TALKING POINTS
Dom Roman – @DomRoman
“It only takes one win on Tuesday night to have us all feeling optimistic again“
Are Barnet FC United’s bogey team? I’m starting to think so! From 2-0 up and cruising to holding onto a draw courtesy of Shaun MacDonald, there’s no denying Saturday was disappointing. We simply need every point we can get. No time to mope though here comes Boring…I mean Boreham Wood. Here’s my talking points for Boreham Wood (h):
DANNY TIME?
Not quite ready to start against the Bees, is this the match Wrighty makes his return to the starting line-up? Wood’s defence has been very strong this season, but did wobble a little in their defeat to Maidenhead, and it’s not beyond the veteran’s capabilities to come in and ruffle their feathers. If he can win some battles and bring others into the game, whilst providing his usual threat on crosses, then that might just might be enough for us to keep all 3 points at Plainmoor. Characters like him are made for big games, and in our current situation this is definitely one of those.
GETTING A GRIP IN MIDFIELD
Asa Hall and Tom Lapslie have both been excellent in recent times, but neither could get a grip of the game in midfield on Saturday as Barnet staged their comeback. A calm head was required to make sure we won the game and we couldn’t find one. It was surprising just how often panic set in, and how often balls were distributed poorly, providing them with belief and something to build from. Much better is required against a strong and physical Boreham Wood team, and I’m expecting the likes of Hall and Lapslie to be well up for the challenge.
EX-GULL ALERT
Warning bells people….the Wood have three ex-Gulls in their squad and two are strikers! In their previous fixture Tyrone Marsh and Scott Boden played together upfront. Boden has done well for them this season and Marsh is a tricky customer, nothing in particular for Lewis and Moxey to fear, but being ex-Gulls, it always seems likely one will somehow find the back of the net. In midfield Josh Rees is still one of the better midfielders in the National League and usually heads a 3 man Wood midfield, something that Gary Johnson may well match up to in his starting eleven.
FA CUP ADVANTAGE TO THE GULLS?
With their big FA Cup match against Everton looming next week, will Boreham Wood players have one eye on the trip to Goodison Park? Maybe, but I also wouldn’t count on it. The Wood have only lost one league game since October, and sit 3rd place in the National League, for that they will go into the game at Plainmoor as slight favourites. Alongside that they have an excellent manager in Luke Garrard and a defence that has been rock hard for most of 21-22 so far. This is a team to be respected, but also one that on our day we can beat. A tense evening awaits at Plainmoor!
THE DUKE
Stephen Duke-McKenna looks a player doesn’t he. All fire, movement, determination and youthful grrrr! You can’t teach that sort of thing and he’s got it in spades. This lad doesn’t leave anything on the pitch, and suddenly looks like a key man as we push for points. I have no idea where his best position is, but get the ball to him and something can happen.
WALKING A TIGHTROPE
With results going against us on Saturday, our hopes of a play-off place do appear to be resting on a metaphorical tightrope. Our margin for error just decreased at the weekend, now 8 points behind with an inferior goal difference, there is a danger of our top 7 chances disappearing before March. But saying that I still believe in this team, and it only takes one win on Tuesday night to have us all feeling optimistic again. We’ve proved against the likes of Stockport and Wrexham we can do it, something similar is now required. A managerial clash of huge experience against youthful promise; a team still hoping for the play-offs against a team still dreaming of the top spot; Gulls players present versus past. Come on you yellows!
COYY – Dom
“We didn’t show enough to win the game. I have asked them to go away, look at the game as individuals, see whether you thought you played well and affected the game. If you didn’t and you are selected, you need to come back on Monday and Tuesday ready to go, because Tuesday becomes an even bigger game” – GARY JOHNSON
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