WOKING
Boreham Wood came out for the second half on the front foot, and it wasn’t long before they got a deserved equaliser. Four minutes after the restart, Whelan’s free kick was headed by Balanta into the path of Marsh who made no mistake with the header. It was Marsh’s second goal in as many games. Wood looked the more likely to get the winner and for a while were frustrated by a stubborn Cards defence. That all changed on seventy minutes when Whelan was fouled in the penalty and Marsh made no mistake from the spot to get his second of the afternoon.
Three minutes later, Balanta has the ball in the Woking net, following a lovely flowing move but was denied by the linesman’s flag. On eighty-three minutes a good move involving Whelan and Lee Ndlovu, created a chance for Balanta, who’s shot was blocked before Will Jaaskelainen produced a good save from a Jack Payne follow up. Four minutes later, Boreham Wood added a fourth when some excellent hold up play from Ndlovu resulted in Balanta playing the ball into the path of Whelan who finished well past Jaaskelainen. It was a goal that the Wood midfielder’s performance deserved and capped off impressive afternoons work from Luke Garrard’s men.
It was a very welcome three points for Boreham Wood and a very good all-round performance. They had to dig deep, having gone two goals down but never stopped believing in themselves. Luke Garrard will want his team to produce a similar performance, away at Oldham Athletic next Saturday.
FULL TIME: BOREHAM WOOD 4-2 WOKING
By Brett Lewis
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Sousa, Clayden (Stephens 81), Ilesamni, Bush, Sass-Davies, Payne, Whelan, Balanta (O’Neil 90), Ndlovu, Marsh
Subs not used: Abayomi, Coxe, Abraham,
Woking: Jaaskelainen, Moss, Casey, Cuthbert, Wilkinson (Tylor 67), Ince, Akinola, Bradshaw (Wakefield 72), Amond, Grego-Cox (Pavey 67), Browne,
Subs not used: Williams, Habergham,
Man of the Match: Tom Whelan
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