Boreham Wood 2 Brentford XI 0
Mangata Pay UK Stadium Meadow Park
23rd July at 7:45pm
Pre-Season Friendly
Player of the Match: Erico Sousa
Boreham Wood ran out comfortable 2-0 winners against a Brentford XI, in what was a thoroughly impressive performance from Ross Jenkins’ men in their fourth match of the pre-season campaign. Two second half goals from Erico Sousa were the difference between the sides.
First Half
The match started at a fast pace with both side keen to play the ball around. The first chance of the game fell to Brentford’s Max Dickov on nine minutes, but his free kick was easily gathered by Nathan Ashmore in the Wood goal. A minute later, Tom Whelan’s fiercely struck shot went over the crossbar for Boreham Wood. Tyrone Marsh then struck the Bees crossbar twice in a matter of seconds on twenty-one minutes. Wood had another good chance on thirty-five minutes when Josh Hare’s effort was saved by Brentford keeper Marley Tavaziva following a lovely flowing move involving Chris Bush, Erico Sousa and Hare. Three minutes later, Jack Payne played a sloppy pass to Brentford’s Ashley Hay who found Isaac Holland who was unable to keep his shot down.
Second Half
Having been impressive in the first half, Boreham Wood upped the tempo even more in the second period and three minutes after the restart, they nearly took the lead. Mo Sagaf was able to take advantage of some sloppiness in the Bees defence and then played a neat one two with Jack Payne before his curling effort went narrowly over. Three minutes later, Marsh was played in by Johnny Goddard and just as he looked like shooting, he pulled it back to Payne whose effort was well blocked by Trialist B in the Brentford defender. On fifty-four minutes Sousa’s cross was met with a well struck volley by Tyrone Marsh but he couldn’t keep his shot down.
Ten minutes later, substitute Kwesi Appiah crossed the ball in for Marsh whose effort was blocked. On sixty-seven minutes, Wood took a deserved lead and what a goal it was. The dangerous Sousa ran at the Bees defence before laying the ball back to Appiah whose delicious backheel found Sousa again who finished well past Tavaziva in the Brentford goal. Eight minutes later, Wood added a second when Charles Clayden crossed the ball to Marsh’s who’s mishit shot was turned in by Sousa for his second. On eight-three minutes Clayden again played an inch perfect cross but Appiah was unable to get a touch on it.
It was a thoroughly deserved win in the end for Boreham Wood and it’s obvious that the players are buying into the style of football that Ross Jenkins wants to play. Like all pre-season games, the performance is more important than the result and it’s clear that the performances have got better with every game.
By Brett Lewis
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Ilesamni (Clayden 69), Hare, Bush (O’ Connell 59), Agbontohoma, Payne, Goodard (Coxe 69), Whelan (Appiah 59), Sagaf, Sousa, Marsh
Subs not used: Morley, Isaac
Brentford XI: Tavaziva, Shield, Trialist A, Headman, Holland, Agyel, Hay, Dickov, Trialist C
Subs: Trialist D, Trialist E, Matas Kilmas, Trialist F, Trialist G, Trialist H, Kerron Samuels
