Barnet v Boreham Wood
Saturday 2nd January 2021, 5.20pm
The Hive, Vanarama National League
Live on BT Sport 1
THE CONTEXT
Wood kick start the new year with the short trip to the Hive where we match up local rivals Barnet in the Vanarama National League.
The Bees’ last outing came on December 19th when they travelled to National League South side Dorking Wanderers in the 3rd Round of the Buildbase FA Trophy but crashed out of the competition with a 3-1 loss in Sussex.
Whereas Wood’s last fixture was nearly three weeks ago before COVID cases and symptoms in opposing camps from our last three opponents saw back-to-back-to-back games postponed. However, the last match we saw the Wood continue their winning form in front of fans at Meadow Park for the first time since February 2020 as we beat Aldershot Town 3-2 thanks to an 87th minute winner from our very own Sorba Thomas.
THE FORM GUIDE
THE WOOD
Previous six games (in all competitions): –
Aldershot Town (H) | VNL | 3-2 W
Notts County (A) | VNL | 0-1 W
Hartlepool (A) | VNL | 1-2 W
Canvey Island (A) | FAC | 0-3 W
Altrincham (H) | VNL | 0-1 L
Bromley (A) | VNL | 1-1 D
Our recent fixture was filled with excitement from the get go which left the returning Wood fans far from disappointed as Sorba Thomas stayed composed to grab the winner in the 87th minute causing the North Bank to erupt.
Wood went two goals ahead thanks to goals from Kabongo Tshimanga from the spot and Gus Mafuta, who scored his third goal in as many games.
Shots defender Shadrach Ogie pulled one back for his side halving their deficit heading into half time.
In attempt to deal with an inviting cross from the Shots winger Harrison Panayiotou, Jamal Fyfield inadvertently scored in the wrong net meaning the score was level with 35 minutes left to play.
The in-form Sorba Thomas then popped up with a deserved winner for the Wood when he stayed composed and took it around the Shots keeper and passed it into an empty net.
Luke Garrard’s side come into this fixture on the back of four consecutive wins in all competitions, leaving us amongst the most in form sides in the Vanarama National League.
THE BEES
Previous six games (in all competitions): –
Dorking Wanderers (A) | FAT3R | 3-1 L
Chesterfield (A) | VNL | 6-0 L
Stockport (H) | VNL | 1-2 L
Wealdstone (H) | VNL | 0-0 D
FC Halifax Town (A) | VNL | 5-2 L
MK Dons (H) | VNL | 0-2 L
The Bees come into this fixture having not won a game in any of their previous 9 fixtures in all competitions.
With a recent reshuffle of the pack at Barnet at management, Peter Beadle vacated the Manager’s post at the Hive and former England goalkeeper Tim Flowers was appointed. Flowers will be hoping to kick start 2021 in a new vein with a derby victory tomorrow.
The Bees have struggled immensely with their defensive duties this season and have conceded the most goals (32) out of all the 23 sides in the National League.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
“THE DESTROYER”
HARRY TAYLOR
Harry Taylor started his career within the Chelsea youth academy, joining the West London Club’s youth set up in 2005, though he was released by the Club just prematurely of signing scholarship terms in 2012.
The versatile defender then joined Barnet alongside his brother Jack after his release from the Blues and has gone on to become a consistent performer at the Hive in recent seasons.
After graduating from the Barnet Academy in 2014, Taylor opted for loan moves with Hampton & Richmond and Staines Town in search for experience in senior first team football.
Taylor has been a mainstay in the heart of the Bees side over the previous two seasons, whether playing in central midfield or operating as a defender.
“THE PLAYMAKER”
BEN FOX
Ben Fox started his senior career with Burton Albion, signing his first professional contract with the Brewers in 2016.
After a host of loan moves, including to Tamworth, Gateshead and Solihull Moors, Fox broke into the first team at the Pirelli Stadium during the 2018/19 season featuring 36 times in all competitions in what was his breakout campaign at the Football League level. Devastatingly though, the following pre-season in July 2019, Fox suffered an ACL injury which would rule him out for over 8 months, couple this with the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, Fox hadn’t played competitive for well over a year ahead of the 2020/21 season.
One of Tim Flowers’ first actions as Bees Manager was to bring in Fox on loan, and the decision paid dividends with a debut goal in the Buildbase FA Trophy against Dorking Wanderers despite losing.
“THE FINISHER”
INIH EFFIONG
Former BW PASE Academy graduate Effiong has featured for 17 clubs in his senior career following starting out at St Albans City and breaking into their first team.
At the start of the 2009/10 campaign Effiong join us at Boreham Wood on youth team terms, but quickly progressed into Ian Allinson’s first team and featured 15 times across all competitions that season.
However after just a season with the Wood, Effiong returned to Clarence Park and he impressed for the Saints scoring 14 times in 41 appearances at Conference South level, earning himself a move back to Meadow Park the very next season.
Effiong’s second spell at Meadow Park did not quite go to plan and resulted in loan spells with Hitchin Town and Chesham United.
After spending time with several clubs in Scotland and within the English Non-League pyramid, including Biggleswade Town, Woking and Ross County, Effiong signed for Dover Athletic in 2018.
Two prolific seasons with Dover saw Effiong notch 30 goals in 80 appearances, which earned him a move into the Football League with Stevenage. Since his arrival at Broadhall Way during the summer of 2020, Effiong has gone onto feature nine times for the Boro this season, before signing on loan with the Bees on a one-month deal.
LAST TIME WE MET
Barnet 2-2 Boreham Wood
Tuesday 3rd March 2020
The Hive, Vanarama National League
Former Wood captain Callum Reynolds gave the Bees the lead in the 12th minute in emphatic fashion with a volley from the edge of the box into the top corner.
Despite a poor first half performance, Wood really started to pile of the pressure in the second half and were rewarded with a Kane Smith equaliser in the 60th minute. Matt Rhead laid off Smith at an acute angle, but Smith struck the ball hard and low past Scott Loach in the Bees goal sending the travelling Wood Army into raptures.
Not long after Wood took the lead over their local rivals through talisman Tyrone Marsh. After a scramble inside the Barnet 18-yard box, the ball fell kindly to Marsh, who found himself in space in the Bees penalty area and finished well.
Agonisingly, Wood surrendered their goal advantage with just 10 minutes to play at the Hive. A Cheye Alexander cross found danger man Paul McCallum just outside Wood’s 6-yard box, who controlled and span expertly before dispatching his finish past Nathan Ashmore into the bottom right hand corner of the Wood goal to level the scoring, 2-2. Wood left the Hive disappointed not to take all 3 points after a dominating second half performance.
PRE-MATCH WORDS
STAY HOME, STAY SAFE
LIVE STREAM
Unfortunately under tier 4 restrictions, this fixture will be played in a behind closed doors environment. However, the game will be live on BT Sport 1 with coverage starting from 5pm.
LIVE UPDATES
Alternatively, you can keep up with the action via our Twitter and Instagram pages, where there will be regular updates throughout the course of the match.
Instagram: @boreham_woodfc
Twitter: @boreham_woodfc
OUR CLUB. OUR TOWN. OUR COMMUNITY.
Match Preview written by Joe Karadzas (Press Assistant)
