A late Tyrone Marsh goal was enough for Boreham Wood to start their Vanarama National League South season with a well-deserved three points in a match where they dominated.
It was the visitors who started the match on the front foot and they created the games first chance on two minutes when midfielder Sol Wanju-Smith outpaced Wood wing-back Charles Clayden before hitting his shot into the side netting. Two minutes later, Roman’s midfielder Jordan Tillson fired over from a free kick.
From then on, it was all Boreham Wood. On six minutes the home side had their first chance when a delightful pass from Mo Sagaf picked out Tyrone Marsh who then forced City keeper Harvey Wiles-Richards into a smart save. Three minutes later the Bath keeper produced an even better save, this time from Lee Ndlovu, but Wiles-Richards was then able react quickest to gather the rebound before Wood midfielder, Tom Whelan could tap in from close range.
Erico Sousa was causing Bath City all sorts of problems down Wood’s right side and in the space of two minutes, both Whelan and Ndlovu went close from his crosses. On thirty-one minutes some heroic defending from Bath debutant Zac Smith denied Sousa, the rebound fell to Ndlovu who was once again denied by a great save from Wiles-Richards. Unfortunately, Smith’s reward for such a good tackle was a worrying looking injury resulting in him being stretchered off.
The injury and the prolonged stoppage appeared to have an impact on the game for the rest of the first half, and Boreham Wood’s attacking threat was dampened. The visitors if anything, grew in confidence and started to enjoy more possession leading up to the break, although they were unable to get anywhere near Boreham Wood’s goal.
HT: Boreham Wood 0-0 Bath City
Three minutes after the interval the Romans had a half chance but Jordan Alves fired over the crossbar. Seven minutes later Wood’s Josh Hare also shot over from distance. Soon afterwards an excellent Sousa run left several Bath defenders in his wake, but his shot went narrowly wide. On sixty-four minutes Ndlovu headed narrowly wide from a Charles Clayden cross.
The introduction of Femi Ilesanmi and Junior Dixon from the bench added some impetuous to the Wood side and with ten minutes left on the clock they finally took the lead. An excellent run down the right from Sousa and a cross found Tyrone Marsh who finished with aplomb past Wiles-Richards in the City goal. Wood might have added to their lead in the final few minutes when substitute Johnny Goddard’s shot was cleared off the line by Joe Raynes.
It was a good opening day performance from Boreham Wood and a nice way to get the Ross Jenkins era off to a good start. Boreham Wood were dominant for almost the entire match and will feel they should have won by more than just the single goal. However, three points is three points!!
FT: Boreham Wood 1-0 Bath City
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Hare, O’Connell, Bush, Sousa, Payne, Whelan, Sagaf (Mafuta 90), Clayden (Ilesamni 74), Ndlovu (Dixon 71), Marsh (Goddard 87).
Subs not used: Abdulmalik.
Bath City: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Smith (Alves 34), Batten, Morgan, Wanju-Smith (Davies 72), Humphrey-Ewers, Tillson, Clarke, Wilson, Fisher (Sweeten 83).
Subs not used: Sardo.
Man of the match: Erico Sousa.
Match report written by Brett Lewis.
