Wood Succumbed to another last defeat on Easter Monday as Chesterfield ran out 3-2 winners. It was a nervy start from the Wood but against the run of play Kieran Murtagh put the Wood ahead with another sublime free kick. Tom Denton equalised for the home side on the stroke of half time. It wasn’t long before the home side were ahead when Marry Parry was judged to have handled in the box allowing Scott Boden to put the home side ahead. Wood had a penalty of their own which Shaibu converted. Parry was then sent off for a second bookable offence with 20 mins to go. Just as it looked as though Wood were going to hold on for a point. George Legg spilled a cross which allowed Denton to head in for his second of the game.
It was a very nervous start from the Wood and Chesterfield could have found themselves two goals up inside six minutes, but for two great saves from George Legg. After a neat one two on the edge of the Wood box Chapman was through on goal, Legg saved well with his legs. Moments later a poor back header to Legg fell short allowing Boden the opportunity to open the scoring but Legg was there again to save well.
Tom Denton who was an aerial threat all afternoon for the home side cushioned a header down to Smith from a diagonal cross field pass. Smith couldn’t keep his shot down as he fired over the bar from 10 yards.
Denton this time had a chance to convert. A great flighted ball into the box from Barry found Denton who on the volley sent it high into the stands.
A rare burst forward from Wood saw Shaibu fouled 20 yards from goal. Up stepped Kieron Murtagh who put the free kick in the top corner giving the Wood an undeserved lead against the run of play.
It was imperative the Wood defence stayed strong. With untold amounts of pressure being applied from the home side. Legg was forced into a further three good saves from Weston, Denton and Rowley.
Just as Wood thought they may have weathered the storm and take an advantage into the Half Time interval Chesterfield leveled things up. A ball in from the right towards Denton, saw the big 6ft 5 striker excellent chest the ball down and volley past Legg.
It wasn’t long into the second half when the hosts took the lead. A cross into the box struck the hand of Parry and Referee Smith had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Scott Boden stepped up to send Legg the wrong way.
Luke Garrard reacted to going behind by replacing Sean Shields with Sorba Thomas. Thomas played a part in wood getting back level. His ball out wide to Woodards, whose cross was deflected and then handled by a home player, leaving the Referee again no option but to point to the spot. Shaibu stepped up and coolly slotted in the bottom right hand corner.
Wood were then up against it with 20 to play and a miss time slide tackle from Manny Parry saw him pick up his 2nd booking of the game, reducing the Wood to 10 men.
John Sheridan then made a triple change, Boden, Weston and Smith were all replaced by Shaw, Weir and Carter.
It was Wood though who nearly took an unlikely lead. A corner from Sorba Thomas found an unmarked Tom Champion whose header was well cleared off the line. Thomas again who impressed when he came on whipped in a excellent cross that Fyfield couldn’t quite get onto at the far post.
Just when the game had settled down and the Wood looked as though they would be bringing a point back to Hertfordshire, a hopeful ball into the box from the left was spilled by George Legg giving Tom Denton the easiest goal of his career as he headed home from just a yard out.
With 5 added minutes held up by the fourth official Wood couldn’t find a way back into the game and it was the home side who take all three points.
Wood Team: Legg, Woodards, Ilesanmi, Parry, Champion, Murtagh, Fyfield, Cooper, Kanu, Shields (Thomas 56), Shaibu (Shakes 82)
Subs not used: Huddart, Gabriel
