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Boreham Wood 2-0 Chelmsford City, Saturday 27th January 2007, Meadow Park, Kick-Off 3:00pm, Ryman League Premier Division.
City lost further ground on their Premier Division title rivals with a goal in each half consigning them to their fourth straight League defeat. Close range efforts courtesy of Chris Bangura and Luke Gregson were enough for the home side who moved themselves back upwards and within a chance of re-joining the play-off shake-up. The Management Team made three changes to the team that was defeated at Tonbridge Angels in midweek, rewarding Stuart Ainsley for his recent efforts to replace Spencer Knight at left-back. In front of him, on the left wing, Dwain Clarke also made a come-back and he took Jason Hallett's shirt with the forward dropping back to the bench. A suspension for Mario Noto in the centre of midfield meant there was a gap to fill and young loan signing Callum Kearns, an arrival on loan from Southend United for a month, deputised. Perhaps Chelmsford's best opportunity of the whole match dropped to Kezie Ibe in the 5th minute. Jeff Minton was allowed time to pick-out the prominent striker with a measured cross but Ibe could only head the ball over the crossbar from close range. The middle of the first half brought about the next strikes, with Wood's Bangura volleying wide with power on 22 minutes then, at the other end seven minutes later, City's Clarke delivered from a wide position to Ricky Holmes whose far post header was nodded agonisingly off the goal line. In the 34th minute Holmes was involved again, making the most of the space he had to produce a centre into the goalmouth which confused young debutant 'keeper James Beasant, nephew of Dave, and defender Ryan Moran nearly helped the ball into his own net. However, the hosts came close to breaking the deadlock five minutes before the break as Byron Harrison lobbed the out-coming goalkeeper Richard McKinney and his effort was goal-bound until Ben Chenery sprinted back to save the day and hook to safety. This was to be short-lived relief for the Clarets, with Boreham Wood taking revenge a further three minutes into the match courtesy of a headed finish from Bangura. Just prior to the interval, Wood Captain Mark Smith almost sliced the ball into his own net but his team entered the break in front. City were left with a lot of work to do if they were to take maximum points from this encounter. Spencer Knight replaced Clarke six minutes into the second half but after Luke Gregson converted an easy tap-in with 57 minutes on the clock following a handling error from McKinney the game was as good as over and even the introduction of Hallett from the bench wasn't enough to sufficiently liven-up proceedings. Ten minutes from time Holmes drove in from the right and hammered a yard wide while Boreham Wood striker Bangura attempted to add to his goal by arrowing just off target shortly afterwards. The match finished well in favour of the Hertfordshire side who gave City plenty to think about going into the February schedule. City: 1 Richard McKinney Boreham Wood: James Beasant, Michael Cox, Ryan Moran, Tommy Williams, Mark Smith, Luke Gregson, Greg Moran, Byron Harrison, Chris Bangura, Simon Thomas, Paul Burrows. Subs: Danny Hart, Joe Reynolds, Paul Armstrong, Marvin Samuel, Callum Horton. Bookings: Boreham Wood: Bangura (79, foul). Referee: S. Burt. Assistant Referees: A.D. Aylott and R.E. Horswell. Attendance: 337. City Man of the Match: Chris Duffy. |
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By
Chris Evans
(Picture by Matt Bradshaw)
