Sterling Raid Seals Point
Boreham Wood 1-1 Bromley
Match Report By John Mead
Raheem Sterling-Parker came of age with his first ever goal for the senior side in the 93rd minute to steal a point away from The Lillywhites.
It was a backs to the wall performance from Ian Allinson’s who continued the theme of frustrating sides with their defensive play, whilst struggling to make an impact at the other end of the field.
In terms of chances the visitors should have been home and dry before one of the most ridiculous refereeing decisions ever led to Mario Noto heading for an early shower after 71 minutes. His straight red card for jumping for a challenge with Dean Pooley will leave referee Mr Jerden with a lot to think about when he visits the footage. It was part of a quite bizarre refereeing performance that ruined the game for both sets of players and supporters. Allowing the game to flow first half, Mr Jerden sensibly explained himself to both Captains on occasions before emerging after the interval to embark upon a petty card waving display that was at best questionable.
As a team the visitors showed why they are sitting second in the table with a far superior attacking force than that of Wood. Defensively they were also compact and faultless giving Wood little hope of an end to their league goal drought. A Donovan Simmond’s shot that failed to trouble Lewis Carey after sixty minutes was their first effort on target.
Yet it was a quite superb effort defensively that heralded the precious point. Luke Garrard was faultless as the last line of defence on numerous occasions, whilst James Russell dazzled in front of the camera with some truly agile saves. Sam Cox again showed a tenacity in the middle of the park sticking a foot in and wrestling possession to break up the flow of a well oiled Bromley side who have perfected the art of finding a route to goal this season. Ben Swallow’s deflected dipping drive after 48 minutes was their twenty fourth goal in ten starts.
The game flow remained stable from start to finish. Joint leading scorers Bradley Goldberg and Pierre Joseph-Dubois both fired early warning shots just wide for the visitors. At the other end an overcooked Mark Jones cross from the left gave Carey something to be briefly concerned about as it dropped just over his crossbar.
A quite superb through ball from Swallow played Goldberg through down the left who pulled back a cross into the path of Ben Waldren who forced Russell to dive low to his left.
Charlie O’Loughlin conceded a needless free kick just outside the area, allowing Waldren to curl his dead ball effort just wide of a post. Just before the break the pressure on the Wood goal intensified.
Jacob Erskine on the counter attack played Swallow through who struck a fine shot from the right bound for the top left hand corner of the net, only for Russell paw the effort over the bar with a superb display of agility.
Wood then had Cox to thank who scrambled an Erskine effort off the line, before Goldberg’s goalbound drive took a deflection which Russell was on hand to deal with.
The much needed half time whistle should have served as a buffer for Wood, yet three minutes after the restart the breakthrough came. The impressive Swallow cutting inside from the right before hitting a screaming rising drive that O’Loughlin with the feintest of headers deflected over the already airbound Russell and into the net.
Russell was then forced to tip an Erskine effort to safety before Graeme Montgomery failed to find his range for Wood after a good move involving Billy Lobjoit and Simmonds.
Noto’s dismissal followed before the visitors seemingly tired of the prowess of Garrard and Russell at the back, hoping that their overall dominance would count towards a victory.
As the game entered stoppage time another defeat loomed . Sterling-Parker on as a 70th minute substitute tangled with Rob Swaine as he attacked down the left. It was a last and rare chance for Wood and they did not disappoint. Lobjoit swung over the free kick and Sterling-Parker outjumped the Lillywhite’s defence at the far post heading home to salvage a precious point.
Team: Russell, Jibodu, Jones, Cox, O’Loughlin, Garrard, Noto, Sogbanmu (Montgomery 45), Simmonds (Ball 87), Lobjoit, Whichelow ( Sterling-Parker 70).
Subs not used: Longden, Courtnage.
Bookings: O’Loughlin, Jones, Noto (red card 71),
Goals: Boreham Wood: Sterling-Parker 90+3.
Bromley: Swallow 48.
Wood Man Of The Match: Luke Garrard.
