Boreham Wood 0
United 1
(Hall 31′)
United dug in deep to record a valuable three points on the road at Boreham Wood.
A header from Captain Asa Hall just after the half-hour mark was all that separated the sides in a hard-fought game at Meadow Park, as United held on to record an important 1-0 victory.
Gary Johnson made one change to the starting line up from Saturday’s match with Dagenham & Redbridge, as new signing Frank Nouble came in to make his first start for the Club, replacing Ross Marshall, while there were also recalls to the bench for Dylan Crowe and Ben Wyatt.
The game started with United on the front foot from the first whistle, and it only took three minutes for the Yellows to create the first chance of the game, as Kieron Evans charged down the Boreham defender’s attempted clearance before running in on goal, forcing the Wood’s keeper Nathan Ashmore into a save, with the ball then rebounding out to the advancing Lewis Collins who could only guide his shot wide of the post. United continued to press upon the Boreham defence in the early stages, though without managing to trouble Ashmore in the Boreham goal.
The Wood then started to grow into the game and on 15 minutes brought the first corner of the game as a shot from outside the United area was deflected over with the resulting corner cleared to safety. The game ebbed and flowed with both teams trying to get the opening goal, though the Torquay backline defended anything the hosts could throw at them. Jack Stobbs was getting lots of success down the right hand side and on 23 minutes one such dangerous cross evaded the Boreham keeper, going over his head but upon hitting the ground skidded out on the far side.
Johnson’s men felt their chance may be coming as another Stobbs cross went into the danger zone, but Nouble couldn’t get the ball under control to get in a shot, and the ball was cleared to safety. The goal however was to come in United’s next attack, as the ball came to Kevin Dawson just inside the Boreham area and his cross from the byline was met by the firm head of the unmarked Hall, who placed the ball to the left of Ashmore and the Gulls got the lead their play had deserved.
United soaked up whatever The Wood tried as the half went on, and indeed Nouble could’ve double Torquay’s lead as his shot produced a tip over the bar from the Boreham stopper, and with the added four minutes passing without further incident United headed into the break with the lead their play had merited.
The second half began with the hosts coming out looking for an early equaliser, but the first action of the half was an enforced change for United as Shaun Donnellan was forced off and replaced by Ali Omar on 48 minutes. Two minutes later and Boreham got down the right when Lewis put the ball into the box and only Halstead going down quickly to smother the ball prevented Newton sliding in for a chance.
Four minutes later United were back up the other end as Nouble twisted and turned on the edge of the area before getting to the byline, where his cross was caught by Ashmore with the unmarked Hall lurking behind him. Boreham started to up the attacks and pressure, but the Yellow’s players defending together as a unit held firm and limited the hosts to long range efforts.
United made a second change on 82 minutes as Nouble was substituted for Wyatt, with the Gulls looking to bolster their defensive cover, which they did as the Boreham attacks fizzled out, and even with the showing of seven minutes of added time at the end of the game, United held firm and gleefully celebrated a hard fought victory at the final whistle.
The Gulls victory was a hard fought and well battled three points that sets them up for another battle AT THE weekend as they head to Glanford Park and Scunthorpe United, looking for back to back wins.
BOREHAM WOOD: 1. Nathan Ashmore, 3. Femi Ilesanmi, 7. Josh Rees, (20.Zak Brunt, 46′)8. George Broadbent, 9. Lee Ndlovu, (11. Danny Newton, 46′) 12. Jamal Fyfield, 15. Dennon Lewis, 17. Jack Payne, 22. Cameron Coxe, 25. Chris Bush, 26. David Agbontohoma.
SUBS NOT USED: 2. Dion Kelly-Evans, 4. Mark Ricketts, 10. Tyrone Marsh,
Yellow Cards: 20. Zak Brunt 65′, 25. Chris Bush 76′, 17. Jack Payne 90+2′
UNITED: 1. Mark Halstead, 8. Asa Hall (c), 9. Aaron Jarvis, 11. Kieron Evans, (7. Ryan Hanson, 90+4) 16. Shaun Donnellan, (5. Ali Omar, 48′) 19. Nico Lawrence, 21. Dean Moxey, 27. Jack Stobbs, 28. Kevin Dawson, 31. Lewis Collins. 45. Frank Nouble ( 15. Ben Wyatt, 81′)
SUBS NOT USED: 2. Dylan Crowe, 22. Rhys Lovett,
Yellow Cards: 9. Aaron Jarvis 45+2′, 21. Dean Moxey 63′, 45. Frank Nouble 71′, 28. Kevin Dawson 73′
Attendance: 1,011 (116 away),