Blue Square Bet South
Boreham Wood 2 Eastleigh 1
by John D. Gill
Boreham Wood Football Club secured its place in the Blue Square Bet South for next Season with a fine 2 – 1 home win against Eastleigh at Meadow Park on Good
Friday.
Another “Man of the Match” performance from Wood’s Captain Mario Noto, helped secure the three vital points that took Wood to safety.
Wood, as a Team, played with confidence throughout the first half, despite the early setback of trailing 0 – 1 to a nineteenth minute goal from Eastleigh’s star
forward Jamie Slabber. Eastleigh Substitute Ian Herring took a long throw which was headed past Elvijs Putnins by Slabber and into the net.
Wood retaliated very quickly and Eastleigh goalkeeper Jason Matthews was yellow
carded by the Referee for a foul on Sam Hurrell, just inside the penalty area. Mario Noto stepped up to easily convert the resulting penalty in the 24th minute.
Eastleigh had little to worry the Wood defence with apart from a few set pieces and Ian Herring’s long throws. Herring had joined the action as a tenth minute Substitute for the injured Brett Poate.
Meanwhile Wood worked hard with their midfield and forwards all combining to create openings. A good attacking move ended with Gareth Risbridger, having his best game since joining the Club from Staines Town, playing David Bryant through the centre. Unfortunately for Bryant, Jason Matthews did well to block his shot from close range.
Then, in the second minute of time added on by the Referee, Mario Noto curled a superb free kick beyond Matthews and into the far corner of the net to give Wood a 2 – 1 half time lead.
Eastleigh spent the entire second half chasing the game in an attempt to grab an
equaliser and keep their slim Play-off hopes alive.
However, it was Mario Noto who sent a diving header just wide at the far post following a brilliant left wing cross from David Bryant. Then, after 73 minutes, it was Bryant who had two chances to score. Matthews blocked his first shot and he hit the rebound just wide at the near post.
In the closing stages a Nicky Nicolau free kick bounced off the Eastleigh crossbar
before the ball was cleared. Then in stoppage time, Eastleigh’s Captain and centre half Tom Jordan moved forward and headed a corner kick firmly against the Wood crossbar.
Wood’s defence held firm and secured the three vital points.
Boreham Wood Team: Putnins, Kamara (Sub – Maledon 81 mins.), Nicolau, Moran, Wilkinson, Garrard, Risbridger, Godfrey, Bryant (Sub – Morgan 78 mins.), Noto, Hurrell (Sub – Sogbanmu 62 mins.).
Subs (Not used): Yala, Baker-Owers.
Goals: Boreham Wood: Noto 24 pen., 45 Eastleigh: Slabber 19.
Man of the Match: Mario Noto.
