Blue Square Bet South
Havant & Waterlooville 2 – 4 Boreham Wood
by John D. Gill
Two early goals from Loan forward Mauro Vilhete set the scene for Boreham Wood’s marvellous 2 – 4 victory away at Havant & Waterlooville in the Blue Square Bet South on Saturday.
Wood included another new signing in their starting line-up. Making his First Team debut for the Club was twenty-four year old wing forward / midfielder Graeme Montgomery, who joined the Club from Eastleigh.
Wood stormed into an early third minute lead, when David Bryant made ground on the left and crossed to the unmarked Mauro Vilhete, who made no mistake with his shot from close range.
A rare attack from Havant saw Steve Ramsey’s shot easily saved by Elvijs Putnins, before play again switched to the other end and an inch perfect cross from the dangerous Montgomery found David Bryant at the far post, but his shot was saved by Lyall Beazely. Wood completely controlled the game throughout much of the first half, but Havant managed to equalize after thirty-three minutes, when Ollie Palmer got the better of Daniel Brathwaite and crossed the ball to Scott Jones who made no mistake with a shot from close range. Eventually Wood regained their lead three minutes later. Graeme Montgomery surged forward and unleashed a tremendous shot at goal, which Lyall Beazely somehow managed to save, but the loose ball fell nicely for Mauro Vilhete to make the score 1 – 2. Soon after a Montgomery shot just cleared the crossbar after a good cross from Omer Riza which set the debutant up.
Wood kept the pressure on Havant & Waterlooville and the home side fell further behind two minutes before half time. A Mario Noto corner kick beat goalkeeper Beazely at the near post, and deflected into the net, for a 1 – 3 half time lead.
In an effort to get back into the game Havant replaced both fullbacks with midfield players at the start of the second half. Their performance improved but Wood were in unstoppable form and continued to dominate.
Havant did manage to score a second goal after fifty-three minutes when Steve Ramsey fired a fierce shot past Elvijs Putnins from the edge of the penalty area. Wood quickly retaliated and nine minutes later skipper Mario Noto put the result beyond doubt. An amazingly clumsy challenge by Havant defender Chris Holland on Omer Riza in the penalty area ended with Noto successfully converting the resulting spot kick.
Havant kept battling until the final whistle but they were a well beaten side and Wood, having taken seven points from three away games in a week, are looking like a side capable of progressing higher up the table.
Team: Putnins, Sankofa, Brathwaite,Garrard, O’Loughlin, Beckles, Noto, Vilhete (Sub – Yala 76 mins.), Bryant, Riza (Sub – Lobjoit 90 mins.), Montgomery (Sub – Hutton 90 mins.).
Subs (Not used): Lechmere, Jordan.
Goals: Havant & Waterlooville: Jones 33, Ramsey 53. Boreham Wood: Vilhete 3, 36, Noto 43, 62 (pen.).
Booking: Brathwaite.
Man of the Match: Mauro Vilhete.
