United return home for another clash against promotion rivals tomorrow, as Boreham Wood head to Plainmoor.
The Gulls’ midweek draw with Weston-super-Mare saw Paul Wotton’s men strengthen their standing in their National League South Play-Off positions, however victory on Saturday could well see top-spot come back into view again come 5pm.
Who’s the Boss?
After less than five months away, long-serving Boreham manager Luke Garrard returned home to Meadow Park last September, following the dismissal of Ross Jenkins.
Having lost their space at non-League’s top table after nine years of almost continuous improvement, the decision was made to seek a new man to lead Boreham’s charge back to the fifth tier.
Jenkins’ reign was brief and unconvincing though, and when The Wood board opted to make an early-season change, they decided to look no further than Garrard, who made an almost immediate return to the Boreham dugout.
How have they been doing?
Having stalled in the early weeks of the 2024/25 campaign, Garrard’s return has brought about a swift upturn in form.
The Wood’s surge up the table continued with a 1-0 home win over Chelmsford in midweek, with their tally of 64 points from 34 points leaving them handily placed for a tilt at the title, as they sit in 3rd place, two points behind leaders Dorking, and four ahead of 6th-placed United.
Player to Watch
Torquay will once again be facing up to an imposing figure between the sticks tomorrow, with the experienced Nathan Ashmore proving to be a thorn in United’s side many times over the past five seasons.
Ashmore began his career in the youth ranks at Portsmouth, before successful spells at Havant & Waterlooville and Gosport Borough attracted the attentions of Ebbsfleet United. In 2019, Ashmore joined Boreham Wood – initially on loan – and he’s been a crowd favourite there ever since.
A place in the 2022/23 National League Team of the Season following 15 clean sheets only served as further evidence of his ability, with only a brief loan stint at Maidenhead interrupting his 200-odd appearances for the Club.
Played For Both
Tyrone Marsh is in his second spell at The Wood, having also enjoyed at spell at Plainmoor during the 2015/16 campaign.
Marsh is currently in his second stint at Boreham Wood after a brief spell at Stevenage.
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.
Previous Encounter
Torquay 2 – 1 Boreham Wood | Vanarama National League | Saturday 3rd August 2019
United announced their return to the National League with all three points against Boreham Wood at Plainmoor on Saturday.
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.