Boreham Wood v Sutton United
Friday 2nd April 2021, 3.00 pm
Meadow Park, Vanarama National League
THE CONTEXT
Boreham Wood host top of the table Sutton United in the Vanarama National League on Good Friday at Meadow Park.
In their recent fixture, the U’s drew 2-2 to promotion challengers FC Halifax Town however, Sutton United remained top of the table adding one more point to their 60.
However, Wood’s lastest fixture came nearly two weeks ago when they travelled to the EBB Stadium and came away with a point after the game ended in a 3-3 draw.
THE FORM GUIDE
THE WOOD
Previous six games (in all competitions): –
Aldershot Town (A) | VNL | 3-3 D
Notts County (H) | VNL | 2-2 D
Torquay United (H) | VNL | 0-0 D
Woking (A) | VNL | 0-0 D
Dagenham & Redbridge (A) | VNL | 2-2 D
Wealdstone (A) | VNL | 1-0 L
Nearly two weeks ago now Wood travelled to the EBB stadium where they settled for a point in a six goal thriller.
Although it was the home side with the opening chance it was Boreham Wood who took the lead after 13 minuets of play, with an excellent pass from Tyrone Marsh which found Kane Smith. Smith’s exquisite first touch enabled him to play the ball into the Shots area where Giles Phillips diverted the ball into his on net beyond keeper Ryan Hall.
In the first few minutes of the half, Miller went close for the hosts as did Marsh for Wood. Aldershot equalised on fifty-four minutes when Toby Edser scored. Corey Whitely then restored the lead three minutes later with a fantastic run and shot that gave Ryan Hall no chance at all. Three minutes later Kabs Tshimanga was fouled in the area by keeper Hall and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. Tshimanga despatched his penalty with aplomb to make it 3-1.
Josh Rees struck a fantastic volley beyond Nathan Ashmore to halve Wood’s lead on sixty-four minutes. Fourteen minutes later Aldershot equalised when Edser’s cross was nodded back across goal by Mohamed Bettamer to Josh Rees and with Nathan Ashmore already committed, the Shots captain had the easy task of putting the ball into an empty net for his second goal of the match and their equaliser to finihs the game 3-3.
Much to Wood’s disappointment as another dominant performance goes beckoning, we are now with just one win from our last 11 games.
THE U’s
Previous six games (in all competitions): –
FC Halifax (A) | VNL | 2-2 D
Bromley (A) | VNL | 1-3 W
Stockport (H) | FAT | 1-1 D
Chesterfield (A) | VNL | 0-1 W
Kings Lynn Town (A) | VNL | 0-1 W
Yeovil (H) | VNL | 2-1 W
In their recent fixture, the U’s travelled to Play-Off candidates FC Halifax Town and came away with a point after a 1-1 draw.
Prior to this draw, Sutton had won their last three away National League fixtures.
Sutton have been sat at the top of the table for nearly eight weeks, with their closest competition in Hartlepool who sit in second place currently four points behind, with the U’s having three games in hand.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
“THE DESTROYER”
LOUIS JOHN
Louis John was a member of the Sutton reserve and youth teams before earning himself a move to Football League. John was then sent out on loan and found himself back at Gander Green Lane making over 70 appearances for the club.
John Louis then joined Cambridge United in the summer of 2018. He returned to Sutton in November 2019, initially on loan before signing a permanent contract two months later, and recently made his 150th appearance for the club.
“THE PLAYMAKER
HARRY BEAUTYMAN
Experienced midfielder, Harry Beautyman has plied his trade both in the Football League and the National League, turning in performances of the highest quality in both.
Beautyman started his career with Leyton Orient but couldn’t break through into the first team so was sent out on loan to St Albans City and then Hastings United. Following two loan moves in two seasons, Sutton came calling for Beautyman, he made 81 appearances, scoring 21 goals.
With his first spell at Sutton over, Beautyman made the move to Welling United before heading to the Football League with Peterborough United and going onto play for Northampton Town and Stevenage Town.
The attacking midfielder rejoined Sutton in 2018 and has been a consistent performer in the National League since. Last season his seventeen goals from midfield saw him voted Club Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and Supporters’ Club Player of the Year, and earned himself a spot in the National League team of the season.
“THE FINISHER
ISSAC OLOAFE
Oloafe originally joined Sutton on loan in February 2020, making just five appearances before the season was curtailed due
to COVID-19.
Since then Oloafe moved on loan to St. Johnstone but was sharply recalled by Millwall after only making two sub appearances in Scotland. He then rejoined Sutton on loan and has enjoyed a brilliant season in front of goal and making the lives of his opponents difficult with his electrifying pace.
LAST TIME WE MET
Sutton United 2-0 Boreham Wood
Saturday 13th February 2021
Gander Green Lane, Vanarama National League
In an uneventful first half, the home side were dominant they threatened early on with a couple of corners with Isaac Olaofe heading wide of Nathan Ashmore’s goal after five minutes of play.
The usual threat of Tshimanga and Marsh upfront were sniffed out by the excellent United defence and Sutton took a lead after thirty-two minutes when Louis John finished well from a Rob Milsom corner.
On forty-nine minutes Sutton doubled their lead as Will Randall picked the ball up in his own half and ran at the Wood defence before unleashing a shot from the edge of the penalty area that gave Ashmore no chance. Luke Garrard shuffled his pack soon afterwards when he replaced Junior Morias with Matt Rhead, but the game unfortunately ended 2-0 bringing the Wood’s nine games unbeaten run to an end.
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 Day Pass for £9.99. You will receive a pre match show, the live stream, match commentary and an e-programme. Coverage will start from 2.30pm.
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
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