Dartford vs Boreham Wood
Saturday 23rd July 2022, 3.00pm
Princes Park Stadium, Pre-Season Friendly
THE CONTEXT
Fresh off their first victory of pre-season, the Wood head to Kent to take on Dartford as the 2022/23 National League season grows ever closer.
The Darts have faced difficult tests so far in pre-season with defeats to Charlton Athletic, Millwall and Barnet along with a draw against Bromley, and will be looking to end that run ahead of their National League South campaign.
Wood’s win over Hitchin Town on Wednesday means they are off the mark in pre-season, and will be keen to start building a run as they reach the business end of their preparations.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
“THE DESTROYER”
KEIRAN MURTAGH
Former Wood midfielder Keiran Murtagh joined Dartford in June 2021 after leaving Meadow Park following a successful four-year stint. A Charlton Athletic academy product, Murtagh broke out in 2007/08 whilst playing for Fisher Athletic and won Young Player of the Year in his only season at the club, with Yeovil Town eventually bringing the much sought-after youngster to Huish Park. Two years in Somerset came to an end when he rejected a new contract in favour of a move to Wycombe Wanderers, but found opportunities limited and would join Cambridge United after a loan spell at Woking, where he would return for a second loan during the 2011/12 season. Further stints at Macclesfield Town and Mansfield Town preceded a third loan at Woking where he would finally settle and make the move permanent, playing over 100 times for the Cards. He would make the switch to Boreham Wood after three years at Kingfield and enjoyed an extremely successful stint that saw him help the club to two separate play-off challenges, before leaving at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.
“THE PLAYMAKER”
SAMIR CARRUTHERS
Versatile midfielder Samir Carruthers played in the youth teams of Cambridge United and Arsenal before picked up by Aston Villa, where he rose through the ranks to feature three times for the first team after making his debut aged 19. A loan spell at MK Dons saw him gain experience, making the switch permanent ahead of a successful 2014/15 campaign that saw the Dons promoted to the Championship for the first time. He would depart Milton Keynes with 137 appearances to his name to join League One leaders Sheffield United, but he struggled for regular stints before a loan move to Oxford United was cut short due to injury, and he was subsequently released from Brammall Lane. A return to Cambridge came to fruition in 2019/20 but chances were once again at a premium, and he dropped into the non-league with Hemel Hempstead Town. Two years with the Tudors saw him make 20 appearances, before calling Dartford his home having initially joined on loan, making the move permanent ahead of the 2022/23 season.
“THE FINISHER”
DAVIDE RODARI
Swiss-born forward Davide Rodari played youth football for Inter Milan, Novara and Pro Verceli having grown up in Italy, later returning to Switzerland to join Lugano. He moved to England in 2016 to join the Eastbourne Borough academy before making the switch to Hastings United where he would break out, playing more than 50 times over a four-year spell. His most impressive feat in East Sussex will have been his eight-goal haul in a 12-3 victory over East Grinstead Town, and his form during his time at the Pilot Field convinced League Two side Crawley Town to sign him on a two-and-a-half year deal. He made 13 appearances in his debut season before enjoying loan spells at Worthing and Dorking Wanderers, scoring four goals in five games for the former before helping the latter achieve promotion to the National League. The 23-year old will hope for similar success in the 2022/23 campaign having joined Dartford on an initial six-month loan spell and has impressed in pre-season with his finishing ability, opening his account against Barnet last week.
LAST TIME WE MET
Boreham Wood 3 – 1 Dartford
Saturday 2nd October 2010
LV BET Stadium Meadow Park, National League South
A first victory of the 2010/11 campaign was secured thanks to a brace from captain Mario Noto against fellow promoted side Dartford, lifting the Wood off the bottom of the table.
A cagey start saw chances limited for both sides early on, with Greg Morgan testing Andrew Young in the Darts goal for the first real chance of the game, with Noto firing wide a first of many shots he would have. Noto would go close to scoring a cracker with a drive from outside the box that forced Young into a fingertip save, before chances for Joe Benjamin and Tom Bonner went amiss at the other end. The visitors would go ever so close as the grew into the game, but were unable to take advantage of opportunities for Charlie Sheringham and Danny Harris.
Half time came at an opportune moment for the Wood and they took advantage by taking the lead just 25 seconds after the interval, as Bonner inadvertently headed home a Greg Morgan cross while attempting to cut out the delivery. The Wood were keen to keep hold of control with another Noto strike flying inches over the crossbar. This would just be a rehearsal of what was to come though, as the Wood skipper stepped up to convert a penalty after the referee deemed Junior Dadson’s effort to have struck the arm of Adam Gross. They would add a third after a fine counter attack led by Leon McKenzie that saw him travel 40 yards before picking out Noto who slotted home with a sweet low drive. Dartford continued to miss the target with James White and Sheringham, although the latter did find Lee Noble to smash home a consolation goal in stoppage time as the Wood came out comfortable winners.
HOW TO WATCH
MATCH TICKETS
AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE ON THE TURNSTILES
Adults £10
Concessions (65+) £
13-17 year olds £5
5-12 year olds £2
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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