York City 1 – 1 Boreham Wood
Tuesday 21st February 2023
LNER Community Stadium, Vanarama National League
HONOURS EVEN IN NORTH YORKSHIRE
It was honours even in North Yorkshire, on Boreham Wood’s first trip to the magnificent LNER Community Stadium to play York City. With the score being 1-1 in each of the previous three matches between the clubs, it was no surprise that it was the same scoreline this time. First half goals from Adam Crookes for the hosts and George Broadbent for Boreham Wood were enough to give these two sides a point a piece.
Luke Garrard made one change from Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Halifax Town with Tyrone Marsh starting up front instead of Danny Newton.
First Half
Following a quite opening, Will Evans hit the York post on twelve minutes after the Minstermen defence failed to clear the ball after a Chris Bush throw in. The host showed their attacking intent three minutes later when Patrick McLaughlin played a lovely pass to Manny Duku who’s well struck shot went just wide of Nathan Ashmore’s goal. On nineteen minutes, an excellent pass from York’s Lenell John-Lewis picked out Alex Whittle, who’s thunderous shot looked like giving the hosts the lead, but he was denied by an unbelievable save from Ashmore. This was an even better save than anything he produced during that amazing performance against Chesterfield at the beginning of the month.
Buoyed on by these missed chances, the Minstermen started to dominate proceedings. On twenty-seven minutes Ollie Dyson went on a purposeful run and tested Ashmore from distance, but this time, the Wood goalkeeper had an easy save to make. Eleven minutes later York took a deserved lead. A long throw from Mark Ellis caused confusion in the Wood defence and Adam Crookes was there to slot the ball home. On the stroke of half time, Boreham Wood equalised against the run of play. Tyrone Marsh’s shot was parried by York goalkeeper Ethan Ross, straight into the path of George Broadbent who finished with aplomb to put the two teams’ level at the interval.
Second Half
The second half started with York, once again on the ascendancy and a good move involving Dyson and Ryan Fallowfield ended when Fallowfield’s cross was well gathered by Ashmore just as Duku was about to pounce. Whittle had a long-range effort off target for the hosts on fifty-eight minutes. Three minutes later, Femi Ilesamni’s shot was deflected into the path of Lee Ndlovu but his shot was off target. On sixty-eight minutes, John-Lewis had a shot well blocked by David Agbontohoma. Two minutes later, Duku shot wide when well placed. On seventy-four minutes a dangerous Mark Ellis throw in, found the head of Maxim Kouogun but Ashmore was there to make a comfortable save.
For the most part, the second half seemed to be a competition between Chris Bush and York City’s Mark Ellis as to who had the longest thrown and who could use the most towels!! Towards the end, Luke Garrard brought on Dennon Lewis, Zac Brunt and Danny Newton and they all added some much-needed impetus to the Wood side. In the first minute of added time, Newton should have clinched the three points for Boreham Wood when one on one with keeper Ross, but he struck his shot just wide of the post.
It was a disappointing performance overall from Luke Garrard’s men and it was probably the first match since Barnet away on Boxing Day where they have been second best. York City, buoyed on by their vocal crowd will feel they should have had the three points. However, with Newton’s miss at the end, Boreham Wood players and supporters will be thinking about, what might have been.
Although Boreham Wood have stretched their unbeaten run to nine games in the Vanarama National League, Luke Garrard will want to turn some of these draws into victories, starting with Scunthorpe United at home on Saturday.
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Sousa, Ilesamni, Bush, Evans, Agbontohoma, Broadbent, Rees (Brunt 81), Payne, Ndlovu (Newton 81), Marsh (Lewis 70)
Subs not used: Fyfield, Coxe
York City: Ross, Fallowfield, Crookes, Kouogun, McLaughlin (Kouhyar 83), Dyson, Whittle, John-Lewis, Pybus, Ellis, Duku
Subs not used: Hurst, Whitely, Duckworth, Tanner
Man of the Match: Chris Bush
OUR TOWN. OUR CLUB. OUR COMMUNITY.
