Boreham Wood 1-1 Altrincham match report
Brian Flynn reports from Meadow Park
Altrincham won a deserved point in Hertfordshire, with a performance that improved, after the opening quarter of the game had been dominated by the home side, who are expected to be in the mix to achieve a play-off place this season.
Despite coming under very heavy pressure, it was the Robins who had the best early opportunity as Will Evans blocked Ryan Colclough’s shot superbly after Aaron Bennett had set the winger clear.
Phil Parkinson’s side grew into the game slowly but surely and took the lead in the 3rd minute of added time in the first half.
Marcus Dinanga, who had one of his best games in an Alty shirt, picked out Bennett, who bamboozled a couple of defenders with an excellent first touch and close control, before sliding the ball wide of the advancing Nathan Ashmore.
Alty were ahead for the first time this season but having achieved that feat after more than 400 minutes of football, it was less than five minutes before parity was restored.
After Josh Lundstram had done magnificently to deny Luke Garrard’s side, the resulting corner was headed on and the impressive Lee Ndlovu nudged the ball cleverly over the line.
The men in blue responded well to this setback and the game opened up as the 2nd half progressed. Both sides threatened on a number of occasions, with Will Evans heading wide following a corner but again the best opportunity fell to the visitors as substitute, Egli Kaja, who made a very positive impact as a substitute, for the 2nd consecutive Saturday, threaded a lovely ball through to Dinanga, who thundered a rasping drive that rattled the underside of the crossbar and bounced on the line.
Elliot Osborne and Josh Lundstram worked tirelessly and effectively in midfield, with Lundstram being a strong candidate for being the most influential player on the pitch, whilst it was really encouraging how well the team defended, with James Jones having his best game since returning to the club and Lewis Baines continuing an impressive start to his Alty career.
4 draws from the opening 5 fixtures represents a consistent start and contrasts sharply with last season, when we didn’t draw until the 10th league game at Yeovil in mid-October, but there are very definite signs that Phil Parkinson and Neil Sorvel’s new look team can progress further this season and that the decision to take the club full-time will enable the club to strive for further development this season and beyond.
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Kelly-Evans, Ilesmani, Evans, Rees, Ndlovu (Newton 75’), Marsh (Williams 86’), Fyfield, Payne, Sousa, Brunt (Lewis 63’)
Subs Not Used: Stephens, Elliott
Altrincham: Byrne, Brockbank, Mullarkey, Baines, Lundstram, Osborne, Colclough (Jackson 78’), Conn-Clarke (Kaja 68’), Jones, Bennett (Pringle 73’), Dinanga
Subs Not Used: Hulme, Cooper
