Boreham Wood 1 – 1 Wrexham AFC
Saturday 22nd October 2022
LV BET Stadium Meadow Park, Vanarama National League
A POINT APIECE AGAINST WREXHAM
It was the Wood who struck first in an action-packed first half as Danny Newton gave the Wood the lead when he got on the end of Dennon Lewis’ square ball, before firing a wonderful strike past Mark Howard into the far corner, but Wrexham levelled the scoreline just minutes into the second half when Aaron Hayden tapped home from close range following a corner.
The Red Dragons enjoyed plenty of possession in the second half and dominated proceedings, but were unable get the finishing touch on a whole host of chances as it ended honours even.
A draw with Wrexham sees the Wood keep up with their opponents although they have dropped to fourth due to Chesterfield’s victory over Bromley, but the games continue to come thick and fast with a trip to Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday night.
Luke Garrard named an unchanged XI from the remarkable 5-3 victory over Wealdstone last time out which saw the Wood progress to the FA Cup First Round, and returned to league action with plenty of intent early on.
There was little to separate the two sides during the opening stages, but it was the hosts who seemed to get into better areas as they looked to break the deadlock.
It was Wrexham who produced the first genuine chance of the match though as Elliot Lee broke away after Anthony Forde evaded a challenge from George Broadbent, allowing the former Luton Town man to lead the charge before sending a tame effort into the grateful arms of Nathan Ashmore.
This begin a brief spell of half chances as both sides grew into the game. Newton saw a volley deflect back off his own teammate following a corner minutes before Paul Mullin found space on the edge of the box to shoot, with Ashmore able to comfortably gather.
Action began to liven up as the game approached the half-hour mark. The Wood went ever so close to taking the lead when Cameron Coxe did brilliantly to breach the Wrexham defence and get a shot away, with the ball deflecting into the path of Newton who’s follow-up was blocked.
Wrexham then went up the other end and created déjà vu, with an extremely similar chance that saw Mullin’s strike from a tight angle blocked before Anthony Forde’s follow-up was cleared.
And bodies were put on the line again with Wrexham determined to deny their opponents, with Coxe and Jack Payne having successive shots blocked once again.
The deadlock would soon be broken though with the Wood striking first. Lewis did well to beat Forde on the left flank and pull the ball back to the edge of the box where Newton was waiting to stroke it into the far corner.
The hosts had the momentum after taking a deserved lead, and went close to doubling their advantage when Broadbent sent a brilliant switch over to Femi Ilesamni, who delivered a low cross towards Newton who was inches away from getting the crucial touch, but he was unable to divert the ball goalward before the referee brought a close to an eventful first half.
HT: Boreham Wood 1-0 Wrexham AFC
Wrexham were fired up and came out of the blocks quickest in the second half, determined to level the scoreline against their promotion rivals and saw a golden chance go just minutes into the half. Mullin did well to round Ashmore and fire goalward from a tight angle into the open goal, but Ilesamni was perfectly positioned on the line to head the ball over the crossbar.
The Red Dragons took advantage of the subsequent corner though, with the ball being cleared as far as Mullin on the byline who squared the ball into the path of Hayden to tap home and seal the equaliser.
The hosts thought they had restored their lead almost immediately when Ilesamni found Tyrone Marsh in space on the left-hand side who cut the ball back to Newton in the box, but the flag went up for offside on Marsh to cut the celebrations short after Newton had fired the ball into the bottom corner.
This urged the visitors on and smelling blood, looked to pile the pressure on. Ollie Palmer received the ball just a few yards out before going down in the box under a challenge from David Stephens, but the referee waved away his appeals much to the annoyance of the Wrexham faithful behind the goal.
Wrexham had the momentum, with Mullin drilling a powerful delivery across goal with nobody there to divert it home. James Jones later had a strike whistle over the crossbar from distance before Palmer fired a shot that curled inches past the post, with Broadbent also sending a free kick over the crossbar as a rare Wood chance went amiss.
Mullin then controlled a high ball before sending a shot straight at Ashmore as Wrexham looked to take the lead.
With the clock ticking into additional time, the visitors continued to make life difficult for their opponents with Jordan Davies sending a free kick into the danger area but the offside flag saved the Wood before a Wrexham player could tap it goalward.
The Wood remained resilient, and saw one last throw of the dice as they looked to nick a winner with Broadbent sending the ball forward, but it was overhit before the referee brought a close to proceedings.
FT: Boreham Wood 1-1 Wrexham AFC
Boreham Wood: Ashmore; Evans, Stephens, Ilesmani; Coxe, Broadbent, Payne, Brunt (Rees 79’), Lewis; Marsh (Elliott 72’), Newton
Subs Not Used: Ricketts, Williams, Andrade
Goal: Newton 31’
Wrexham AFC: Howard; Tunnicliffe, Tozer, Hayden; Forde, Jones, Young, McFadzean (McAlinden 79’); Lee (Davies 88’); Mullin, Palmer
Subs Not Used: Watson, Dalby, O’Connor
Goal: Hayden 53’
Star Man: David Stephens
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