MATCH PREVIEW - ALDERSHOT TOWN (A) - Boreham Wood Football Club Official Website

Aldershot Town vs. Boreham Wood
Saturday 9th April 2022, 3.00pm
EBB Stadium, Vanarama National League

THE CONTEXT

This Saturday, Wood make the trip to the EBB Stadium to take on relegation threatened Aldershot Town.

The Shots sit down in 20th with just three points separating them from the relegation zone and are winless in nine including eight defeats, all they do have two games in hand on rivals King’s Lynn Town.

Wood extended their winless run to eight games with a goalless draw at Dagenham & Redbridge, but will be heartened by an improved display at Victoria Road last time out.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

“THE DESTROYER”
GILES PHILLIPS

American-born defender Giles Phillips first came to England when he joined QPR in 2017, having attracted interest whilst playing college soccer at Carthage College and then for FC Barrington USA. After two years in the Rangers’ academy, Phillips departed without a senior appearance to join Aldershot Town after loan spells with Wycombe Wanderers and the Shots, making a permanent switch to the latter in June 2021. He has been a constant figure in their backline and is approaching 50 appearances since his move to the EBB Stadium.

“THE PLAYMAKER”
TOMMY WILLARD

A product of the Shots’ academy, Tommy Willard began his career in the youth team of Southampton where a brief stint preceded a move to Barnsley’s Under-18’s. He progressed through the ranks at the Tykes before returning to Hampshire three years later, and broke into the first team after just a year in the youth team, and scored his first senior goal in a 7-5 pre-season win over Farnborough before notching his first goal in a competitive fixture when he opened the scoring of a crucial victory over Dover Athletic. The 21-year old has been a regular fixture in the Shot’s frontline, making 25 appearances in his debut season that has brought three goals playing off the left wing.

“THE FINISHER”
HARRY PANAYIOTOU

A graduate of the Leicester City academy, Harry Panayiotou impressed in the youth team and was named Fans’ Academy Player of the Year in 2012, making his senior debut on the final day of the 2011/12 season as a late substitute where he scored the winner in added time. Further Player of the Month and Player of the Season awards followed for the Under-21’s, with loan spells at Port Vale and Raith Rovers giving him exposure to regular first team football. He would be released from the Foxes at the end of the 2015/16 campaign and opted to drop into the non-league, enjoying spells at Barrow and Nuneaton Borough before a brief stint in Greece with second division side Aittitos Spata. A return to England brought his first spell at Aldershot Town, scoring four goals in 30 appearances in his debut campaign before bettering his tally to top score for the Shots with 12 goals from 37 appearances in 2020/21. A switch to Scottish Premiership side Livingston saw him agree a two-year deal, however his contract would be mutually terminated after just five months with the 27-year old making just a handful of appearances. Intending to come back to England, a subsequent return to the EBB Stadium followed for the Saint Kitts and Nevis international, agreeing an 18-month deal at the start of January.

LAST TIME WE MET

Boreham Wood 2-0 Aldershot Town
Saturday 28th August 2021
LV BET Stadium Meadow Park, Vanarama National League

The Wood made it two wins from two at the start of the season after Jamal Fyfield’s second half header was enough to secure all three points.

A quiet first half saw the hosts enjoy the better of the chances, with Kodi Lyons-Foster almost scoring an own goal after nine minutes when he deflected a Femi Ilesamni shot goalward, shortly before a goalmouth scramble needed to be cleared with some heroic defending on show. Scott Boden later on almost opened his Wood account but he was unable to connect with Tyrone Marsh’s cross, before Jayden Harris hit the post although he would be deemed offside anyway. The second half proved more entertaining with Ilesamni nearly replicating Lyons-Foster’s error from a Lewis Kinsella free kick before the left back tested Nathan Ashmore himself. Opposition keeper Mitch Walker would be called upon twice in quick succession to deny Boden and Jacob Mendy Mendy, but he would be beaten from the resulting corner of the latter as Fyfield rose highest to meet Frankie Raymond’s cross. The Shots were keen to find their equaliser with chances for Kevin Lokko, Ibrahim Akanbi and Toby Edser, but the Wood were able to hold out to confirm the victory.