by John Mead.
The result of this fixture will have a huge bearing on the fate of these two sides come the end of April. With a place in the Vanarama Conference Premier League at stake, three points for either side will go a long way to achieving that goal.
The Hawks currently find themselves in exactly the same position as the final League table last campaign, sitting one place outside the play offs on goal difference only. We, on the other hand are just eleven points short of that total, occupying top spot after two wins and a draw in our last three outings.
It is the time for mathematicians to pour anxiously over statistics on the terraces and in the boardrooms, whilst the Gaffer and his squad remain focused on the real job in hand on the pitch.
Home advantage should play a part, yet our visitors will relish going out and playing attractive football on one of the best playing surfaces in the League at this time of the year, something their own playing surface does not currently allow.
It is an intriguing end to the season, with four of the current top six sides the obvious favourites to extend their seasons via the playoffs. Some are looking over their shoulders, waiting for the form of a revamped Ebbsfleet United to improve. That looks increasingly less likely given the better form of the sides around them in the table. Hemel Hempstead seem to be timing their run well, Concord Rangers can, unlike the cash rich Fleet beat any side on their day, whilst in form Bath City would be expected to take out their frustrations on the rest of the League, should they fail to reach Wembley this weekend.
That leaves the big question unanswered, who will take the coveted title and take their place at the top table? Bromley are the side that can and will catch us at some stage, given their games in hand. Thereafter it is about which side can sustain the challenge. One thing is for sure, this is the most exciting time in the history of Boreham Wood Football Club and the town is slowly realising that.
The Hawks are undefeated this month, enjoying a fine run of results, after January produced a mixed bag with the visitors taking seven points from eighteen. Their main threat will be exciting winger Ben Swallow who has just won player of the month at the club three times in succession. Goals are coming from various outlets. JJ Hooper has thirteen to his name, whilst Bradley Bubb and Scott Donnelly both have eleven.
Lee Angol was knocked off the top of the leading scorer board midweek by Gosport Borough’s Justin Bennett, something he will be keen to address this weekend.
With so much at stake a large following is expected from our Hampshire visitors and we can only invite the townsfolk of Boreham Wood to come and join the growing faithful band of our very own Wood Army to cheer the boys to victory as we continue to live the dream!
Come On You Wood!
Saturday February 28th. Boreham Wood v Havant and Waterlooville, kick off 3pm.
