Following Saturday’s draw at Plainmoor, Gary Johnson’s men are back under the floodlights when they host Boreham Wood on Tuesday evening.
Who’s the Boss?
Luke Garrard became the youngest boss in all of England’s top five divisions when he was appointed First Team Manager in October 2015, after he had spent two years as Ian Allinson’s Assistant.
The Wood were in their first season in the National League when Garrard was appointed, during which he steered his side to safety on the last game of the season. The Hertfordshire side made their first Wembley appearance in 2017/18 under his leadership after achieving their highest National League finish to date.
How Have They Been Doing?
Garrard’s Boreham Wood side have been flying high so far this season, with their third league loss of the season at the hands of Maidenhead on Saturday being their first since October. The Hertfordshire side currently sit third in the National League, nine points off the top but with four games in hand on current leaders Stockport.
Boreham Wood are currently enjoying a lengthy FA Cup run after condemning the likes of Football League opposition Wimbledon, and Championship side Bournemouth to cup upsets, with a trip to Everton awaiting them in the final 16 of the competition next week.
Player to Watch
Kane Smith has scored 4 goals in 24 league appearances from defence so far this season. The right-back has been at Meadow Park since signing from Hitchin Town in July 2017.
The 26-year-old is renowned for his pace and delivery and has established himself as a key component in the Wood side in recent years. During his two seasons at Hitchin, Smith made 120 appearances, scored 11, assisted 30, and contributed to 38 clean sheets.
In his first season with Boreham Wood, the defender played a pivotal role in the sides run to the Play-Off Final and has been an ever-present since.
Played for Both
Tyrone Marsh was United’s first summer signing ahead of the 2015/16 campaign; the then 21-year-old signed on at Plainmoor on a one year deal and scored nine goals in nineteen appearances. Marsh is currently in his second stint at Boreham Wood after a brief spell at Stevenage where he scored one goal in fourteen appearances last season.
After beginning his career at Oxford United, the forward enjoyed loan spells at Aylesbury, Staines Town, and notably Welling where he scored ten goals in twenty appearances. He also played for the likes of Ebbsfleet and Dover before returning to Welling. A move to Macclesfield Town followed where he played a pivotal role in their promotion to the Football League at the conclusion of the 2017/18 campaign.
The 28-year-old has been an ever-present in the Wood side this season and has netted 10 in 33 appearances in all competitions so far this season.
Previous Encounter
Torquay United 2 – 1 Boreham Wood, Saturday 3rd August, National League
United announced their return to the National League with all three points against Boreham Wood on the opening day of the 2019/20 campaign. After a cautious first-half, two goals within two second-half minutes from Opi Edwards and Jamie Reid sealed the win for Gary Johnson’s men, with Tyrone Marsh’s late effort for the visitors a mere consolation.
On 61 minutes, Lemonheigh-Evans threaded a delightful ball into the path of Reid, with United’s frontman showing remarkable composure to find Edwards at the back post, where he fired home from point-blank range to give United the lead. Two minutes later and the lead was doubled. Buoyed by the goal and with volumes rising from the terraces, Reid drove towards goal, and with the Boreham backline retreating, took aim and sent a thunderous effort into the net to make it 2-0.
Now in complete charge, Torquay were threatening a third at regular intervals until the visitors halved the deficit in the 90th minute. Some fine close control from Justin Shaibu saw the ball find Tyrone Marsh, and the ex-Gull slotted home in off the post to set up a nervous finale, but United saw out six minutes of injury time to secure the points.