Saturday 24 August, Meadow Park, 15.00 BST
After our, in Mark’s words, “frustrating” Tuesday-night result at home to Chippenham Town, we head back on our travels, this time to Hertfordshire to face full-time outfit Boreham Wood.
The Wood will be using this season as a point to prove, having been relegated from the National League at the end of last season.
So far, they have impressed in terms of results, picking up seven points in their opening three games.
We, on the other hand, currently have seven less points!
However, our performance on Tuesday night was more promising, having created threatening chances throughout the game…
HOW TO FOLLOW
We regret to announce that radio commentary will not be provided for tomorrow’s game.
This is due to a scheme implemented by the hosts, in an effort to encourage more fans to attend games.
We will still provide live updates of the match via our social media platforms; footage and reaction will also be posted after the final whistle.
AWAY PUBS
Due to the full segregation of Meadow Park, alcohol will NOT be provided in the stadium to travelling supporters.
Fans, though, can head to nearby pubs such as: The Alfred Arms, Good Companion, The Pick and Shovel and The Wellington, all of which are within approx. 15-minute walking distance of the stadium.
To avoid the hassle of buying a ticket on matchday, you can also click HERE to purchase in advance via Boreham Wood’s online website.
THE OPPOSITION
Just two results from the Football League two seasons ago, tomorrow’s hosts are certainly one of the division’s stronger teams.
Following a 3-2 extra-time loss to Notts County in the 2022/23 play-offs, The Wood suffered a freakish horror show, finishing fourth-from-bottom, thus being relegated to the National League South.
Their fateful goalless draw at home to Ebbsfleet Town marked the end of Luke Garrard’s nine-year spell.
Do not be fooled by his final year in charge; his achievements during his time in the dugout were nothing short of remarkable.
When he made the step-up from assistant to gaffer in October 2015 at just 30-years-old, the club were mixing it in England’s fifth-tier for the very first time.
Though his first job in management did not start as hoped, they scored three goals between November and February, they achieved a remarkable great escape at the end of the 2015-16 season.
Though no survival will ever match ours two seasons ago, it did lay the foundations of a formidable era in Hertfordshire.
A subsequent mid-table finish set them up for their following campaign, the year that put them on the map.
If a play-off finish wasn’t enough, a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Tranmere Rovers prevented them from making even more history, The Wood reached the second round of the FA Cup for the first time in history, having defeated Blackpool 2-1 in the first round.
Following their season success, Garrard went on to achieve two more play-off finishes, and two historic FA-Cup campaigns, one of them seeing them reach the FIFTH round.
The club earned their place after stunning AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, courtesy of a strike from 37-year-old Mark Rockets.
Then then held fort at Goodison Park for nearly an hour, before Everton handed them a far-from-embarrassing 2-0 defeat.
But, since then, things look a little different.
Nevermind new gaffer Ross Jenkins, joining from Oxford City, The Wood have added five new additions to their star-studded squad.
The new-look side have made an impressive start to life back in the sixth tier, earning seven points in their opening three games.
Instead of facing Bournemouth or Everton tomorrow, though, they host the mighty Terras.
We’re sure they wouldn’t have it any other way…
PREVIOUS RESULTS
Having only faced Boreham Wood four times, this is hardly a fixture rich in history.
Our last match, though, resulted in a 1-1 draw, courtesy of a headed own-goal from our opponents.
This technically counts as part of a unique stat; both our goals against Boreham Wood were headed!
A more impressive stat, though, is that the last time we played on this particular day, in 2018, saw a Brandon-Goodship-hat-trick.
Perhaps his return on Tuesday was just at the right time…
