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Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Torquay United vs Boreham Wood – National League South Play-Off Semi Final

Venue: Plainmoor

Date: Saturday 3rd May 2025

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 6

Draw: 5

Boreham: 8

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W5 – D0 – L1

W 1-0 Aveley A

L 1-2 Chesham United H

W 2-0 Slough Town H

W 1-0 Truro City A

W 3-0 Weymouth H

W 4-1 Hemel A

Boreham – W6 – D0 – L0

W 3-0 Salisbury A

W 3-0 Hemel Hempstead Town H

W 4-2 Slough Town A

W 4-1 Enfield Town H

W 3-1 Tonbridge Angels A

W 4-3 Dorking Wanderers H Play-off Eliminator

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke (19)

Boreham: Kwesi Appiah (26)

BOREHAM 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 – KWESI APPIAH

Kwesi Appiah began his career in the youth set up at Ebbsfleet United before earning a move to Peterborough United in 2008. After two seasons with the Posh, including loan spells with Weymouth, King’s Lynn Town and Kettering Town, Kwesi departed London Road in 2010 returning to Non-League to sign for Thurrock. Just a season later in July 2011, Appiah signed for Margate, where he would enjoy the most prolific spell of his career. Kwesi’s impressive start to life at Margate, scoring 22 goals in 24 appearances, quickly caught the attention of sides much further up the pyramid and in January 2012 Crystal Palace won the race to his signature.

Across a five-year spell with Crystal Palace, Kwesi would enjoy loans spells away from Selhurst Park with the likes of Aldershot Town, Yeovil Town, Cambridge United, Notts County, AFC Wimbledon, Reading and Viking FK of Norway, however in the summer of 2017 following the expiration of his contract, Appiah would join one of his former loan clubs, AFC Wimbledon, on a permanent basis. Kwesi would spend three seasons with the Dons, scoring 15 goals in 71 total appearances, but a move abroad was next on the cards for Appiah, signing for Northeast United in the Indian Super League in October 2020.

Less than a year later, Kwesi returned to England, signing for League Two Crawley Town in August 2021. Following the mutual termination of his contract at the Broadfield Stadium in the summer of 2023, Kwesi would put pen to paper on a two-year contract with Boreham Wood in July 2023.

Kwesi also boasts seven senior appearances and two goals for Ghana, including scoring in the 2015 African Cup of Nations quarter final 3-0 win over Guinea. Despite losing on 9-8 penalties to the Ivory Coast, Kwesi started for the Black Stars in the AFCON final.

APPIAH STATS – Position: Striker – Date of Birth: 12/08/90 – Height: 1.80m – Ebbsfleet, Peterboro, Weymouth, Kettering, Brackley, Thurrock, Margate, Crystal Palace, Aldershot, Yeovil, Cambridge, Notts County, Wimbledon, Reading, Viking, NorthEast Utd, Crawley, Colchester – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances: 35, Goals 24, Yellow/Red Cards 2/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

Boreham: Tyrone Marsh

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (4-3-3): James Hamon; Jordan Thomas, Ed Palmer, Sam Dreyer, Jay Foulston; Omar Mussa, Dan Hayfield, Lirak Hasani; Matt Jay, Jordan Young, Cody Cooke

Boreham Wood (5-3-2): Nathan Ashmore; Cameron Coxe, Callum Reynolds, Jozef Yarney, Charlie Clayden, Femi Ilesanmi; Charlie O’Connell, Tom Whelan, Abdul Abdulmalik; Erico Sousa, Matthew Rush

LAST MEETING

Last meeting: Last meeting: Saturday 1st March 2025, Torquay United 2 Boreham Wood 2

Despite having a luxury of a two-goal cushion at the half-time interval United were pegged back by two late goals from Boreham Wood, as the Gulls’ hunt for promotion took another twist. United were in front on nine minutes when a misplaced pass from Boreham Wood defender Chris Bush was intercepted by Jay whose pass found Young who curled home his ninth of the campaign from close range.

The Wood threatened an equaliser in the 28th minute when a cross from Bush was headed over by leading scorer Kwesi Appiah. Tom Whelan and Matthew Rush later went close for the visitors without seriously troubling Gulls’ keeper James Hamon. Four minutes before the break, Will Jenkins Davies won a challenge in midfield and the ball fell invitingly to Jay, who went on a darting run before finding the back of the net with his third goal in as many games.

In the second half, Jayden Richardson hit the post for the Wood on 52 minutes before the rebound landed in the path of sub Enrico Sousa who blasted wide. Arguably the Gulls’ best chance of the half came in the 73rd minute when Jordan Thomas cut onto his left foot before firing an angled drive straight at Wood keeper Nathan Ashmore. Three minutes later, Hamon was called in action for United as he made a smart save from to deny a close range header from Rush.

With eight minutes to go, the Wood pulled one back through a sumptuous 40 yard strike from sub Abdulmalik. On 86 minutes, Jay saw an effort parried away by Ashmore as the Gulls looked to restore their lead. However, the Wood levelled matters with virtually the last kick of the game as Abdulmalik went on a solo run before teeing up fellow sub Dixon, who sealed a share of the points for the Wood.