MATCH PREVIEW – TORQUAY UNITED (H)

Boreham Wood host high-flyers Torquay United in the Vanarama National League on Saturday at Meadow Park.

In their recent fixture, the Gulls lost 1-0 to fellow promotion candidates Hartlepool which saw Torquay slip from top spot for the first time since the opening weeks of the season.

Whereas Wood travelled to Woking on Saturday and came away with a point after the game ended in a goalless draw.

THE FORM GUIDE

THE WOOD

Previous six games (in all competitions): –

Woking (A) | VNL |  0-0 D 
Dagenham & Redbridge (A) | VNL |  2-2 D 
Wealdstone (A) | VNL |  1-0 L 
Solihull Moors (H) | VNL |  2-2 D 
Bromley (H) | VNL |  1-1 D 
Altrincham (A) | VNL |  2-3 W 

In our recent fixture on Saturday, Wood travelled to Woking where the points were shared after the game ended 0-0.

The Cards nearly went ahead after just 2 minutes when Max Kretzschmar’s shot was denied by an excellent block on the line by Femi Ilesamni.

Wood then had a rare chance of their own just before half-time when Corey Whitley’s effort sailed past the Woking goal. The second half was more of the same with the hosts looking the likely team to break the deadlock, but Ashmore denied the Cards on several occasions.

The Cards had a great opportunity to grab the winner in the dying embers of the game, but Moussa Diarra headed just over Ashmore’s goal.

In what turned out to be a good point for Wood, the draw meant that we have drawn four of our last five games.

THE GULLS

Previous six games (in all competitions): –

Hartlepool (H) | VNL | 0-1 L
Woking (A) | FAT | 1-0 L
Solihull Moors (A) | VNL | 1-2 W
FC Halifax Town (H) | VNL | 2-3 L
Wealdstone (H) | VNL | 1-1 D
Southport FC (A) | FAT | 0-2 W

On their recent outing, Torquay United hosted Hartlepool and lost 1-0 which saw the Gulls slip out of top spot into third.

Despite the Gulls sitting 3^rd in the National League, they have experienced a recent dip in form and have won just once out of their previous five competitive fixtures.

The Gulls have scored the most goals (46) in the entire Vanarama National League this season.And only three sides have conceded less than their 25 goals this season, as the Gulls look to push for promotion into the Football League.

Gary Johnson’s sides recent decline in form included an exit in the Quarter-final of the Buildbase FA Trophy when they lost 1-0 to Woking.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

“THE DESTROYER”

BEN WYNTER

Wynter came through the youth ranks with Crystal Palace and signed his first professional contract with the Eagles in 2016.

Following his release from the Eagles, Wynter signed for National League side Bromley at the start of the 2017/18 campaign.

After one season with the Ravens, the Defender signed with Torquay and featured 40 times in his debut season at Plainmoor helping his side win promotion to the National League.

Wynter operates primarily as a right-back but has on several occasions offered his services as a central defender for the Gulls.

“THE PLAYMAKER”

ASA HALL

Asa Hall came through the youth academy at Wolverhampton Wanderers before signing for Birmingham City where he signed his first professional contract at 17-years-old.

Hall went on loans spells during his time at Birmingham to Football League sides Boston United, Ashford Town and Shrewsbury Town of League 2.

When his contract came to an end in in 2008, Hall signed for Luton Town and went on to make over 80 appearances before being released in 2010.

The centre midfielder then signed a two-year deal with League 2 outfit Oxford United but when his contract expired, despite making over 70 appearances, he opted to move on to re-join Shrewsbury Town.

He then spent time on loan at Aldershot Town and Oxford United before signing a permanent deal with Cheltenham town in 2014.

Prior to Hall signing for the Gulls in the summer of 2018, he spent periods at York City and Barrow.

The 33-year-old became the first Torquay captain to lift a championship in over 90 years when he helped his side win the National League South in the season of 2018/19.

“THE FINISHER”

SCOTT BODEN

Scott Boden came through the youth academy with Sheffield United and moved to Chesterfield in 2008.

The forward spent five years with the Spireites making over 100 appearances and spent time out on loan with Macclesfield Town and Alfreton Town.

Boden then signed a permanent deal with Macclesfield in 2013 and scored an impressive 18 goals in 40 games.

A season later, he signed for FC Halifax Town where continued his prolific goal scoring record which earnt him a move to League Two side Newport County.

After spending just one season with Newport, Boden made the switch to Scotland where he signed for Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

A move away from Scotland was imminent for Boden when he signed for Wrexham in 2017, and just a season later he re-joined Chesterfield for his second spell at the Proact Stadium.

During his second spell with the Spireites, Boden scored an impressive 28 goals in 50 appearances and has been brought into Torquay’s side on loan due to Danny Wright’s hamstring injury.

LAST TIME WE MET

Boreham Wood 0-4 Torquay United
Tuesday 19^th January 2021
Meadow Park, Vanarama National League

The score line going into the break was 0-0 after what was an uneventful first half.

However, Gulls captain Asa Hall broke the deadlock in the early stages of the second half when he volleyed home past Nathan Ashmore.

Wood then threw everyone forward in attempt to get back into the game but an onslaught from the visitors came in the final 10 minutes with the Gulls firing three goals past Ashmore in just six minutes.

The game ended 4-0 to Torquay which meant Wood were eliminated from the Buildbase FA Trophy.

STAY HOME, STAY SAFE

LIVE STREAM

Unfortunately, no fans will be allowed to attend this fixture,nor will there be a BWFCtv Stream. However, you can watch the game live on BT Sport 1 with coverage starting from 5pm.

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

OUR CLUB. OUR TOWN. OUR COMMUNITY.

Match Preview written by Joe Karadzas (Press Assistant) in association with LV BET.