TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Boreham Wood vs Torquay United – National League South

Venue: Meadow Park

Date: Saturday 23rd November 2024

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 6

Draw: 3

Boreham Wood: 8

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W2 – D3 – L1

L 1-2 Hornchurch A

D 2-2 Chelmsford H

W 1-0 Salisbury A

D 0-0 Tonbridge H

D 1-1 Maidstone H

W 1-0 Truro City H

Boreham Wood – W2 – D2 – L2

L 1-2 Eastbourne Borough A

D 2-2 Leyton Orient H (FA Cup) – lost 3-1 on penalties

W 3-1 Farnborough H

L 0-1 Aveley A

W 1-0 Truro City H

D 1-1 Felixstowe & Walton United H (FA Trophy) – won 5-4 on penalties

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke (6)

Boreham Wood: Kwesi Appiah (7)

BOREHAM WOOD FACT FILE

Year founded: 1948

Nickname: The Wood

Last season’s league finish: 21st in National League

Notable Honours:

National League South:

Play-off Winners: 2014-15

Isthmian League Division One:

Winners: 1976-77, 1994-95, 2000-01

THE MANAGER – LUKE GARRARD

Luke Garrard took charge of the Wood for a second time earlier this season following the brief reign of Ross Jenkins. In his first spell in charge, Garrard turned out a number of competitive sides on a regular basis after he succeeded Ian Allinson as manager of the Wood in October 2015. In his first season in charge, the 2015-16 campaign, he steered the Wood to safety, which was followed by an 11th 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. In the 2019-20 season, Garrard led the Wood to the play-offs again, where they were eliminated by FC Halifax Town in the quarter finals.

In the 2021-22 campaign, he famously guided the Wood to the fifth round of the FA Cup, after beating AFC Wimbledon and AFC Bournemouth on route, before they were eliminated by Everton.

PLAYER TO WATCH – LEE NDLOVU

After five consecutive play-off finishes between 2017/18 and 2021/22 with National League North promotion challengers Brackley Town, Lee Ndlovu arrived at Meadow Park in the summer of 2022 with an impressive goal-scoring record at step two of the Non-League pyramid. In his first season at Meadow Park, Lee played an instrumental role in the Wood’s progression to not only the third round proper of the Emirates FA Cup, but also their sixth placed play-off finish and advancement to the National League play-off semi-finals. Lee finished the 2022/23 campaign as the club’s top goal scorer with an impressive 16 goals in 45 total appearances across all competitions.

NDLOVU STATS – Position: Striker – Date of Birth: 08/12/94 – Height: 1.78m – Previous Clubs: Holbeach, Grantham, Ilkeston, Brackley – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 10, Goals 3, Yellow/Red Cards 1/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

Boreham Wood: Tyrone Marsh

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (3-4-2-1): James Hamon; Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer, Jay Foulston; Jordan Thomas, Dan Hayfield, Oscar Threlkeld, Matt Carson; Jordan Young, Will Jenkins Davies; Cody Cooke

Boreham Wood (4-3-3): Nathan Ashmore; Jayden Richardson, Charlie O’Connell, Josh Hare, Chris Bush; Charlie Clayden, Mohammed Sagaf, Gus Mafuta; Jon Benton, Junior Dixon, Lee Ndlovu

LAST MEETING

Tuesday 28th March 2023, Boreham Wood 0 Torquay United 1

Asa Hall’s winner at Boreham Wood earned Torquay a first victory in nine matches to keep their slim National League survival hopes alive. Hall steered home from a Kevin Dawson cross on the half-hour and it proved enough to take three precious points for the Gulls, while hitting the hosts’ play-off aspirations.

Torquay could have doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when Frank Nouble was played through, but he was denied by a brilliant save from goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore, who parried over the crossbar. The hosts, chasing their first win in three matches, pressed for an equaliser, with Dennon Lewis finding the side-netting and Zak Brunt denied by Mark Halstead in the visitors’ goal. But Torquay managed to negotiate seven minutes of added time to claim the win that moves them six points from safety.