THAT WAS FOR YOU, OUR TWO MICKY’S
Boreham Wood 3-2 Aldershot Town
Saturday 12th December 2020, 3.00pm
Meadow Park, Vanarama National League
In what was a fitting tribute to Micky Lennon and Micky Jackson, it was a late Sorba Thomas goal that secured all three points for Boreham Wood in a thoroughly entertaining encounter with supporters present at Meadow Park for the first time since February.
Boreham Wood were unchanged for the fourth match running, and it was a very bright opening period with Kodi Lyon-Foster who went close for the visitors after six minutes. In the ninth minute, a coordinated “There’s Only One Micky Jackson” chant by the Wood faithful rang out at Meadow Park, and was shortly followed by the lively Tshimanga who nearly gave Boreham Wood the lead, but an excellent near post save from Brad James in the Shots goal kept it scoreless.
Soon after, Mohamed Bettamer brought Boreham Wood’s Jamal Fyfield down in the penalty area and referee Robert Massey-Ellis had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Tshimanga who missed his previous penalty against Dagenham and Redbridge made no mistake this time and gave Boreham Wood the lead.
After twenty two minutes Gus Mafuta doubled Boreham Wood’s advantage. Brad James saved well from Tshimanga only for the ball to rebound to the former Hartlepool midfielder who finished well. At this point Wood had the lead and the Shots couldn’t get into the game. That changed in the 28th minute when Shadrich Ogie’s long range effort took a huge deflection off of Matt Rhead to wrong foot Ashmore bringing the score back to 2-1. This goal seemed to liven up the visitors as they started to take control of the game leading up to half time. Both Panayiotou and Edser went close for the visitors but neither troubled Nathan Ashmore.
The second half started in the same positive vein for the visitors as they got their equaliser after fifty three minutes of play when Bettamer’s excellent cross was turned into his own net by Jamal Fyfield.
After this, the home side started to take the initiative with an excellent run by Tshimanga. His effort sailed just over the bar, and was followed by a Sorba Thomas corner that should have been put away by Matt Rhead. Aldershot substitute Mike Fondop was then denied brilliantly by Ashmore in a one on one.
Just as the match looked like it was heading for a draw, Boreham Wood retook the lead. A ball over the top by Nathan Ashmore was excellently controlled by Sorba Thomas before he coolly rounded the Shots keeper James to slot the ball home sending the Wood Army into raptures. The joint celebration from players and supporters was extremely welcome, not just for the victory but because it had been so long since they had both been in the same place.
It was an excellent game of football to welcome supporters back. I’m sure both Micky Lennon and Micky Jackson would have liked what we witnessed this afternoon at Meadow Park . It was Boreham Wood’s third league win in a row which takes us up to tenth in the table.
A happy Boreham Wood manager, Luke Garrard, said “It was nice to get all three points and it was a gritty well drilled performance. The players are giving the club everything at the moment. It was great to have fans back in. They made a massive difference today.”
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Smith, Francis-Angol, Fyfield, Champion, Ilesamni, Murtagh (McDonnell 47), Mafuta, Rhead, Tshimanga, Thomas.
Subs not used: Coulthirst, Stephens, Woodards, Mingoia.
Aldershot Town: James, Lyons-Foster, Kandi, Rees, Rowe (Anderson 76), Bettamer, Panayiotou (Fondop 69), Edser, Phillips, Ogie.
Subs not used: Walker, Sendles-White, Nouble.
Man of the Match: Zaine Francis-Angol.
Attendance: 650
Match report written by Brett Lewis (Non-League Paper & Wood Army member)
