TT MATCH PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @Steveharris84

Match details: Boreham Wood versus Torquay United

Venue: Meadow Park, Boreham Wood

Date: Saturday 16th January 2021

Kick-off:  3pm

Top Scorers:

Boreham Wood: Kabongo Tshimanga 6

Torquay: Danny Wright 8

Gulls’ all-time record in the FA Trophy:

2007-08: RU L Ebbsfleet United

2008-09: R2 L Southport

2014-15: SF L Wrexham

2015-16: QF L Bognor Regis Town

2016-17: R1 L Braintree Town

2017-18: R1 L Maidstone United

2018-19: R1 L Boreham Wood

2019-20: R2 L FC Halifax Town

Last time the two teams met:  Saturday 14th November 2020, Torquay United 1 Boreham Wood 1

Torquay United dug in to secure a point against Boreham Wood despite being reduced to ten men, after Adam Randell was dismissed for a second bookable offence with 18 minutes to go.

The Gulls took the lead against the run of play in the 16^th minute when Sherring nodded home a free-kick from Connor Lemonheigh-Evans.Boreham Wood were forced into an early re-shuffle on 21 minutes when Kabongo Tshimanga appeared to have sustained a knock and former Gulls’ loanee Shaquille Coulthirst replaced him. Five minutes later he latched onto a through ball from Kane Smith and raced towards goal, but Gulls’ keeper Shaun MacDonald dashed off his line to deny him. United had an opportunity to double their lead in the 40^th minute when Ben Whitfield produced a cross-cum-shot from the right, which Wood keeper Nathan Ashmore tipped over.

The Wood equalised in first half injury time when a cross from Thomas deflected off Wynter and flew over MacDonald and into the back of the net.

Wynter nearly re-established United’s lead in the 62^nd minute with a volley from the edge of the penalty area – but was denied by the reflexes of Ashmore. United were reduced to ten men on 72 minutes when Randell received a second yellow card for a foul on Adam McDonnell. However, despite being a man down, the Gulls dug in and almost claimed all three points on 89 minutes when Wynter headed a Whitfield cross towards goal which Ashmore spilled behind for a corner. In injury time, Whitfield and Wynter combined again – as Wynter was once again denied by Ashmore. And Matt Rhead almost snatched it for the Wood late on, but a combination of MacDonald and United skipper Asa Hall prevented him from scoring a late winner.

Manager: Luke Garrard

Since succeeding Ian Allinson as manager of Boreham Wood in 2015,  Garrard has managed to turnout a number of competitive sides on a regular basis d. In his first season in charge, the 2015-16 campaign, he steered the Wood to safety, which was followed by an 11^th place finish in 2016-17. In the subsequent 2017-18 campaign, the Wood enjoyed arguably their finest season under his reign when they reached the National League play-off final, where they were beaten by Tranmere Rovers. Last season Garrard led the Wood to the play-offs again, where they were eliminated by FC Halifax Town in the quarter finals.

One to watch: Kabongo Tshimanga

The Plainmoor faithful first came across Kabongo Tshimanga during their title winning season in National League South, when he found the back of the net for Oxford City in their 7-2 defeat to United in January 2019. His exploits brought him to the attentions of Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard who snapped him up for the Wood in the summer of 2019. Tshimanga has continued to find the back of the net for Boreham Wood in the National League and has attracted the attentions of numerous Football League clubs.    

Probable line-ups:                                                                        

Boreham Wood (4-4-2):

Nathan Ashmore

Kane Smith – David Stephens – Jamal Fyfield – Femi Ilesanmi

 Pedro Mingoia – Kieran Murtagh – Adam McDonnell – Jordan Whitely

Shaq Coulthirst – Kabongo Tshimanga

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Torquay (4-4-2):

Shaun MacDonald

Sam Sherring – Fraser Kerr – Kyle Cameron – Dean Moxey

Ben Whitfield – Adam Randell – Asa Hall – Jake Andrews

Rob Street – Josh Umerah

 

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