Boreham Wood 1 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 55/24/2294 - Saturday, 21st December 2024 - National League South

Boreham Wood (0) 1 Ndlovu 76
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Nelson 71
Attendance: 713
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 165/4,059

It is less than half a mile from Elstree Studios where last week, Dianne Buswell and Chris McCausland took the dancing honours. Jay Saunders’ men waltzed the 60-odd miles around the M25 to take the lead role in Strictly Come Scrooges and in the weekend before the Christmas festivities, for just a few minutes, the bells were ringing out for a Fairy Tale of Meadow Park.

It was a dogged performance that restricted the National League South’s form team to a single first half chance and a second period that saw the Angels take the game to their hosts to earn a 72nd minute lead through Ronnie Nelson, only to be pegged back four minutes later.

Jay reflected after the match, played out in persistent rain, “It’s a good point away from home. In general you take a point away, but to come to Boreham Wood, for me, one of the best sides in the league, it was a good test for us today. But when you are in the lead in the 75th minute, especially after a really good team performance, it is disappointing to have conceded in the way we have from a set piece but it is a good point for us, especially on the back of two home wins.”

One change was made from the starting XI that beat Chesham United on Tuesday evening with Sean Shields niggling ankle injury sidelining him for Scott Wagstaff to step iin.

Boreham Wood came into the game on the back of five straight wins, no defeats in nine and an in-form striker in Kwesi Appiah who had scored eight times in the last five games.

The noisy, boisterous Blue Army were in fine voice but that was probably masking a nervousness as the home side put the Angels under expected early pressure. Matt Rowley needed to be alert to turn over the bar a cross-cum-shot from Jon Benton and, in the fifth minute, he made a superb, low save to his right to thwart Appiah adding to his impressive tally.

As the rain started to fall more heavily, the visitors began to grow into the game and whilst the Boreham Wood goalkeeper, Nathan Ashmore, was largely untested, the threat of the hosts was being comfortably resisted.

Rowley was brought into action again on 38 minutes saving well from Jayden Richardson, before the Angels supporters left the comfort of the covered North Bank to brave the elements at the open end, buoyed by their favourites resolute display.

Jay’s half-time team talk had asked his side to show more belief and in the opening seven minutes of the second half two great chances had been created. After two minutes, Trevan Robinson who had continuously stretched a mountainous back three, broke clear and his pass into the box found Mo Dabre but a goal saving challenge denied an effort on goal.

Five minutes later, a free kick from Liam Vincent was narrowly wide of Ashmore’s left hand post, and when the goalkeeper spilled a cross from Vincent, it was the Angels who were knocking at the door.

Boreham Wood wrested back the momentum and the Angels back line were desperately throwing bodies in the way of shots from Benton and Appiah before Jack Payne fired over from 20 yards.

On 72 minutes, the Christmas tree lights shone brightly when Vincent’s cross was fumbled by Ashmore and there was Nelson to stab home his first goal for the club.

Sadly, the joy was short-lived. A corner saw a clearance rebound into the path of Lee Ndlovu who finished from around six yards.

A big finish from the home side was only to be expected but, although Rowley was asked to turn over a shot from Tom Whelan, Tonbridge saw the game out without any undue alarm and it was Ashmore that needed to make an added time save from Vincent.

“You’ve got to believe was the general message to all of them at half time. Defensively, first half we were excellent, they had one shot and then second half we were a little bit better on the ball and asked a few more questions, got into some good areas, maybe cold have nicked another goal . I’m not saying they didn’t get chances but for the majority of the game, it was a good, disciplined away performance,” Jay summed up with a final message to the supporters; “Fantastic again today, and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.”

Boreham Wood 4 Tonbridge 2

Match 63/11/950 - Saturday, 28 April 2012 - Conference South

Boreham Wood (2) 4 Montgomery 8, Jones 45, T. Olorunda 78 (o.g.), Effiong 81
Tonbridge (1) 2 Piper 18, Collin 66
Att. 275

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 136/4,789
New Ground: 249

Match Report

This last game of Tonbridge’s inaugural season in Conference South took on the title of an alternative play-off match for eighth place, but they came across a Boreham Wood side that with the benefit of home advantage had a little bit more desire to end the season with a flourish.

Tonbridge and Gillingham’s season have followed a similar path, although Gillingham have a game to play and could finish anywhere between eighth and eleventh, at present both sit in ninth position and the reason both have missed out on play-off places is that despite scoring plenty of goals they have conceded in equal measure. So it was with this visit to Boreham Wood, Tonbridge enjoyed their fair share of the possession but gave the ball away far too often and were caught on the counter attack to the tune of four goals, could have been more, but then could have scored more themselves.

The Wood looked a very capable side with a strong back line, which says a lot for Tonbridge that they punctured it twice, and a sharp attack which included Omer Riza, an experienced, well-travelled striker who began life as an apprentice at Arsenal, played at the top level in Turkey before returning to England to eventually arrive at a Histon side that made it to the Conference in 2010.

The home side were quick out of the blocks and ahead in eight minutes. Following a scenario that became a feature of the game, Tonbridge lost the ball in midfield and two passes left Graeme Montgomery with the task of beating Lee Worgan from 10 yards which he did with ease. Tonbridge were level within 10 minutes after a weak clearance to the edge of the box saw Chris Piper score from 18 yards.

Tonbridge found a bit of momentum and had a goal chalked off for offside before a fine counter attack ended with full back Mark Jones finishing off a move with a shot into the bottom corner from inside the penalty area.

The visitors equalised 20 minutes into the second half when Frannie Collin converted with a close range header for his 29th goal of the season before two quick goals ended Tonbridge’s resistance. A cross from the left was turned into his own net by Tim Olorunda on 78 minutes and three minutes later substitute Inih Effiong benefited from Tonbridge once again losing the ball in a dangerous area to wrap the game up for the home side.

Frannie Collin crashed a shot against the bar to deny himself a 30th goal of a season where he has ended as the League’s leading goalscorer by a country mile.

Meadow Park was a tidy stadium with a fair sized main seated stand along one length of the pitch whilst on the other was a terraced covered enclosure which once more, as Tonbridge supporters, we look on with envy as being perfect for our needs. Nothing fancy, only three steps high, but perfectly fit for purpose. Behind both goals was uncovered terracing. The pitch looked in really good condition considering it was the last game of the season and had a week’s worth of persistent rain on it, but there is an alarming slope into one corner where the level must fall about two feet in the space of just 15 yards or so.

Boreham Wood take the coveted eighth spot and in doing so on such meagre attendances that is to be admired. The attendance of just 275 was their third highest of the season and at a bare minimum at least the 75 was made up of visiting supporters. Tonbridge ended the season within the top ten and back in August the vast majority would have taken that with pleasure.