WOOD SUCCUMB TO HATTERS DEFEAT
Boreham Wood 0-3 Stockport County
Saturday 24th April 2021, 3.00pm
Meadow Park, Vanarama National League
Boreham Wood succumb to defeat against high flying Stockport County in what was a disappointing performance against the Greater Manchester side. Wood made two changes from Tuesday night’s goalless draw against Barnet with Tom Champion and Keiran Murtagh coming in for Krystian Pearce and Matt Rhead who both drop to the bench.
Despite what would eventually happen, Boreham Wood made the early running. A strong run and pass by Kabs Tshimanga picked out Tyrone March whose shot was brilliantly blocked by Hatters defender Ash Palmer. The visitors started to show their intent on thirteen minutes when the dangerous Macauley Southam-Hales had an acceleration of pace before his dangerous cross was well cut out by Jamal Fyfield. Three minutes later, the visitors took the lead when a well-struck James Jennings corner was headed home by Ash Palmer. The goal ready settled Stockport down who then dominated from here on. On the half hour mark Harry Cardwell, forced a save from Nathan Ashmore but it was who Stockport doubled their lead two minutes later with a fantastically struck from John Rooney. From outside the penalty area it gave Ashmore absolutely no chance in keeping it out.
Boreham Wood needed a vast improvement in the second half and although they had quite a lot of possession in the second period, they created little until it was too late. On fifty minutes, great approach play from Southam-Hales played in John Rooney but just as he was about to pull the trigger, Wood captain Mark Ricketts did well to clear any danger. Nine minutes later Fyfield headed wide for Boreham Wood following a corner. On seventy-one minutes the Hatters made sure of the points with a third goal. Following some intricate approach play involving Southam-Hales and Rooney, substitute Ales Reid produced an excellent finish beyond Ashmore in the Wood goal.
The home side weren’t able to trouble Ben Hinchliffe in the Stockport goal until the last few minutes, he saved well from a well struck Gus Mafuta free kick and again in the second minute of the four added on when Hinchliffe produced a fantastic point blank save from a bullet Matt Rhead header.
Stockport were clinical and thoroughly deserved their victory against a deflated Boreham Wood side.
Stockport County: Hinchliffe, Hogan, Palmer, J. Jennings, Southam-Hales, Croasdale (Maynard 75), Rooney (Newby 86), Walker, Madden, Cardwell (Reid 59), Collar.
Subs not used: Fitzsimons, Minihan.
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Smith, Fyfield (Pearce 72), Champion, Ilesamni, Whitely, Ricketts, Murtagh (Rhead 63), Mafuta, Tshimanga, Marsh.
Subs not used: Green, Stephens, Jallow.
Star man: Kane Smith.
Match report written by Brett Lewis (Non-League Paper & Wood Army member)
