Chelmsford City v Boreham Wood
Saturday 24th July 2021, 3.00pm
The EMG Inspire Stadium, Pre-Season Friendly
Match Preview written by Aaron Bennis (BWFC Media Assistant)
THE CONTEXT
This Saturday, Wood return to pre-season action with a trip to the Melbourne Stadium to take on National League South side Chelmsford City.
The Clarets were unable to complete their previous campaign owing to the cancellation of the season in February 2021, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on lower league clubs.
Wood on the other hand were fortunate enough to finish their season, ending it in 14th and will be keen to rise up the league ahead of the upcoming campaign.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
“THE DESTROYER”
DAVE WINFIELD
Centre-half Dave Winfield has re-joined the Clarets after featuring ten times for the club during the 2019/20 season. Coming through the ranks at Aldershot Town, Winfield is a tough tackling centre half with plenty of pedigree in the lower leagues of English football. Over 100 appearances for the Shots between 2004 and 2010 saw him win promotion to League Two before leaving the club upon the expiry of his contract.
He signed for recently relegated Wycombe Wanderers in the summer of 2010 and helped the club to promotion back to League One in his debut season with the Chairboys. A successful three years was followed by a less successful singular season with Shrewsbury Town, ending with relegation to League One before he signed for York City at the end of the 2013/14 season. 51 appearances and a loan spell with AFC Wimbledon later, he decided to drop to the National League after leaving York in the shape of Ebbsfleet United. Winfield captained the club to the National League South play-off final, scoring the winning goal to secured promotion to the National League.
The 33-year old enjoyed three fruitful years with the Fleet in which he helped them survive in the National League for two successive seasons as well as having a promotion attempt, appearing in a play-off semi-final defeat to Tranmere. Despite this, the summer of 2019 saw him join Chelmsford for a short first stint with the Clarets, playing just ten times. He left after just a season for Bromley but has returned to Chelmsford ahead of the 2021/22 National League South season.
“THE PLAYMAKER”
CHEZ ISAAC
Isaac came through the ranks at Watford after starting his youth career in the Hornets’ U18’s and U23’s sides. He spent time on loan at Tamworth in 2012 before leaving the then-Championship side on a permanent basis. A short journey east saw him arrive at Meadow Park where he made just one appearance for the Wood, before soon leaving for Braintree Town.
Isaac enjoyed more success in Essex, making over 150 appearances over four years. After leaving Braintree he had a brief stint in the National League with Woking before dropping to the National League South where he had an even briefer spell with Dartford. The 28-year old signed for the Clarets in October 2018 and has seen more success, being an ever-present at the Melbourne Stadium making 79 appearances and has extended his stay ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.
“THE FINISHER”
CHARLIE SHERINGHAM
Son of former England international Teddy, Charlie Sheringham has enjoyed a long career throughout the lower leagues of English football. He progressed through the Millwall academy set-up while his father was playing for the club before joining another of his father’s teams in Spurs.
After being released he had an unsuccessful trial with Bournemouth before having another for Ipswich Town, proving far more fruitful and the young striker was offered a one-year deal. Sheringham soon joined Crystal Palace’s reserves, impressing for both Kit Symon’s side and the first team in pre-season, with his fine form earning the youngster a professional contract. A brief loan spell with the Eagles’ MLS feeder club Crystal Palace Baltimore followed, but he left midway through the 2007/08 season without making a single senior appearance for the club.
Sheringham headed to Denmark for an eight-day trial with Fremad Amager, although the deal fell through at the last minute. It was from here that Sheringham began to carve out a career largely in the non-league. A move to Cambridge City saw him score six goals in just five league games, attracting the interest of league rivals Welling United where he became their top scorer with 26 goals. A further 17 goals after signing for Bishop’s Stortford in the same division enticed Conference side Histon to agree a loan deal. This proved to be unsuccessful however, with 15 goalless games and a return to the Conference South. He was able to rediscover his goalscoring form though after joining Dartford, with 30 goals in 46 games. This impressive form caught the eye of League One outfit Bournemouth, who announced the arrival of Sheringham on an 18-month deal nearly a decade after they rejected him. Unfortunately, his actual spell with the Cherries was almost as unsuccessful as his trial, making just six appearances due to a severe foot injury picked up against Brentford, a game in which he also scored his first and only goal for the club. He was released following their promotion to the Championship after spending another short loan period back at Dartford.
Spells with AFC Wimbledon and Ebbsfleet United followed along with loan spells with Salisbury United, Bishop’s Stortford and Hemel Hempstead Town, the latter of which he signed for permanently in 2017. A bizarre move to Bangladesh came about after a successful trial with Saif Sporting Club, finishing the season with six goals in ten appearances and helping them to qualification for the preliminary round of the 2018 AFC Cup. Sheringham soon came back to England with a short-lived return to Hemel Hempstead before arriving at Dartford for a third spell. He left the club after three successful years having spent the second half of the 2019/20 season on loan at Leatherhead and the following campaign on a six-week loan at Chelmsford. He has returned to the Clarets on a permanent basis and will serve as vice-captain for the 2021/22 season.
LAST TIME WE MET
Chelmsford City 3-4 Boreham Wood
Saturday 25th April 2015
Melbourne Stadium, Vanarama Conference South
A thrilling encounter between Chelmsford and Wood ended with the latter taking a crucial three points back to Hertfordshire.
Needing just a point to secure second place, it was a dominant affair by the away side. Lee Angol broke the deadlock after 15 minutes with a wonderful free kick having been hauled down just outside the penalty area himself, although this lead lasted just seven minutes as they were soon pegged back. A mix-up at the back between James Russell and Josh Hill gifted the Clarets an opportunity to make their first real chance of the game through a corner. Harry Hickford rose highest to meet the ball and bury a superb header past Russell for the equaliser. This briefly knocked the Wood out of their comfort zone, but fortunately it didn’t take long for their lead to be restored. Graeme Montgomery stepped over a free kick out on the right wing and curled a beautiful cross towards the far post, where Callum Reynolds was on hand to guide the ball past Tom Lovelock in goal with the slightest of touches to give Wood the advantage once again.
Half-time came and went and Wood were looking strong. Sam Cox won back possession in midfield and threaded a lovely ball through Chelmsford’s defence for Junior Morias to chase. With the Jamaican’s form there was always only going to be one outcome, slotting past the onrushing Lovelock to double their lead. With less than 20 minutes to go, the two goal cushion became one after Wood failed to deal with a cross from the right, allowing Rohdell Gordon to pull one back for the Clarets. Nerves began to increase both in the stands and on the pitch, something that wasn’t helped by what happened four minutes later. Substitutes Evans Kouassi and Leon Redwood combined with the latter seeing his name light up with glory; a spectacular 30-yard strike left Russell with no chance as Chelmsford finally levelled the score, much to the disappointment of the travelling Wood Army.
While everything seemed bleak with ten minutes to go, Montgomery made sure they left the Melbourne Stadium with more than what they came for. A cross from substitute Matty Whichelow was deftly met by Ricky Shakes into the path of Montgomery who slotted in what proved to be a crucial winner. Their quest for promotion to the National League was still going as they secured their path to the play-offs.
HOW TO WATCH
MATCH TICKETS
Match day tickets can be pre-purchased with the link below, but will also be available to purchase on the day.
LIVE UPDATES
Alternatively, you can keep up with the action via our Twitter and Instagram pages, where there will be regular updates throughout the course of the match.
Instagram: @boreham_woodfc
Twitter: @boreham_woodfc
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