WOOD U16’S WIN COUNTY CUP SEMI FINAL

Boreham Wood FC U16s reached the final of the Herts County Cup, after coming from behind with a battling 2-1 performance against a determined Sun Postal team.

This match was never going to be easy after a 4 week lay-off due to waterlogged pitches and representative matches, and against opponents who had beaten last year’s winner and finalist in the two previous rounds. From the start Sun were fired up and won a series of corners and were rewarded after 5 minutes, poor closing down and marking allowed a ball to be crossed into the box which was headed home past keeper Daniel McDermott by the smallest player on the pitch. This was a wake-up call for Wood and despite not functioning at their best slowly got into the match, coping comfortably with sun’s long-ball tactics. Although neither side threatening to score another goal in the first half, Sun were getting rattled and giving away free-kicks to break up play.

At the restart and after some stern words, Wood moved up a couple of gears to increase the pressure on Sun’s midfield. Several corners were won and from one of these a header crashed against the bar before the breakthrough came on 60 minutes. From the right hand side Wood won a free-kick which Stuart Henderson hit hard into the box, James Kaloczi met this with a glancing header giving the keeper no chance. Ten minutes later Matt Taylor jinked through the midfield to feed Elliot Bailey who calmly slotted the ball under the keeper for the second and winning goal. In the final minutes Sun’s frustration at being unable to win the ball boiled over and this ultimately led to 3 of their players receiving two yellow cards and a straight red.

No overall man-of the match but Laurence Wroe was a rock in defence and Joe Kazer put in another good display in midfield. The final will be played at the County Ground, Letchworth on 10 April against Broxbourne Borough V & E who beat Hoddesdon 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.    

Match squad: Daniel McDermott, Arnie Galloway, Laurence Wroe, Sam Doolan, Craig Meddeman, James Kaloczi, Joe Kazer, Matt Taylor, Stuart Henderson, Jack Read, Elliot Bailey.

Subs: James Tully(used), Jack Holder(used), George Boote(not used).

Goal Scorers: James Kaloczi, Elliott Bailey.