Boreham Wood ran out emphatic 6-0 winners against Welling United in Luke Garrard’s first game back at Mangata Pay UK Stadium Meadow Park since his return to the club. Wood had six different scorers and ran the show from start to finish.
Luke Garrard made one change from last week’s FA Cup win at Eastbourne Borough with Charlie O’Connell starting instead of Josh Hare at the back.
Boreham Wood got off to an excellent start and created numerous chances in the opening exchanges. They nearly took the lead in the opening minutes when a Cameron Coxe cross was met by Tyrone Marsh who dragged his shot just wide. On ten minutes Tom Whelan struck the Welling post with a thunderous shot from outside the area. A minute later Coxe was played in by Whelan at the end of a flowing move, but he shot straight at Rhys Lovett in the Wings goal. From the resulting corner, Erico Sousa played an excellent pass to Jack Payne who finished superbly from outside the area to give Wood a deserved lead. Boreham Wood were in full flow now and continued to dominate possession. On nineteen minutes a lovely move involving Femi Ilesanmi, Sousa and Coxe ended with Whelan shooting just over the bar.
On twenty minutes Payne tried his luck from similar distance to the goal but was just off target this time. A minute later, Marsh was denied by Lovett in the Wings goal. On twenty-four minutes, Coxe went on an excellent run but was fouled in the area by Reece Grant. Referee Dan England had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and Sousa made no mistake from twelve yards to double Boreham Wood’s lead. Four minutes later Whelan stung the paws of Welling keeper Lovett with a well struck shot. On thirty-seven minutes, Wood added a third and what a goal it was. Charlie O’Connell played an excellent pass to Kwesi Appiah down the right who cut the ball back to Junior Dixon whose bullet shot struck the inside of Lovett’s post before crossing the line. Five minutes later, Lovett pulled off another outstanding save to deny Appiah whose header seemed destined to go in before the Wings keeper somehow got a hand to it. Just before the interval Chris Bush was off target with a header.
HT: Boreham Wood 3-0 Welling United
Before the second half started Wings Manager Rod Stringer made a quadruple substitution which was an indication of how he thought his players played in the first half. For a while, things did improve for the visitors as their subs had an impact. They had their first shot of the match on fifty-five minutes when Elliot Long fired over from outside the area. A minute later Wood made two substitutions of their own by introducing Gus Mafuta and debutant Jayden Richardson. Within a minute, they were both involved in a move that created a good chance for Whelan whose effort was saved by Lovett. On sixty-nine minutes, Long played in fellow substitute Anointed Chukwu who took his shot early and fired wide. Soon after Welling were reduced to ten men when Charlie Pegrum was given a second yellow card for simulation.
On seventy-nine minutes, Abdul Abdulmalik fired just wide for Wood immediately after his introduction. Three minutes later Wood added a fourth with the goal of the match, a lovely curling effort into the top corner by Gus Mafuta. Wood started to turn the screw and Abdulmalik went close twice more but each time was denied by excellent saves from Lovett. On eighty-five minutes Wood added a fifth when their corner was headed onto the post by defender Dave Winfield but Appiah was the quickest to react to tap in from close range. Wood weren’t done and three minutes later Abdulmalik added a sixth, and his first goal in a Wood shirt, after being played in by Kwesi Appiah. It was no more than the former Millwall forward deserved after being a constant menace since coming on as substitute.
It was a fantastic performance from start to finish for Luke Garrard’s men. The six different scorers and the impact made by all eleven starters and the subs indicate that this was a real team effort. The players seem to be buying into Luke Garrard’s methods. With Larkhall Athletic at home in the FA Cup next week, the Boreham Wood manager will want his players to continue this form.
FT: Boreham Wood 6-0 Welling United
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Coxe (Richardson 56), Sousa (Goddard 83), Ilesanmi, Bush, O’Connell, Payne, Whelan (Sagaf 56), Marsh (Mafuta 56), Ndlovu, Dixon (Abdulmalik 76).
Subs not used: None.
Welling United: Lovett, Burchill, Winfield, Mensah (Long 46), Donkor, Borg (Statham 30), Munns, A Grant (Andrews 46), Kennedy, R Grant (Chukwu 46), Taylor-Crossdale (Pegrum 46).
Subs not used: None.
Man of the match: Jack Payne.
Match report written by Brett Lewis.
