Ash saves Wood

There aren't many footballing spectacles that are less appealing than a midweek trip to Boreham Wood on a freezing January evening but the lingering buzz of the win against Chelmsford coupled with a convenient journey direct from Elephant & Castle to Elstree meant I was Hertfordshire bound.

The Wood have continued to develop what must be the best non league facility off the pitch particularly for the players, which when coupled with audacious plans for a second large seated stand with a TV gantry it is clear they are building for the future, but still despite the ground's location in the middle of a residential area, the fans do not come. This is even more puzzling given the team's excellent form, with the 200 who did go on Wednesday night treated to an entertaining incident packed match.

With the pitch already white with frost the game kicked off at a frenetic pace, the play oscillating from end to end. Maidenhead took an early in the sixteenth minute when Daniel Brown jinked his way into the penalty area and fired home from a tight angle.With the Magpies losing Harry Pritchard to injury soon after the goal, the home team gradually took control of the game as the pace slackened a little. Wood looked the more comfortable team on the ball whilst the Magpies seemed a little too hasty to get rid of it particularly when under pressure.

At the rare times the action subsided entertainment was provided by Boreham Wood coach Luke Garrard (above left) who kept up a steady stream of tragi comic shouts from the dugouts. The equaliser arrived eight minutes ahead of half time when Luke Norris tapped in an inswinging corner. Wood had the ball in the net again before the interval but the goal was disallowed for offside.
After the break Maidenhead looked to be getting back into the game when Boreham Wood scored what proved to be the winner, a long ball straight down the middle of the pitch finding Norris who nonchalantly lobbed Billy Lumley to score.
Maidenhead still looked like they had a goal in them though, an Alex Wall shot being deflected wide after a great move. A triple Wood substitution revealed that the Cliff Akurang fan club was sitting on my right when the veteran striker entered the fray and the Magpies were then given hope when one of the Wood centre
back continued to play despite being in apparent distress from an injury.
With seven minutes left though the game was nearly over for both teams when the referee pulled up but after a short delay it was revealed that United's favourite referee Ash Denagrin was in the crowd and he quickly changed to run the line. Unfortunately he wasn't able to inspire the Magpies to another goal and in the eleven minutes that remained it was Wood who came nearest to adding to the score when they caught Lumley up the pitch for a corner only to Akurang to miss an open goal.