DISAPPOINTING FIRST DEFEAT
Solihull Moors 3-1 Boreham Wood
Saturday 18th September 2021, 3.00pm
Sportnation.bet Stadium, Vanarama National League
Boreham Wood succumb to their first league defeat of the season on a disappointing afternoon in the West Midlands where they never really got going.
Luke Garrard named an unchanged line up for the sixth Vanarama National League match running and it was good to see fit again Gus Mafuta available again and taking his place on the bench. The home side took the lead on eight minutes when a mix up between Will Evans and goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore allowed Joe Sbarra to take the ball around the keeper to coolly slot home to the delight of the home crowd. Ten minutes later Tyrone Marsh had a chance to equalise but struck his effort over when well placed. Wood started to enjoy a lot of possession over the next period of the match but created very little. However, on twenty-eight minutes Moors doubled their lead when another mix up at the back for Wood resulted in a goal for Danny Newton. Four minutes later Jamal Fyfield headed wide from a cross by Frankie Raymond. On thirty-five minutes Boreham Wood were back in it when Scott Boden played a delightful ball in for Jacob Mendy Mendy who finished well past Ryan Boot in the Moors goal for his first goal for the club. Wood were now in the ascendancy and Marsh was denied by an excellent save from Ryan Boot four minutes later. Just before half time Josh Rees shot over the bar when well placed.
The half time break seemed to come at the wrong time for Boreham Wood as Moors started the second period in control. Danny Newton increased their lead on forty-seven minutes with a well struck effort. Newton nearly scored again two minutes later but was denied by an excellent block from Will Evans. On fifty-four minutes Andrew Dallas produced a good save from Ashmore. Three minutes later Femi Ilesamni stung the paws of Ryan Boot in the Solihull goal. Ryan Boot then produced a terrific reaction save from a Scott Boden header. Joe Sbarra was then played in by Dallas for Moors before striking his shot wide. With four minutes left on the clock, Newton should have completed his hattrick but shot into the side netting. In the last minute, an excellent run and cross by Marsh was hit just wide by Boden.
It was a difficult afternoon for Luke Garrard’s men who were unable to recover from a couple of significant defensive errors in the first half and having got back into a game with a well worked goal, were undone by a killer goal just after the interval. The coachload of Wood supporters who didn’t arrive until the second half was underway are safe if the knowledge that they didn’t miss much before they arrived!!
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Ilesamni, Evans, Fyfield, Mendy Mendy, K Smith, Ricketts, Rees (Clifton 72), Raymond (C Smith 60), Boden, Marsh,
Subs: Stephens, Mafuta, Munns,
Solihull Moors: Boot, Cranston, Storer, Howe, Gudger, Sbarra (Ball 78), Maycock, Donawa (Williams 78), Dallas (Rooney 85), Preston, Newton,
Subs: Boyes, Maynard.
Star Man: Femi Ilesanmi
Match report written by Wood Army member Brett Lewis.
