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MATCH REPORT: BOREHAM WOOD VS HENDON
A throughly professional performance from Luke Garrard’s men, saw the Meadow Park outfit, through to the 1st Round Proper of the FA Cup, for the 3rd time in four seasons.
The Wood Gaffer made four changes to the side that won up at Macclesfield last week, making full use of his very talented squad. As influential midfielder Conor Clifford was dropped out due through yet another injury, while Angelo Balanta, Kenny Davis and Femi Ilesanmi, were all rested to the bench..
However those changes did did not weaken the Wood side in the slightest, as Adriano Moke, Anthony Jeffrey and our fit again skipper Mark Ricketts and club captain Joe Devera, were all recalled to the starting line up..
The Wood started the game brightly and looked content on keeping the ball and controlling the game through possession..
From the get go, Wood had our powerful front man Morgan Ferrier, as a thorn in Hendon’s side. As time and again throughout the first half, they simply could not contain him..
That was clear within a few minutes of the start, when Ferrier was collecting balls, turning his man and winning free kicks..
From one of those dangerous free kicks, teammate Bruno Andrade hit the wall with his initial effort, and with the re-bound dropping kindly back to him, the wood winger took aim, before blasted his volley narrowly over Hendon keeper Berkley Laurencin’s bar.
It was inevitably Morgan Ferrier though, who gave Wood the early lead. As he came deep to pick the ball up, went past his man, before unleashing a rocket of a shot, which flew past Berkley Laurencin and into the back of the net.
Hendon in fairness tried to comeback, and had a good chance of their own through Niko Muir. His shot though was well blocked by Danny Woodard’s, after Omar Vassell had got to the by-line and pulled the ball back for the isolated Hendon forward.
Morgan Ferrier was it seemed at this point involved in most of Wood’s chances, as he played into the feet of Daniel Uchechi, the Nigerian link man played the ball back into the path of Ferrier, who had continued his run, but unfortunately he snatched at the opportunity, putting his effort over the bar.
Hendon though were by no means out of the game, and reminded Wood of their threat, when breaking quickly through Karl Oliyide and the experienced Dale Binns, who crossed on the overlap, only for Casey Maclaren to put his effort over the Wood bar.
Ferrier then nearly put the game to bed by doubling Wood’s lead, as he again linked with Daniel Uchechi.. Uchechie played a cute ball through to left back Danny Woodards, who’s first time pass was played back into the arriving Ferrier, who held off his man, swivelled and fired against the crossbar.
It could though, of all gone wrong for Wood as half time approached.. After dominating the opening 45 minutes, it could of been 1-1 going into half time, but for a fantastic save from Wood goalkeeper Grant Smith. After Smith had next to nothing to do in the first half, the Wood stopper was called into action, he did not disappoint as he got a strong hand to a snap shot after a scramble in the Wood box.
After 45 minutes though Ferrier had ran his race and having picked up a slight ankle knock was replaced by teammate Angelo Balanta.. This change nearly paid instant dividends, when the fast thinking Uchechi, played a quick free kick after a foul on Anthony Jeffrey, putting Angelo Balanta through on goal. Balants delayed for a moment, twisting and turning before finally firing wide.
Thankfully the nerves for the home supporters, were put to bed on 66 minutes, when wideman Bruno Andrade doubled the Woods lead. Angelo Balanta was again instrumental in the build up, as he firstly took a superb touch before feeding Anthony Jeffrey down the left, Jeffrey cut back on his right foot and fed a superb ball into the box, which split the Hendon defence, allowing the alert Bruno Andrade to head past the stranded Hendon keeper.
Casey Maclaren in fairness, had another opportunity to pull one back for the tiring Hendon outfit. When a ball into the box from Hendons Andre Da Costa, found Maclaren but he couldn’t direct his header on target and the chance was wasted..
Angelo Balanta though put the cherry on the top of Wood’s win in injury time, with a classic counter attacking goal. Firstly skipper Mark Ricketts played the ball out to Angelo Balanta himself, who with the outside of his boot, laid the ball into the path of Bruno Andrade, the marauding Wood winger took it in his stride, before crossing deep for the arriving Balanta, to fire past a helpless Berkely Laurencin..
A 3-0 scorelind was for the romantic, perhaps a bit harsh on Hendon, who had battled gamefully all afternoon. However in the end, the gulf in both class and fitness showed, and it was just too big a hurdle for the greens to overcome..
So it’s Boreham Wood who deservedly go into the hat for the next round, and let’s hope the draw gives Luke Garrard and the players the rewards they deserve….
Boreham Wood: Smith, Nunn, Woodards, Ricketts, Paine, Moke (Davis), Andrade, Ferrier (Balanta), Jeffrey, Uchechi (Kuhl), Devera
Subs: Shakes, Goodliffe, Lucas, Ilesanmi,
Referee: S Allinson
ATT: 457
