On a disappointing night at Mangata Pay UK Stadium Meadow Park, Boreham Wood succumb to defeat against Worthing, which is their second loss in the last three Vanarama National League fixtures. Temi Babaloua gave the visitors the lead in the first half before Lee Ndlovu equalised on seventy-three minute but a late Danny Cashman wonder goal secured all three points for the Rebels.
Ross Jenkins made one change from Saturday’s draw against Maidstone United with David Agbontohoma starting in place of the injured Josh Hare at right-side centre back.
Boreham Wood started on the front foot, putting together some nice moves with Erico Sousa, Tom Whelan and Mo Sagaf at the heart of it. Femi Ilesamni went close on five minutes, but his shot was well blocked by Rebels defender Joe Cook. On thirteen minutes some nice interplay between Sousa and Whelan nearly created a chance for Junior Dixon but Worthing keeper Chris Haigh did well to gather.
Two minutes later, the visitors took the lead with their first meaningful attack of the match. Temi Babaloua went on an excellent run outmuscling Bush before beating Nathan Ashmore at his near post. For a long period after the goal the visitors started to control possession. Babaloua attempted a carbon copy of his earlier goal on thirty-seven minutes, but this time Bush was equal to it.
HT: Boreham Wood 0-1 Worthing
Boreham Wood made two changes at half time with Charles Clayden replacing Femi Ilesanmi and Tyrone Marsh coming on for Mo Sagaf with the aim of injecting some more energy into the Boreham Wood side. For much of the second half, this seemed to work with Clayden causing all sorts of problems down the left and Marsh had a couple of good chances, too. His first effort went just wide on fifty-five and his second shot, a well struck volley was saved by Rebels keeper Haigh.
Worthing were still dangerous on the counterattack and Danny Cashman fired just wide on sixty-three minutes. Two minutes later, a great run from Clayden drew a foul from Tommy Willard just outside the penalty area. Marsh headed just wide from the resulting free kick with the goal gapping. On sixty-eight minutes Ndlovu just failed to get on the end of Marsh’s cross shot when a mere touch would have resulted in a goal. Five minutes later Wood got a deserved equaliser when Ndlovu finished well from a Cameron Coxe cross.
The visitors responded well and on seventy-five minutes a lovely flowing move ended with Willard shooting narrowly wide. Two minutes later Tom Whelan fired over with a well struck volley. On eighty-six minutes, Worthing got the winner when Harrison Smith and Danny Cashman combined well on the counterattack to travel the length of the pitch which culminated in Cashman applying the finishing touch. Wood huffed and puffed for the last few minutes and Junior Dixon headed wide with the goal at his mercy. Even six minutes of stoppage time wasn’t enough time for Boreham Wood to find an equaliser.
Boreham Wood were made to pay for some poor finishing and sloppy defending against a good Worthing side. It has been a disappointing recent run or form for Ross Jenkins’ side and he will want this to change on Saturday when Boreham Wood are away at Hampton & Richmond Borough.
FT: Boreham Wood 1-2 Worthing
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Sousa, Ilesanmi (Clayden 46 (Coxe 71)), Agbontohoma, Bush, O’Connell, Payne, Whelan (Abdulmalik 87), Sagaf (Marsh 46), Ndlovu, Dixon.
Subs not used: Mafuta.
Worthing: Haigh, Beard, Wills, Cook, Willard (Starkey 89), Spong (Bates 58), Cashman (Hutchinson 90+4), Babaloua (Smith 74), Rea, Black, Packham (Wheeler 67).
Subs not used: None.
Man of the match: Tom Whelan.
Match report written by Brett Lewis.
