Boreham Wood v Stockport County
Saturday 4th September 2021, 3.00pm
Meadow Park, Vanarama National League
Match Preview written by Aaron Bennis (BWFC Media Assistant)
THE CONTEXT
This Saturday, Wood take on Stockport County at Meadow Park, looking to secure wins from all of their opening four games for the first time since their promotion to the National League in 2015.
County have started the season well, with one win, one draw and one defeat from the opening three games.
Wood have been one of the three in-form teams at the start of the season, joining Dagenham & Redbridge and Chesterfield at the top of the table with three wins from three.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
“THE DESTROYER”
LIAM HOGAN
A Salford-born central defender, Liam Hogan joined Stockport County in February 2020, signing on a two-and-a-half year deal from Salford City. After coming through the ranks at Stockport-based side Woodley Sports, he was picked up by FC Halifax Town in 2010 where he won promotion to the Conference North in his first season, going on to make 135 appearances over three seasons. His performances attracted the interest of League Two side Fleetwood Town where again he won promotion in his first season before spending time on loan at Macclesfield Town prior to a permanent switch to Tranmere Rovers and then Gateshead. He became club captain with the latter ahead of the 2016/17 season before moving back home to Salford with Salford City after a season. He was a crucial part of the Ammies’ recent rise through the leagues, being named Player’s Player of the Year in his first season as they won the National League North title before helping them lift the National League play-off trophy in 2018/19. He left the club last year having captained them to two promotions and making over 100 appearances. Like at both Gateshead and Salford, he was named as Stockport club captain ahead of the 2020/21 season, and during his first full campaign at Edgeley Park was voted the Supporters’ Player of the Season.
“THE PLAYMAKER”
JOHN ROONEY
The brother of former Manchester United and England captain Wayne, John Rooney has enjoyed an impressive career of his own in the lower leagues of English football. After joining the Everton academy at the age of six, he was released in 2002 and joined Macclesfield Town after six years with the Toffees, signing professional terms after a further six years with the Silkman. He spent two years with the senior team, playing 41 times for the club before leaving in 2010. After unsuccessful trials with Derby County and Huddersfield Town, Rooney left for America to join New York Red Bulls and then Orlando City in the MLS, after initial trials with Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers. He helped Orlando win the 2012 Regular season title before returning to the UK, joining Championship side Barnsley. He would go on to play for Bury after failing to make an appearance for the Tykes, spending just a year at Gigg Lane before signing for Chester City on an initial loan, where he would go on to play over 100 times. He moved to Wales to link up with Wrexham in the summer of 2016 and enjoyed a loan spell with Guiseley, with the deal soon being made permanent. After leaving Guiseley, he found success at Barrow where he helped them win the National League title in the 2019/20 season, scoring 19 league goals from midfield and being named National League Player of the Season. He would leave ahead of the 2020/21 season with his next destination being Greater Manchester, joining Stockport County on a three-year deal. He enjoyed a brilliant debut season with the Hatters, finished the season as joint-top scorer with 21 goals and was named National League Player of the Year for the second season running.
“THE FINISHER”
PADDY MADDEN
Now 31-years old, Paddy Madden became known for his prolific scoring record throughout his career in the Football League, with over 100 goals to his name whilst playing in League One prior to his move to Edgeley Park. Having started his career in Ireland with Bohemians, he was loaned to Shelbourne in 2009 where he made an immediate impression, gaining valuable first team experience. He first made the move to English football in January 2011 where he signed for League One side Carlisle United, before going on to enjoy an incredibly successful spell at Yeovil Town. A run of nine goals from 16 games during his initial loan spell with the Glovers convinced them to make the deal permanent, ending the season with 23 goals that included one in Yeovil’s play-off final victory against Brentford, to secure the League One Golden Boot. With Yeovil rooted to the foot of the Championship table and Madden struggling to recreate his League One form, he was placed on the transfer list and soon joined Scunthorpe midway through the 2013/14 season. Having dropped all the way to League Two, Madden found his form and confidence improve with his arrival having an immediate impact, helping the Irons finish second and secure promotion to League One with five goals during the second half of the campaign. This began one of the most successful periods in his career, as being back in his comfort zone of League One, he found his best goalscoring form again to fire home 16 goals in his first full season at Glanford Park, following up with another 23 the season after. He left the club in 2017, departing with his name written in Iron’s history forever with 60 goals that puts him tenth in Scunthorpe’s all-time top scorers list. His next destination was Fleetwood Town and the goals continued to flow. Madden hit 19 in each of his two full seasons with the Cod Army, with his totalled 43 league goals making him the highest goalscorer in their EFL history. After making 149 appearances for the club over three years, he dropped to the National League to sign for Stockport County in March 2021, going on to score seven goals in 15 appearances during the rest of the season.
LAST TIME WE MET
Boreham Wood 0-3 Stockport County
Saturday 24th April 2021
Meadow Park, National League
A disappointing afternoon ended in defeat at Meadow Park as Stockport County ran out 3-0 winners over Wood.
Although the visitors started the stronger of the two sides, it was Wood who went closest early on through Kabongo Tshimanga, but his close-range effort was blocked by Ash Palmer. Stockport were soon able to take advantage of their early form, opening the scoring after just 17 minutes through Palmer himself after he rose highest to get on the end of a pinpoint corner from James Jennings.
The broken deadlock seemed to settle the away side, going close to doubling their lead when Harry Cardwell found himself in behind to force a fine save from Nathan Ashmore. It didn’t take long for County to finally get their second though; John Rooney’s stunning strike just before the break was too much for Ashmore to keep out. Stockport took their impressive first half performance into the second, going close through Rooney again just five minutes into the restart. Wood continued to push for a way back into the game with Tshimanga and Jamal Fyfield both missing golden opportunities to halve the deficit, but it was eventually taken away from them just moments later.
A superbly-worked move saw Rooney, Paddy Madden and Macauley Southam-Hales link up on the right, with substitute Alex Reid getting on the end of the eventual pull-back from the former to fire home a third and kill the game off, sealing the victory. Wood were still determined to make it an uncomfortable finale with Ben Hinchcliffe needing to stay alert to keep out a fierce free-kick from Gus Mafuta late on as well as a Matt Rhead header in injury time, but they needn’t worry about any late drama. The four minutes of injury time soon came to an end, with County’s clean sheet secure as well as a valuable three points to take back to Greater Manchester.
PRE MATCH WORDS
HOW TO WATCH
MATCH TICKETS
All spectators are encouraged to pre-purchase their match tickets to avoid queuing and congestion upon entry into the ground. Tickets are also available to be purchased on the day via cash and debit/credit card.
Home supporters purchasing match tickets on the day should go to the club’s ticket office located in the main club car park, whereas visiting supporters can purchase match tickets on the day from their designated turnstiles.
Home Tickets (General Sale) – Click Here.
Home Tickets (Black Card Members) – Click Here.
Away Tickets (General Sale) – Click Here.
LIVE UPDATES
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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