MATCH REPORT – BARNET (H)

LOCAL DERBY STALEMATE

Boreham Wood 0-0 Barnet
Tuesday 20^th April 2021, 7.45pm
Meadow Park, Vanarama National League

Boreham Wood continued their unbeaten run against Barnet in six competitive matches but will be disappointed not to have come away from Meadow Park with all three points.

Wood made two changes from Saturday’s defeat at Yeovil with Krystian Pearce and Matt Rhead coming in for Tom Champion and Keiran Murtagh who both drop to the bench. The first half started off at a frenetic pace. Tomi Adeloye tried an audacious overhead kick after three minutes, but it went comfortably wide and Kabs Tshimanga was denied a minute later by Bees goalkeeper Aymen Azaze at his near post.

On thirteen minutes an excellent run and shot by Corey Whitely ended up stinging the hands of Azaze. The next chance came ten minutes later and was for the visitors but Ashmore produced a fantastic save to deny the dangerous Adeloye. Tyrone Marsh fired over when well place soon afterwards. Just before half time, Tshimanga looked like he was going to score but was denied by some dogged Bees defending.

Boreham Wood were the dominant force in the second half and the visitors didn’t create anything of note. Wood forced eight corners and had chances to win the game but Barnet, to their credit, held firm and were defensively sound. On sixty-one minutes a terrific pass from Femi Ilesamni played in Whitely but he shot high and wide from a good position. Matt Rhead somehow missed the target from a header when it looked like the net was going to bulge. A few minutes later Rhead had a harder chance but Barnet were able to clear. Tshimanga went close soon after but was denied again by Azaze in the Bee’s goal.

Boreham Wood didn’t have their shooting boots on today, unfortunately, and although they were the better side for most of this contest they just couldn’t put the ball in the net. Barnet to their credit kept going with some stout defending but offered very little upfront. Since their 5-1 defeat at Wealdstone on Easter Sunday they have been unbeaten in three games in what has been a wretched season for the club.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Smith, Fyfield, Pearce, Ilesamni, Whitely, Ricketts, Rhead, Mafuta, Tshimanga, Marsh.

Subs not used: Green, Stephens, Champion, Murtagh, Jallow.

Barnet: Azaze, Preston, McQueen, Kefalas, Taylor (Richards-Everton 88), Adeloye (Faal 75), Beard, Skeffington, Mason-Clark, Vaughan, Daly.

Subs not used: Callan, Nugent, McBurnie

Star man: Femi Ilesanmi.

Match report written by Brett Lewis (Non-League Paper & Wood Army member)