MATCH REPORT: OLDHAM ATHLETIC (H)

Boreham Wood 0-0 Oldham Athletic
Mangata Pay UK Stadium, Meadow Park
26th August 3.00pm, Vanarama National League

n a thoroughly absorbing match where Boreham Wood gave their best performance of the season, they were made to settle for a 0-0 draw against Oldham Athletic at Mangata Pay UK Stadium Meadow Park.

The performance was even more remarkable, given the number of players, Boreham Wood had out injured. Luke Garrard was forced into making four changes to his starting line up with Cameron Coxe, David Stephens, Tyrone Marsh and Liam O’Neil starting instead of the stricken Erico Sousa, David Agbontohoma, Mo Sagaf and Charlie Owens.

The visitors were quickly out of the blocks and forced two corner within the first minute of the match, each of them dealt with well by the Boreham Wood defence. However, Wood had the first chance on fourteen minutes when Lee Ndlovu fired over the crossbar from the edge of the area. Wood should have taken the lead on twenty-eight minutes when Tom Whelan crossed the ball to Jamal Fyfield who picked out Cameron Coxe who somehow fired wide from close range. The Latics immediately went up the other end and James Norwood shot straight at Nathan Ashmore. Although Ashmore spilt it, he was just able to prevent it from crossing the line.

On thirty-seven minutes, had another good chance David Stephens fired wide from a tight angle following a Femi Ilesamni cross. Just before the interval Lee Ndlovu turned and struck the Oldham post with Latics keeper Matthew Hudson well beaten.

HALF TIME: BOREHAM WOOD 0-0 OLDHAM ATHLETIC

At the start of the second half, Femi Ilesamni went close for Wood but shot straight at Hudson when well placed. Oldham went close, on fifty minutes when Brennan Dickensen tested Ashmore, but the Wood keeper produced a good save. Five minutes later Coxe crossed in for Tyrone Marsh, but the Wood forward was off target with his header. Tom Whelan then had a chance but after some good work where he cut inside a Latics defender, fired straight at Hudson. Soon afterwards, a high ball into Ndlovu, was nodded into the path of Whelan who this time was off target, albeit from a tight angle.

On sixty-one Hudson produced an unbelievable save for Oldham after Kwesi Appiah made contact with an excellent Ilesamni cross. His header looked like going into the top corner before Hudson somehow kept it out. On seventy minutes, an equally good cross from Ilesamni was again headed towards goal by Appiah but this time he was just off target. Three minutes later a stinging shot by Oldham’s Brenna Dickenson was well save by Ashmore.

Wood thought they’d taken the lead on seventy-eight minutes when a Fyfield cross was brilliantly turned home by Ndlovu but his celebration was cut short when the linesman flagged for offside. Five minutes later, James Norwood went close for the visitors but was denied by an outstanding block from Fyfield as he was about to shoot. In the first minute off stoppage time Dan Gardner was denied by Nathan Ashmore from a free kick. Then Mike Fondop hit the underside of the bar and the ball bounced on the goal line but fortunately for Boreham Wood, Ashmore, was then able to gather the ball.

It was a thoroughly entertaining match where Luke Garrard will feel his team had enough chances to come away with all three points. Despite the volume of injures to his side, Garrard will be happy that his side performed so well against one of the favourites for the Vanarama National League, despite all the injury problems. He couldn’t have asked for anymore from his players. Hopefully Boreham Wood will have some of the injured players back for the game at Oxford City in just two days’ time.

FULL TIME: BOREHAM WOOD 0-0 OLDHAM ATHLETIC

By Brett Lewis

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