Boreham Wood v Wealdstone - Match Preview

THE DETAILS

Boreham Wood v Wealdstone Vanarama National League Meadow Park

Saturday 10th April, 3:00pm kick-off

This game will take place behind closed doors.

HOW TO WATCH

Due to current COVID-19 restrictions enforced on outdoor spectator sport, this game will currently take place behind closed doors. You can purchase a streaming pass for the fixture by clicking HERE.

THE CONTEXT Boreham Wood have gained a reputation for being the draw masters of the National League currently, having drawn 14 of their 31 games this season and their Easter Monday draw at home to Hartlepool was the seventh consecutive draw on the spin and spectacularly drawing nine of their last 10 games, the only anomaly coming in a 1-0 defeat to Wealdstone. Even more spectacularly, their game on Monday saw Hartlepool put winger Rhys Oates in goal for over an hour after their keeper Ben Killip went off injured with the Pools 2-1 down; the game finished 2-2. The Stones are coming into this fixture off of a buoyant Easter weekend of London derbies, drawing 2-2 away at play-off chasing Bromley and then demolishing local rivals Barnet 5-1 at Grosvenor Vale on Monday. This game will have a local edge to it, with just over 10 miles between the two teams.

TEAM NEWS Stones boss Stuart Maynard added to the squad over the Easter weekend with Jamie Fielding joining from EFL League Two side Stevenage. Goalkeeper Harry Isted has been recalled by parent club Luton Town, thus ending his involvement with the Stones for this season, Jake Askew provided an able stand-in with his performance against Barnet. Dan Wishart also returned to the squad following an injury but Stones will be without Ashley Charles who is serving the last of a two-game suspension and Josh Meekings who continues his recovery from injury. Defenders Nikola Tavares, George Langston and Joseph Olowu are also still sidelined.

FORM GUIDE Stones: Barnet (H) 5-1 W (Okimo, Lewis 2, Fasanmade, Mendy) Bromley (A) 2-2 D (Gondoh, Smith)

Solihull Moors (A) 3-0 L

Woking (H) 0-1 L Weymouth (A) 4-0 L

Boreham Wood: Hartlepool United (H) 2-2 D (Marsh, Whitely) Sutton United (H) 0-0 D

Aldershot Town (A) 3-3 D (O.G, Whitely, Tshimanga) Notts County (H) 2-2 D (Marsh, Tshimanga) Torquay United (H) 0-0 D

WHAT WAS SAID Stuart Maynard: "I think in the game at The Vale [vs Boreham Wood] we put in a really good first half performance, but the second half was a bit like the Alamo really! We put bodies on the line, blocks on the goal line, great saves and that's what it takes when you come up against the top teams in this division. I do see Boreham Wood as one of those teams, they're always in and around the promotion places, they've strengthened every year and they are full time so it's gonna be a tough test."

WHO TO WATCH FOR? Nathan Ashmore: Ashmore will be well known to Stones fans from the National League South days, where the shot stopper was a key member of Gosport Borough and Ebbsfleet United's sides. He made over 150 league appearances at the Fleet, helping them win the National League South play-offs in 2017 before joining the Wood, initially on loan in 2019. It didn't take long for him to cement the number one spot at Boreham Wood during his time there and is a seasoned and highly-rated goalkeeper in non-league football.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Played - 24 Won - 12 Drawn - 4 Lost - 8

LAST FIVE MEETINGS March 2021 - Stones 1-0 Boreham Wood (Smith)

March 2015 - Stones 0-1 Boreham Wood November 2014 - Boreham Wood 2-1 Stones (Wright) April 2010 - Stones 0-0 Boreham Wood November 2009 - Stones 3-0 Boreham Wood (Ellerbeck 3)

Preview by Chris Woods