Under-21s lose out at Boreham Wood
Boreham Wood staged a second-half comeback to inflict a 2-1 defeat on our Under-21s in a pre-season friendly at Meadow Park on Tuesday night.
Having taken the lead arguably against the run of play in a fiercely-contested first period when Mason Melia slid past Luca Gunter, our goalkeeper finding himself in the unusual position of playing against us after recently joining the home side on loan, we conceded to Lewis Richardson just 14 seconds after the restart before substitute Luke Norris completed the turnaround 20 minutes from time.
In a somewhat fragmented second half with both sides making a raft of changes, we struggled to carve out much in the way of clear-cut chances and had Carey Bloedorn and substitute goalkeeper Sam Archer to thank for a couple of sharp saves to prevent the hosts from extending their lead.
The outcome was a second successive 2-1 defeat after Saturday’s reverse at Ebbsfleet United, although the test against last season’s National League play-off finalists was another useful one as preparations for the new campaign continued.
Boreham Wood pressed from the off and it needed two smart stops from Bloedorn to deny the lively Abdul Abdulmalik, while we had to wait until the 19th minute for our first attempt at goal, Oli Irow seeing his angled shot parried by Gunter with nobody able to capitalise on the rebound.
We took the lead out of the blue on 33 minutes when Damola Ajayi’s low delivery caused problems for Gunter at his near post with Melia on hand to slot home but after Bloedorn tipped Richardson’s shot-on-the-turn over the bar at the end of the first period, it took the hosts just a few seconds after the resumption to restore parity, the same player finishing off an attack down the right with a looping shot from inside the area.
Richardson and Zak Brunt went close for the hosts while substitute Reiss Russell-Denny and Miracle Adewole fired straight at Gunter for us but after Archer brilliantly tipped away Norris’ effort moments after coming on, he was powerless to prevent the Boreham Wood substitute from putting his side in front after we missed a defensive header from the resulting corner with 70 minutes on the watch.
Archer made another good stop from Marley Marshall-Miranda in a central position in the box while Tarryn Allarakhia saw his effort hit the base of the post and Norris fired straight at Archer as Boreham Wood tried without success to increase their advantage in the closing stages, our night ultimately ending in defeat.
Line-ups
Boreham Wood: Gunter, Clarke (Bainbridge 60), White (c), Bush (Allarakhia 60), O'Connell, Richardson (Reynolds), Brunt (Norris 60), Abdulmalik, Golden, Booty (Marshall-Miranda 60), Rush (Kensdale 60).
Spurs: Bloedorn (Archer 68), Feeney (Sowunmi 46), Adewole, Adedeji (Tingey 46), Dorrington (c), Tyrese Hall (Moncur 65), O Irow (Thomas 77), Russell-Denny (McFadden 65), Melia (Lehane 61), Ramsey (Elliott-Parris 46), Ajayi (Boast 65).
Match data
Goals: Boreham Wood – Richardson 46, Norris 70; Spurs – Melia 33.
Referee: Matthew Norton.
Venue: Meadow Park, Borehamwood.
Weather: Sunny, light winds, 23 degrees.