Boreham Wood v Chelsea XI
Friday 15th July 2022, 7.00pm
LV BET Stadium Meadow Park, Pre-Season Friendly
THE CONTEXT
A third game in just six days sees the Wood welcome a Chelsea XI to the LV BET Stadium Meadow Park for the second season running, as they continue their pre-season campaign.
The Young Blues avoided relegation from the Premier League 2 by the finest of margins last season, but gained another crucial year of development nonetheless.
Wood’s hard work saw them grind out a draw against West Ham United last time out, following on from their narrow defeat to Brentford last week.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
“THE DESTROYER”
LEVI COLWILL
Born in Southampton, Levi Colwill is a graduate of the Chelsea academy having joined the Blues at Under-9 level after being scouted playing for City Central. He rose through the ranks at Cobham and joined Huddersfield Town on loan ahead of the 2021/22 season, making his professional debut for the Terriers in an EFL Cup match against Sheffield United. Despite never playing professionally before, the 19-year old helped the club reach the Championship play-off final with 29 appearances and impressed as he established himself as one of the best defenders in the second tier last season.
“THE PLAYMAKER”
HARVEY VALE
Academy Player of the Year winner Harvey Vale is a versatile attack-minded midfielder who joined the Blues from Fulham’s academy having been initially scouted while playing for local side Crowborough. The 18-year old enjoyed a memorable 2021/22 campaign as he started more games than anyone else in the development squad, as well as making five senior appearances after making his debut in the EFL Quarter-Final and featuring as a substitute for Romelu Lukaku in the FA Cup Quarter-Final. Along with his domestic achievements, he also capped off a fine season by captaining England at the Under-19 European Championships.
“THE FINISHER”
JAYDEN WAREHAM
Queens Park Rangers academy product Jayden Wareham joined Chelsea from Woking after impressing in a successful trial, with the Berkshire-born teenager enjoying a breakout into senior football in 2020. After leaving Loftus Road to join National League side Woking, he made his senior debut as a substitute against Sutton United to become the youngest player to feature for the Cards at the age of 16. He made 22 appearances in Surrey before making the move to Chelsea, and he scored some crucial goals in the back-end of the 2021/22 season as the development squad avoided relegation.
LAST TIME WE MET
Boreham Wood 1-0 Chelsea XI
Tuesday 3rd July 2021
LV BET Stadium Meadow Park, Pre-Season Friendly
A second half goal from Josh Rees was enough for the Wood to secure an impressive victory in their penultimate game of their pre-season campaign.
It was the hosts that began in the ascendancy with the opening exchanges mainly being played in the visitor’s half, with Rees forcing a brilliant save from Lucas Bergstrom after 12 minutes, but Chelsea hit back soon after when Harvey Vale sent a shot from distance straight at Nathan Ashmore. It was certainly a quiet first half, but Bergstrom would have to be at his best again to deny Tyrone Marsh midway through the half before his opposite number needed to be alert in order to tip Vale’s curling effort around the post. Some excellent interplay involving Rees and Kane Smith led to one last chance, as Kabongo Tshimanga’s effort was deflected wide on the stroke of half time.
The Wood began the second half much like the first, but this time were able to make it count, as Rees was there to meet Tshimanga’s cross with a bullet header to give them the lead. Lightning almost struck twice when Marsh had a similar chance moments later but he could only direct his header over the crossbar. Thierno Ballo came close to finding an equaliser on the hour mark when he dragged his shot wide, before rounding off a competitive match by clipping the bottom of Ashmore’s post with a rasping strike from range.
HOW TO WATCH
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