WOOD GET THE POINT
Boreham Wood 1 – 1 Notts County
Tuesday 23rd November 7.45pm
The LV Bet Stadium Meadow Park, Vanarama National League
It was a deserved point for Boreham Wood in a well-contested encounter against a very good Notts County side. A first half goal from Ruben Rodrigues was cancelled out in the second period by Tyrone Marsh.
Luke Garrard made one change from Boreham Wood’s emphatic victory over Maidenhead United on Saturday with Frankie Raymond coming in for the injured Josh Rees. New signing James Comley took his place on the bench.
In a quiet first half, the visitors started the game very much on the front foot and enjoyed a lot of early possession, but Boreham Wood quickly got a foothold in the game and started to pin County in their own half. Tyrone Marsh had a chance on fourteen minutes, but his tame shot was easily gathered by goalkeeper Sam Slocombe. County then went up the other end and it was only some excellent defending from Jacob Mendy Mendy that prevented Frank Vincent from having a shot on goal. Jamal Fyfield and Scott Boden then both had good chances to open the scoring. On thirty-one minutes, it was the visitors who took the lead with their first foray into the Wood half for some time. From a pinpoint Callum Roberts free kick, Ruben Rodrigues produced a bullet header that gave Taye Ashby-Hammond absolutely no chance as it flew into the corner of his net. The goal spurred the visitors into life, and they started to dominate possession again. For the rest of the first period, it looked more likely County would add to their lead, but Wood held out till the interval.
If Luke Garrard has strong words with his side at half time, it had the desired effect. There was just more energy from the hosts and more purpose on the ball in the second period. Tyrone Marsh quickly clipped the County crossbar with a mishit cross. It was the introduction of Dennon Lewis on sixty-two minutes that really swung the match Boreham Wood’s way. With the former Wealdstone man causing havoc down the left hand side, it opened up the Notts County defence. Very quickly, Wood equalised. Some excellent play by Lewis as well as some good footwork from Mark Ricketts created a chance for Marsh who finished well past Slocombe in the County goal on sixty-four minutes. The next period of the match was played very much in the visitors’ half but as the match entered its final stages, County looked dangerous on the break. The final period was an interesting end to end battle where it looked like either side could snatch all three points. However, when referee Lewis Smith blew the final whistle, it was clear that a draw was the right result in a match between two excellent sides.
It was a very good point for Luke Garrard’s men, especially given the scoreline at half time and the mixed first half performance. There were many outstanding performances among the Wood side. David Stephens was a colossus at the back and the ageless Mark Ricketts was controlling the midfield, but Tyrone Marsh was the standout player. His work rate was immense, especially when he dropped deeper following Lewis’s introduction. Also, his goal salvaged a well-deserved point for Boreham Wood to maintain their unbeaten home record.
Boreham Wood: Ashby-Hammond, Evans, Stephens, Fyfield, Mendy Mendy, K Smith, Ricketts, Raymond, Mafuta (Lewis 62), Boden (Clifton 87), Marsh.
Subs not used: Green, Comley, Smith.
Notts County: Slocombe, Cameron, Lacey, Brindley, Taylor, Kelly-Evans, Palmer, Roberts (Mitchell 68), Vincent, Rodrigues, Wootton.
Subs not used: Brooks, Chicksen, Francis, Sam.
Star Man: Tyrone Marsh.
Match report written by Wood Army member Brett Lewis.
