STALEMATE AT MEADOW PARK
Boreham Wood 0-0 Chesterfield
Tuesday 26th January 2021, 7.45pm
Meadow Park, Vanarama National League
After a frantic encounter against an in-form Chesterfield side, Boreham Wood got their third league draw in a row and are now eight games undefeated in the Vanarama National League. Luke Garrard’s men were unchanged following Saturday’s impressive performance at Stockport County but were unfortunately not able to end their recent run of draws with a win.
In a scrappy first half of few chances, both defences stood firm although it was the away side who dominated possession and looked the more threatening side as Boreham Wood struggled to get a foothold early on in the game. The dangerous Joe Rowley had their best chance after fifteen minutes when he danced through the Wood defence but his effort from a tight angle went wide of Nathan Ashmore’s goal. On twenty minutes, in one of Wood’s rare attacks of the first half, the Spireites goalkeeper Adam Przybek spilt the ball but Kabs Tshimanga was unable to capitalise.
Chesterfield’s early dominance came to an end when Joe Rowley got injured and had to be replaced after twenty-seven minutes. Boreham Wood started to play better after that, with a chance from Junior Morias at half time when the ball was shot over the bar.
The visitors started the second half very well and looked the more likely to score. Substitute Liam Mandeville shot just wide from the edge of the area and the dangerous Akwasi Asante just failed to get on the end of a George Carline cross.
After fifty-six minutes Luke Garrard shuffled his pack and brought on Tom Champion and Corey Whitely to replace Zaine Francis-Angol and Keiran Murtagh. From here on Boreham Wood dominated the game and started to control possession. After seventy-two minutes Junior Morias thought he’d scored his first goal since his return to the club after finishing well following a delightful pass from Tom Champion. Unfortunately, the flag shortly followed for an offside call.
Luke Garrard brought Matt Rhead on for the injured Kabs Tshimanga and the striker was very effective against an excellent Chesterfield defence. However, Boreham Wood were unable to create any chances and after five minutes of stoppage time, referee Sunny Gill brought the evening to a close.
It was a battling performance from Boreham Wood against an inform Chesterfield side. Both defences were excellent and didn’t put a foot wrong in a game of few chances. Early on it looked like Wood would be happy with a draw. However after the double substitution, Wood looked more likely to snatch all three points.
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Smith, Francis-Angol (Champion 56), Fyfield, Pearce, Ilesamni, Ricketts, Murtagh (Whitely 56), Mafuta, Morias, Tshimanga (Rhead 84).
Subs not used: Huddart, Coulthirst.
Chesterfield: Przybek, Carline, Evans, Maguire, Rowley (Mandeville 27), Weston (Gunning 68), Asante, McCourt, Whelan, Hollis, Whittle.
Subs not used: Yarney, Dinanga, Smith.
Man of the Match: Jamal Fyfield.
Match report written by Brett Lewis (Non-League Paper & Wood Army member)
