Blue Square Bet South
Boreham Wood 4 Tonbridge Angels 2
by John Mead
A superb final day display from Wood secured an eighth place finish in the Blue Square Bet South, the Club’s most successful Season ever.
ood showed their defensive qualities that have been prevalent all Season, keeping the League’s runaway leading scorer Frannie Collin reasonably quiet, whilst threatening the visitors defence with some classy one touch attacking moves that never abated throughout the game.
Wood stormed into an early lead after eight minutes. Luke Garrard played Graeme Montgomery through with a fine ball. His shot was charged down by Ben Judge, with David Hutton picking up the pieces threading a fine ball back to Montgomery. He showed superb technique taking a touch bringing the ball into a perfect striking position before hitting an unstoppable left footed shot across Lee Worgan into the bottom right hand corner of the net. The pace of Wood’s movement in front of goal left the Angels defence wanting when Omer Riza, David Bryant and Montgomery worked the ball from left to right across the edge of the area. Hutton finished the move volleying just over.
Chris Piper started and finished an attack after seventeen minutes that led to the equaliser. Switching play from left to right wing he was on hand to finish a good move firing home from fifteen yards out, with Elvijs Putnins slipping before attempting to reach the shot that evaded his clutches at his right hand post.
Mark Jones turned in a fine display at left back often forcing play down the wing. He fed Hutton who allowed Riza to cut in from the right hitting an audacious curling effort that was just wide of the top left hand corner of the net. The entertainment continued with Montgomery in fine form for Wood. He hit the top of the net with a free kick before predating a blocked shot from Riza forcing a fine reaction save from Worgan who acrobatically tipped the spinning deflected attempt over the crossbar.
After another Piper effort was ruled out for offside Wood went ahead again before the break. Osei Sankofa played a ball down the right for Riza who squared for the lively Hutton. He, in turn, laid up for Jones on the left who side footed home into the bottom right hand corner, ending a superb move. Jones’ goal meant that every outfield player who took part in this game had scored for Wood this Season, a statistic that few teams can replicate at any level!
Nathan Koranteng went close for the visitors as did Bryant for Wood as Ian Allinson’s side attacked relentlessly after the break, only for the offside flag to frustrate. Jones then played a brilliant one two with Hutton setting up Bryant who should have scored when well placed. Koranteng then forced a full stretch save from Putnins before Collin inevitably bagged his twenty-ninth goal of the Season. Danny Walder’s superb angled ball forward from the right was met by the goal scoring nemesis who rose to deftly flick home beyond Putnins to level the score after sixty-six minutes.
Yet Wood were rampant and three minutes later Riza hit the post from an unfeasible angle before Inih Effiong replaced Bryant. Hutton, in his best game for the Club, then created Wood’s third, his cross from the left was predated by Riza with Tim Olorunda slicing the ball beyond his own ‘keeper. Two minutes later and ruthless Wood made the points safe. Sam Cox played Effiong through on goal and he ran forward finding space to slot home beyond Worgan. A celebratory cheer went up when Mario Noto made his first appearance after a ten game lay-off, five minutes before the end of a truly fantastic Season for Wood. There was still time for Collin to hit the crossbar, but the 4 – 2 victory stood, meaning Wood had hit ten goals in their last three outings, showing just how far the side has come.
In summary, Ian Allinson was “very pleased with the performance. Tonbridge Angels came to play football as well and with the zip in the pitch it made for an entertaining afternoon. We will be busy over the next seven to ten days trying to secure the services of most of the team for next Season. Graeme Montgomery has signed which is another massive boost for us as we try to take our momentum over to next Season.”
Team: Putnins, Sankofa, Jones, Garrard, Reynolds, O’Loughlin, Hutton, Cox, Bryant (Sub – Effiong 76 mins.), Riza (Sub – Noto 85 mins.), Montgomery (Sub – Akinola 78 mins.).
Subs (Not used): Beckles, Jordan
Goals: Boreham Wood: Montgomery 8, Jones 45, T. Olorunda (Own Goal) 78, Effiong 81. Tonbridge Angels: Piper 17, Collin 66.
Man of the Match: Mark Jones.
