Match Preview
Hartlepool United v Boreham Wood
Saturday 23rd November 2019, 3:00
The Super Six Stadium, National League
On Saturday, Boreham Wood travel to The Super Six Stadium where we match up against 14th placed Hartlepool United in the Vanarama National League.
In their recent fixture, Hartlepool drew 2-2 on the road against 22nd place Ebbsfleet United, with both goals coming from the Pools Gavan Holohan.
Whereas, the Wood came away with all three points against Maidenhead United after we beat them 2-1 at Meadow Park.
THE CONTEXT
It’s 13th vs. 14th this Saturday in the Vanarama National League and with just a single point separating the two sides, it’s set up to be a real close match up.
Boreham Wood hosted Maidenhead United at home on Saturday and after a whole host of late drama, we managed to secure the victory, scoring the winner in the 88th minute.
The Wood broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute via talisman Kabongo Tshimanga, however we could only hold onto the lead for 10 minutes until the Magpies equalised. Maidenhead broke emphatically from a Wood corner kick, before Ilesanmi brought down substitute Ibra Sekajja in the Wood penalty area. Sekajja brushed himself off to take the spot kick and coolly stroked it away in the bottom right hand corner past Wood stopper Ashmore. 1-1.
Despite Wood missing a penalty just minutes later after Joe Ellul was adjudged to have handled in the box and subsequently dismissed for a second bookable offense, Justin Shaibu grabbed an important late winner for the Wood, meaning Luke Garrard saw his side rise three places in the league standings to 13th.
On Saturday Hartlepool took on Ebbsfleet United, and despite being 2-0 up with 72 minutes on the clock and Fleet being down to 10 men, the Pools couldn’t see the game out conceding two late goals meaning they would have to settle for a point.
Against 10 men for the whole of the second half, the odds were in the away sides favour to hold onto the lead after being two goals to the good, but it wasn’t meant to be, meaning Hartlepool are now without a win in their previous three games in the National League.
HARTLEPOOL UNITED RECENT FORM
After a disappointing draw against league strugglers Ebbsfleet United on Saturday, Hartlepool United sit 14th in the Vanarama National league, just one point behind Boreham Wood.
Despite not picking up a win in their previous three league games, Hartlepool have lost just once in their previous seven in all competitions, proving to be a difficult side to beat.
Pool have proved a difficult side to beat in recent weeks, which is in large correlation with the appointment of manger Dave Challinor. After eight years at AFC Fylde he was the man behind the great success at the club, as they got promoted three times in Challinor’s first six seasons, two of which being as champions.
Hartlepool secured their place in the 2nd Round Proper of The FA Cup in their game prior to Ebbsfleet on Saturday, after they emphatically beating a strong Yeovil Town side 4-1 away from home.
HARTLEPOOL UNITED PLAYER TO WATCH
Gavan Holohan, Midfielder
Gavan Holohan has been in fine goalscoring form in recent games for the Pools, after the brace in his last game meant he’s scored four in his last four games in all competitions.
The 27-year-old Irishman has contributed with important goals for his side this season, scoring five goals in 15 games, an impressive statistic for a midfielder with a 1 in 3 goals to game ratio.
Prior to signing for the Pools at the start of the 18/19 campaign, Holohan spent four seasons playing in Ireland where he featured for four different clubs including Cork City, Galway United, Waterford and Drogheda United, warranting himself a move to National League side Hartlepool United.
LAST TIME WE MET
Hartlepool United 4-0 Boreham Wood (Saturday 16th Februrary 2019, National League)
Hartlepool came firing out the blocks as the better side in the opening exchanges and took an early lead after Nicke Kabamba opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a header across goal.
A man of the match performance from the Pools offensive midfielder Josh Hawks saw him then score two quick fire goals in seven minutes to extend his sides advantage to three goals. Quickly giving struggling Wood a mountain to climb if we wanted to get anything from the game.
However things went from bad to worse in the latter stages of the encounter as Kabamba then added salt to the Wood wounds, scoring his second of the game with just two minutes to play, which saw the Wood winless streak extended to nine games.
IN FOCUS: JUSTIN SHAIBU
The 22-year-old Brentford loanee scored the winner for the Wood in our previous home game against Maidenhead United on Saturday and is our player ‘in focus’ for this Saturday’s match preview against Hartlepool United.
Shaibu was vital last season for Boreham Wood, as he was our top goal scorer, netting 13 times in all competitions.
Prior to last season’s spell at Meadow Park, Shaibu spent six months and the second half of the 17/18 campaign at League One outfit Walsall, playing 14 times.
With forward pairing Kabongo Tshimanga and Tyrone Marsh starting the season in superb goal scoring form, with 12 and 9 goals respectively, Shaibu has struggled for minutes so far this campaign. However, after influential performances from the bench, the forward warranted himself a start against Maidenhead United, although in a deeper offensive midfield position, and has proved his worth scoring the winner in the dying embers of the game.
MATCH DAY INFORMATION
Ticket Information
Online in advance. Online ticketing website can be found by clicking here.
You can print off your ticket as an e-ticket and simply arrive at the turnstile, or alternatively there is a postage option, or the option to collect from the Ticket Office if you do not have access to a printer.
Main ticket office. The Main Ticket Office will sell tickets to away fans by cash and card.
On the turnstiles. The away turnstile will accept cash payments only.
Away Day Travel
Minibus will leave Meadow Park at 8am.
There will also be a free breakfast once again laid on by the Chairman for all those supporters making the long journey north.
Costs are as follows: –
£35 Adults
£25 Under16’s
£5 discount will be applied for season ticket holders.
Anyone interested in booking a seat please contact grant.bwfc@outlook.com or call 07703 658 554.
Match Preview written by Joe Karadzas
