Notts County 1 – 1 Boreham Wood
Tuesday 10th January 2023
Meadow Lane, Vanarama National League
GREAT POINT AT LEAGUE LEADERS
An excellent defensive performance from Boreham Wood ensured a well-deserved point at league leaders Notts County on a wet night at Meadow Lane.
Luke Garrard made three changes from the 1-1 draw in the FA Cup on Saturday. Chis Bush came in at centre half with Femi Ilesamni switching to left wing back instead of Dennon Lewis who dropped to the bench. Josh Rees replaced Zak Brunt in midfield and Tyrone Marsh played instead of Danny Newton up front.
First Half
It was the hosts the had the better of the opening period and they created the first chance after four minutes when any excellent pass by Cedwyn Scott picked out top scorer Macauley Langstaff who was denied by a brilliant save from Nathan Ashmore. County continues to dominate possession and great work from Ilesamni denied Aden Nemane a goalscoring opportunity on eleven minutes. County were unable to create much more during the first period despite their pressure.
Boreham Wood then created a couple of good chances to take the lead. On twenty-one minutes, Josh Rees was played through by Jack Payne but Sam Slocombe, in the County goal, did well to deny him. Three minutes later, Josh Rees took advantage of some panic in the County defence and played in George Broadbent, whose shot struck the Magpies post. On thirty-two minutes, County captain Kyle Cameron headed straight at Ashmore following a Ruben Rodrigues corner. Four minutes later, Langstaff shot just wide for the hosts.
Wood grew in confidence as the rain came lashing down, disrupting County’s flowing football and were very much in the ascendance, leading up to half time. On forty-three minutes, Ilesamni cut in from the left and shot just over with his right foot. A minute later Boreham Wood took the lead. Marsh played the ball into Lee Ndlovu who’s shot was saved by Slocombe before Broadbent slotted home.
Second Half
County started the second half in control like they did during the opening stages of the first half. On fifty minutes Adam Chicksen forced an excellent save from Ashmore. Cameron then shot straight at the Wood keeper. On fifty-six minutes the host got a deserved equaliser. John Bostock’s pinpoint cross was headed in superbly by Cedwyn Scott. With the Nottingham crowd now more vocal, and their side on the front foot, it looked like it was a matter of time before they took the lead. Thanks to a very well organised Boreham Wood side, this didn’t happen.
Three minutes later Marsh forced a good save from Slocombe from a free kick as Wood looked to regain the lead. The match then followed the pattern of the first half with the hosts controlling possession bit they were restricted to a couple of long range shots that went high and wide. Ironically, the next good chance fell to Will Evans who clipped the top of the crossbar with a header on seventy-seven minutes. Cameron shot wide for the host three minutes later. On eighty-six minutes Chris Bush’s thrown in, found Josh Rees in on goal but some heroic defending from Aden Baldwin denied him. Three minutes later Broadbent played in substitute Dennon Lewis who fired wide.In added time the hosts had a great chance to win it when Aden Baldwin headed wide when well placed.
It was an excellent away performance from Boreham Wood against a very good side. Despite hardly touching the ball in the first twenty minutes, they defended resolutely and grow into the game and in the end, had the better of the chances overall. Luke Garrard will be hoping for the same kind of performance in the FA Cup Third Round replay at Accrington Stanley this time next week
Notts County: Slocombe, Brindley, Cameron, Nemane, Baldwin, Palmer, Scott, Rodriques (Austin 72), Chicksen, Langstaff, Bostock
Subs not used: O’Brien, Mitchell, Francis, Balrami
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Ilesamni, Coxe, Bush, Evans, Agbontohoma, Rees, Broadbent, Payne, Ndlovu (Newton 69), Marsh (Lewis 69), Payne
Subs not used: Williams, Sousa, Brunt
Man of the Match: Femi Ilesamni
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