Yeovil Town 1 – 1 Boreham Wood
Saturday 24th September 2022
Huish Park, Vanarama National League
POINTS SHARED IN SOMERSET
The Wood have been in top form on the road this season, and continued their unbeaten away record as goals at the end of the first half from Alex Fisher and Jack Payne secured a 1-1 draw.
Yeovil took the lead shortly before half time after Nathan Ashmore produced a good save to deny Gime Toure’s effort from distance, which looked to be going wide, however he was unable to hold onto the ball which afforded Fisher the opportunity to pounce and open the scoring from close range, however their lead lasted just a few minutes as Payne found himself free at the back post to net the equaliser at the start of added time. Yeovil continued to enjoy the better of things with Ashmore an incredibly busy man throughout the game, but the Glovers were unable to find a way past the Wood stopper for a second time as it ended honours even at Huish Park.
Luke Garrard made just one change to the side that drew at Gateshead last time out, as Danny Elliott came in to replace Lee Ndlovu up front. There was also places on the bench for academy graduate Jude Murphy along with new signing George Broadbent.
The early stages were certainly slow with little difference between the two sides, but the game quickly began to liven up once it got beyond the opening ten minutes. Sam Pearson was played in behind and looked to be through on goal, but Payne produced an excellent last ditch challenge to deny him, shortly before the Wood had a chance themselves with Elliott blasting over from close range after being picked out by Femi Ilesamni.
The Glovers began to dominate proceedings and forced Ashmore into a number of crucial saves. After 18 minutes, Toure found himself one on one with the Wood stopper and attempted to round him, but the stand-in captain was equal to it. He would soon be tested with a handful of half chances from the hosts, twice denying Charlie Wakefield along with Matt Worthington from distance as they looked to break the deadlock.
Ashmore impressed for much of the half and was important at keeping Yeovil at bay, but the Glovers’ opener is something he won’t want to see again, as he made a good save to deny Toure’s initial effort but it bounced right back into the danger area, where Fisher was waiting to meet the rebound and put his side ahead.
Yeovil would have surely thought they would go into the break with a deserved lead, but it wasn’t all plain sailing as the Wood popped up late on to change the half time team talks with a unexpected equaliser. Following some good work from Dennon Lewis, the ball flew to the back post to meet Payne’s late run into the box, netting his first goal for the club to send the two sides into the break level.
HT: Yeovil Town 1-1 Boreham Wood
With such a short-lived lead and with such little time remaining of the first half, it was very much a sucker-punch for the Glovers who wouldn’t want to remain level for long. It took them just six minutes into the second half to test Ashmore once more as Lawson D’Ath tried his luck with a fierce effort from distance, but the Wood stopper was behind it with an acrobatic save.
He would be forced into another good save minutes later as the hosts went even closer to restoring their lead. Worthington picked out Pearson who was denied once again from close range, with Dion Kelly-Evans meeting the ball first to clear with Fisher ready to pounce on the loose ball.
Fisher would soon have his chance at doubling his tally for the afternoon, but Ashmore denied him from point blank range following a corner before the ball was cleared.
The tension in the ground began to increase as the game reached its business end, and Yeovil refused to give up hope of re-establishing their lead, as Fisher would be denied once again after his free header went straight at Ashmore.
The same could be said for Ben Richards-Everton, who’s effort from the edge of the box was comfortably gathered by the Wood number one, who proved to be a thorn in the side of Yeovil throughout and prevented them from taking all three points.
FT: Yeovil Town 1-1 Boreham Wood
Yeovil Town: Smith, Williams, Reckord, Richards-Everton, Worthington, D’Ath, Fisher (Linton 80’), Toure, Pearson (Scrimshaw 80’), Wakefield, Staunton
Subs Not Used: Hunt, Craske, Buse
Goal: Fisher 39’
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Kelly-Evans, Ilesamni, Evans, Stephens, Rees (Broadbent 61’), Marsh, Elliott (Newton 54’), Lewis, Payne, Brunt (Williams 85’)
Subs Not Used: Murphy, Stevens
Goal: Payne 45+1’
Star Man: Nathan Ashmore
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