TSHIMANGA ENDS DRAWING SEQUENCE
Boreham Wood 3-1 Wealdstone
Saturday 10th April 2021, 3.00pm
Meadow Park, Vanarama National League
Two second-half goals from Kabongo Tshimanga sealed all three points for Boreham Wood against local rivals Wealdstone and in turn ended a run of eleven league games without a victory.
Wood were unchanged from last Monday’s draw against Hartlepool United and the first half was dominated entirely by Boreham Wood, but it was only poor finishing and excellent goalkeeping that ensured the side were level going into the break. Wood’s top scorer Kabs Tshimanga went close after three minutes but dragged his shot wide.
Two minutes later, a Gus Mafuta free kick was parried by George Shelvey in the Stones goal, who somehow smothered the rebound from Corey Whitely. On twelve minutes, Wood thought they had taken the lead as Kane Smith’s rasping shot was well saved by Shelvey before Tyrone Marsh put the ball in the net but the offside flag went up. On thirty-four minutes following a mesmerising solo run by Corey Whitely, his effort went wide when it looked easier to score. A minute later a lovely one-two between Whitely and Marsh resulted in Whitely shooting just wide again.
The visitors were better after the break and were on the front foot for the first few minutes of the half. However, Boreham Wood were still the dominant force and always looked the more likely to score. The dangerous Tshimanga had the first real effort of the half after fifty-seven minutes but shot straight at Shelvey. Four minutes later an excellent pass by Femi Ilesamni found Kane Smith who put the ball in the net for Boreham Wood but again, it was ruled out for offside. On sixty-seven minutes an Ilesamni piledriver rattled George Shelvey’s crossbar and soon after it was Nathan Ashmore who saved well from Danny Green’s long range effort.
On seventy-three minutes Boreham Wood took the lead with Jamal Fyfield who got on the end of a free kick and buried his header into the corner of Shelvey’s goal. The lead was nothing more than the home side deserved. On eighty-one minutes Wealdstone’s Jacob Mendy Mendy shot over when well placed. However, just a minute later, the former Carshalton Athletic player made no mistake in an identical move involving Dennon Lewis. Mendy played the ball onto his right foot before planting his shot into the bottom corner of Ashmore’s goal. For Boreham Wood who seemed to make a recent habit of drawing games from winning positions, it must have looked like déjà vu.
However, three minutes later Tshimanga put the home side back in front by smashing his shot into the roof of the net. Two minutes later Tshimanga should have scored again when one on one but was denied by Shelvey. Just a minute later the Stones were down to ten men when substitute Craig Fasanmade was given a straight red card following an elbow on Tom Champion. In stoppage time Tshimanga made sure all three of the points were for Boreham Wood by scoring his second of the afternoon and making the final scoreline 3-1.
This was a very welcomed win today after so many draws and thanks to some excellent Tshimanga finishing, they got the job done in the end!
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Smith, Fyfield, Champion, Ilesamni, Whitely, Ricketts, Murtagh, Mafuta, Tshimanga, Marsh.
Subs not used: Green, Stephens, Pearce, Rhead, Jallow.
Wealdstone: Shelvey, Harbottle, Cawley, Okimo, Mendy, Dyer, Phillips, Smith (Parish 77), Green, Gondoh (Fasanmade 45), Lewis.
Subs not used: Askew, Hearn.
Man of the Match: Kabongo Tshimanga.
Match report written by Brett Lewis (Non-League Paper & Wood Army member)
