Boreham Wood 0 Millwall 2
Meadow Park 9th January 12pm
Emirates FA Cup 3rd round
Boreham Wood’s brave FA Cup run came to an end at the Third Round stage following a hard fought encounter against Championship side Millwall which ultimately resulted in a 2-0 defeat at Meadow Park.
Boreham Wood made two changes from their line up from the fantastic win at Barnet last week with David Stephens replacing the unavailable Tom Champion and the returning Junior Morias replacing Corey Whitely in the starting line up. The Wood stated the match in positive fashion with Kabs Tshimanga quickly on the attack until he was fouled on the edge of the Millwall area by Jake Cooper. The Lions defender received a yellow card for that challenge. Unfortunately Sorba Thomas free kick was well over the bar. The was as good as it got for Boreham Wood in the first half and the Championship outfit went on to dominate things.
Soon afterwards, the on loan Spurs forward Troy Parrott had a good chance for the visitors but dragged his shot wide. Kenneth Zohore then went close with a free kick for the Lions. Parrott again went close after nineteen minutes but shot wide of Nathan Ashmore’s goal. The Wood keeper then made a fantastic save to deny Tyler Burey as Millwall continued to knock on the door. On the half hour, the visitors deservedly took the lead when after a following a driving run into the box by Scott Malone, the Derby County loan player picked out Kenneth Zohore who calmly slotted past Ashmore to make it 1-0. Malone struck a shot over the bar soon afterwards. Boreham Wood were relieved to hear the half time whistle. Although the visitors had dominated, we were still well in the game.
Boreham Wood were vastly improved in the second half and started to take the game to Millwall more. Wood had a penalty shout turned down when Junior Morias got the better of a Millwall defender. Referee Benjamin Speedie correct decided not to point to the spot. After fifty minutes Nathan Ashmore had to be at his brilliant best to deny Jake Cooper. A minute later, what looked like a body check on Junior Morias by Cooper should have resulted in a second booking for Cooper but the referee somehow kept his cards in his pocket despite giving Wood a freekick. It could have been a different game if Boreham Wood were up against ten men for the final forty minutes of the match.
A couple of minutesb later, Matt Rhead should have equalised for Wood but blazed his effort over the bar. Millwall then went close twice through Parrott and substitute Tom Bradshaw. The visitors ended the tie as a contest when Shaun Hitchinson doubled their lead after heading home from a Malone corner. It was the left sided midfielder’s second assist of the match and the Lions were able to hold out for what proved to be a comfortable win. They will now go into Monday’s Fourth Round FA Cup draw and Boreham Wood’s run is over.
It was a brave effort from Boreham Wood but the gap in class showed in the end. Nevertheless, Wood were still in the tie until Millwall got there second goal and this is to the credit of Luke Garrard’s men.
A realistic Luke Garrard said after the match “We weren’t got enough to cause an upset but I’m proud of the team for their efforts. They have given the club and the supporters everything. We now have to concentrate on the league and having an FA Trophy run”
Man of the Match: Nathan Ashmore
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Smith, Thomas, Fyfield, Stephens, Ilesamni, Murtagh (Mingoia 86), Mafuta, Morias (Whitely 68), Rhead (McDonnell 86) , Tshimanga (Coulthirst 78)
Subs not used: Huddart, Woodards,
Millwall: Fielding, Hutchinson, Cooper, Zohore (Bradshaw 59), Malone, Pearce, Leonard, Woods (Thompson 78) McNamara, Parrott (Smith 80) Burey (Bodvarssom 59)
Subs not used: Biakowski, Wallace, Ferguson, Romeo, Bennett,
