Boreham Wood v Woking
Tuesday 27th October 2020, 7.45pm
Meadow Park, Vanarama National League
THE CONTEXT
This evening, Wood host an in-form Woking side in the Vanarama National League at Meadow Park.
Woking come into this fixture full of confidence after they beat Aldershot Town 2-1 away from home in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup, thanks to goals from and Josh Davison and Max Kretzschmar.
Wood’s last fixture also came in the Fourth Qualifying Round of The Emirates FA Cup, and like Woking, we progressed into the First Round Proper after we comfortably beat Wimborne Town 2-0 at Meadow Park.
Unfortunately, this fixture will be held behind closed doors, however there are several ways for fans to stay-up to date on proceedings including the BWFCtv live stream, or Wood’s twitter and Instagram.
THE FORM GUIDE
THE WOOD
Previous six games (in all competitions and friendlies): –
Wimborne Town (H) | FAC4QR | 2-0 W
Solihull Moors (A) | VNL | 0-1 L
Kings Lynn Town (A) | VNL | 0-3 W
FC Halifax Town (H) | VNL | 0- 0 D
Wrexham (A) | VNL | 2-1 L
Welling United (A) | PSF | 0-1 W
Wood hosted Southern Premier South side Wimborne Town in our recent fixture in the Fourth Qualifying Round of The Emirates FA Cup on Saturday at Meadow Park and advanced into the First Round Proper after Jamal Fyfield and Kabongo Tshimanga made their mark on the scoresheet to secure a 2-0 victory.
Despite the two second half goals to secure victory, Wood had several opportunities to put the game to bed early on, but failed to convert our chances. Notably in the first half, Fyfield came close from a corner but his thumping header narrowly missed the target followed by Kane Smith hitting the post from close range.
Strike partnership Shaquille Coulthirst and Kabongo Tshimanga both hit the woodwork early on in the second half but the deadlock was eventually broken in the 60th minute as Fyfield stormed through from the back and found himself on the rebound of Tshimanga’s denied shot to make it 1-0. Tshimanga then ensured that our name would be in the hat for Monday nights draw as he fired home in the dying embers of the game to make the final score 2-0.
Unfortunately for the Wood, Luke Garrard was forced into a change after 35 minutes as Zaine Francis-Angol felt a niggle in his hamstring. This saw the return of BW PASE Academy graduate Sorba Thomas. Thomas looked bright after his introduction to the game as he was making work hard for the Wimborne full back all afternoon. The youngster was rewarded for his efforts after he got the assist for Tshimanga’s goal as he raced down the line beating two men, and put it on a plate for his team mate to fire home.
THE CARDS
Previous six games (in all competitions and friendlies): –
Aldershot Town (A) | FAC4QR | 1-2 W
FC Halifax Town (H) | VNL | 2-2 D
Dagenham & Redbridge (H) | VNL | 2-0 W
Chesterfield (A) | VNL | 4-0 L
Weymouth (A) | VNL | 0-1 W
Solihull Moors (H) | VNL | 2-1 W
Woking currently sit at 4th place in the Vanarama National League and have lost just once out of their first six competitive fixtures in all competitions.
Despite being dealt with a difficult set of opening fixtures, the Cards have started the 2020/21 National League campaign in tremendous form as they have picked up 10 points from a possible 15 in their opening five league games.
On top of their impressive league form, like Boreham Wood, the Cards saw their names go into the hat for the Emirates FA Cup First Round Draw after they impressively came back from a goal behind to win 2-1 away from home against local rivals Aldershot Town.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
“THE DESTROYER”
JOSH CASEY
Casey began his career with rivals Aldershot Town in 2009 before moving onto Salisbury City and Bashley soon after.
The left back then signed for Kingstonian in 2013 where he enjoyed two seasons, helping his side reach the play-off semi-finals, prior to a move to Hampton & Richmond Borough in 2015.
Casey helped the Beavers reach the play-offs for three successive seasons but were unsuccessful in all three attempts as they pushed for promotion to the National League. He then joined the Cards in 2018 alongside manager Alan Dowson, and in the opening season with his new club, Casey finally tasted success in the National League South play-offs, in his fourth attempt in 2019, as they were promoted to back up to the National League.
Fans favourite and Card’s skipper Josh Casey has been a main stay for Dowson since signing in 2018 and is currently halfway through his two-year contract extension which he earned after the Cards gained promotion to the National League in 2019.
“THE PLAYMAKER”
KANE FERDINAND
Ferdinand began his professional career in 2010 at Southend United in League Two where he made over 60 appearances in two seasons.
His impressive performances in League Two attracted a lot of attention from League One and Championship clubs, but it was Peterborough who won the race for the signature of the promising Midfielder in 2012 where he made 32 appearances in his debut campaign at London Road.
Unfortunately for Ferdinand, his time at Peterborough looked as if it was coming to an end after he struggled to find his name in the first team squad meaning he would go out on loan to Northampton Town, Luton Town and Cheltenham Town before signing a permanent deal with then League One side Dagenham & Redbridge in 2015.
The Midfielder saw his time at the Daggers cut short due to lack of game time and moved onto East Thurrock United in the National League South midway through his first season at Victoria Road.
Just three months later Ferdinand put pen to paper and signed a deal with Woking, who were in the National League at the time. Ferdinand is currently enjoying his fifth season at the Laithwaite Community Stadium and has been forever present for Dowson and previous managers prior to his arrival as he has featured over 110 times for his side.
“THE FINISHER
SLAVI SPASOV
Spasov recently joined the Cards on a short-term loan deal from League One side Oxford United at the start of the 2020/21 campaign.
The young centre forward won young player of the year award for Oxford in 2019 and his highly thought after from many associated with the U’s.
Spasov made his senior debut in 2018 against Fulham in the EFL Trophy in 2019 where he scored a penalty in a 3-0 victory. He then went on to make his debut in the Football League against Bristol Rovers later that season.
Unfortunately for the youngster, in the season after his successful debut year, which was dubbed to be his breakthrough campaign, Spasov picked up an injury which meant his game time with the first team was extremely limited.
Spasov joined the cards in hope for regular first team football and at just 18 years old he has featured in all five of Woking’s opening league fixtures.
LAST TIME WE MET
Boreham Wood 1-0 Woking
Saturday 30th November 2019
Meadow Park, Vanarama National League
The Wood started brightly and took the lead in the 15th minute with a superbly-worked goal from strike duo Tshimanga and Marsh.
Woking clawed their way back into the game and their second-half performance probably deserved a share of the points, with Glen Rea unlucky to see his effort cannon down off the bar and away to safety.
In added time Woking suffered the further misfortune of having Jamar Loza sent off for a second yellow card.
PRE-MATCH WORDS
STAY HOME, STAY SAFE
LIVE STREAM
Unfortunately, no fans will be allowed to attend this fixture, however, you can watch the game live by purchasing our BWFCtv Match Pass for just £9.99. You will receive the live stream, match commentary and a complimentary e-programme, too – BUY YOURS HERE
RADIO
You can also keep up to date with the match via BBC Three Counties Radio.
LIVE UPDATES
Alternatively, you can keep up with the action via our Twitter and Instagram pages, where there will be regular updates throughout the course of the match.
Instagram: @boreham_woodfc
Twitter: @boreham_woodfc
OUR CLUB. OUR TOWN. OUR COMMUNITY.
Match Preview written by Joe Karadzas (Press Assistant)
