We couldn't have asked for a much tougher test to start the season than a game against Boreham Wood.
KEY CLASH: Harris & Young v. Murtagh and Ricketts
Clashes between these sides used to be a struggle to see who could impose their style of play on the other, with Wrexham generally looking to pass through midfield while Boreham Wood would look to bypass the middle of the pitch. That's no longer the case: while Boreham Wood like to provide their pacy forwards with early service, they are much more able to mix things up.
When they pass the ball through the middle of the pitch, they'll come up against a redoubtable pair in Luke Young and Jay Harris. One of the best midfield duos in the division, they are both highly effective at regaining possession.
Boreham Wood's duo, on the other hand, are a contrasting pair. Kieran Murtagh has consistently been one of the best midfielders in the National League over the last few years. Physical, but also able to move the ball intelligently, he also scored an injury time equaliser when the teams last met. Can he hold off the aggressive tackling of Harris and Young's ability to nip in and steal possession?
Protecting Murtagh is another experienced player: Mark Ricketts is approaching his 500th appearance in the fifth tier, and although he has played most of those games in the centre of defence, his conversion into a robust midfielder has been a revelation. But can he supportt Murtagh, stifle Harris' passing and cover Young's forward runs? The answer to those questions might determine how this game turns out.
HEAD TO HEAD
Borehamwood have become a team we’re getting used to playing early in the season. We’ve played them three times in August, and two seasons ago they were our opponents for our first Saturday game of the season at The Racecourse. We got off to a flying start too: Jordan Maguire-Drew gave us a half time lead and strikes by Rekeil Pyke and Mike Fondop earned us a comfortable 3-0, our biggest against The Wood
.
We only played Borehamwood once last season, due to the premature conclusion of the season. That game was also early in the season, and saw us squander a two-goal lead at Meadow Park.
Mark Harris gave us the lead and when Bobby Grant scored with only a quarter of the match left, it looked like we’d be following up our opening day victory over Barrow with another win.In truth, the scoreline flattered us, though, as Christian Dibble had kept Borehamwood at bay with a string of good saves. Ultimately our luck ran out: Kieran Murtagh pulled one back with nine minutes remaining and a late onslaught was rewarded when Justin Shaibu earned a point in the second minute of added time.
We’ve won three of our four home games against Borehamwood. We beat them the first two times they visited The Racecourse, even though we didn’t score in open play in either match.
Our first clash, in March 2016, was decided by a Connor Jennings penalty, and spot kicks decided the outcome in January 2017 too, .
Anthony Barry opened the scoring from the spot, but Morgan Ferrier equalized in the same manner with 14 minutes left. However, a third penalty would be given in the third minute of added time, which John Rooney would convert to secure the three points
A penalty would be decisive the next time The Wood ventured north, in April 2018. It was controversially awarded against Manny Smith for an innocuous-looking push, and Bruno Andrade took advantage to earn Borehamwood their first win over Wrexham, having lost the first five clashes.
Last ten meetings: DWWLWWWWW
HOME | AWAY | TOTAL | |||||||
W | D | L | W | D | L | W | D | L | |
National League | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
TOTAL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
FORM
Wrexham
Last Win: |
22/02/2020 |
Bromley (a) |
2-0 |
3 games ago |
Last Draw: |
07/03/2020 |
Eastleigh (h) |
0-0 |
1 game ago |
Last Defeat: |
29/02/2020 |
Yeovil Town (a) |
0-3 |
2 games ago |
Last Home Win: |
18/01/2020 |
Woking (h) |
3-0 |
3 games ago |
Last Home Draw: |
07/03/2020 |
Eastleigh (h) |
0-0 |
1 game ago |
Last Home Defeat: |
04/01/2020 |
Aldershot Town (h) |
1-2 |
4 games ago |
Last League Win: |
22/02/2020 |
Bromley (a) |
2-0 |
3 games ago |
Last League Draw: |
07/03/2020 |
Eastleigh (h) |
0-0 |
1 game ago |
Last League Defeat: |
29/02/2020 |
Yeovil Town (a) |
0-3 |
2 games ago |
Last clean sheet: |
07/03/2020 |
Eastleigh (h) |
0-0 |
1 game ago |
Last home clean sheet: |
07/03/2020 |
Eastleigh (h) |
0-0 |
1 game ago |
Last 0-0 draw: |
07/03/2020 |
Eastleigh (h) |
0-0 |
1 game ago |
Last home 0-0 draw: |
07/03/2020 |
Eastleigh (h) |
0-0 |
1 game ago |
Last Match: National League
07/03/20 Wrexham 0 Eastleigh 0
Wrexham: R Lainton, J Thompson, K Kennedy, S Pearson, D Kellior-Dunn, J Lawlor, L Young, M Carrington, J Harris, D Jarvis (P Rutherford, 60), J Ponticelli
Subs not used:K Barker, J Oswell, T Garrett, C Dibble
Boreham Wood
Last Win: |
17/07/2020 |
Halifax Town (h) |
2-1 |
2 games ago |
Last Draw: |
03/03/2020 |
Barnet (a) |
2-2 |
4 games ago |
Last Defeat: |
25/07/2020 |
Harrogate Town (a) |
0-1 |
1 game ago |
Last Away Win: |
07/03/2020 |
Maidenhead (a) |
1-0 |
2 away games ago |
Last Away Draw: |
03/03/2020 |
Barnet (a) |
2-2 |
3 away games ago |
Last Away Defeat: |
25/07/2020 |
Harrogate Town (a) |
0-1 |
1 away game ago |
Last League Win: |
07/03/2020 |
Maidenhead (a) |
1-0 |
1 league game ago |
Last League Draw: |
03/03/2020 |
Barnet (a) |
2-2 |
2 league games ago |
Last League Defeat: |
25/02/2020 |
Aldershot Town (a) |
2-3 |
4 league games ago |
Last clean sheet: |
07/03/2020 |
Maidenhead (a) |
1-0 |
3 games ago |
Last away clean sheet: |
07/03/2020 |
Maidenhead (a) |
1-0 |
2 away games ago |
Last 0-0 draw: |
01/01/2020 |
Barnet (h) |
0-0 |
12 games ago |
Last away 0-0 draw: |
14/09/2020 |
Harrogate Town (a) |
0-0 |
17 away games ago |
Last Match: National League Play-Off Semi-Final
25/07/2020 Harrogate Town 1 (Muldoon 65) Boreham Wood 0
Boreham Wood: N Ashmore, J Fyfield, F Ilesanmi, T Champion, K Murtagh, M Ricketts, K Tshimanga, T Marsh (J Shaibu, 71), M Rhead, S Thomas, K Smith (A Yussuf, 79)
Subs not used: G Smith, R Shakes, D Stephens, P Mingoia
PRE-SEASON RESULTS
WREXHAM | BOREHAM WOOD |
---|---|
Cefn Druids (h) 4-1 | Wingate & Finchley (a) 2-3 |
Salford CIty XI (h) 2-1 | Billericay Town (a) 0-2 |
AFC Telford United (a) 0-0 | Concord Rangers (a) 2-1 |
Kidderminster Harriers (a) 4-0 | Slough Town (a) 7-1 |
AFC Telford United (h) 0-1 | Finishing Touch Football (h) 2-0 |
Salford City XI (h) 1-0 | Peterborough United XI (h) 2-0 |
Welling United (a) 1-0 |
TOP SCORERS AGAINST BOREHAMWOOD
(2 GOALS EACH)
MILESTONES
Jay Harris plays his 225th game for Wrexham tomorrow, while Devonte will hope to make his 50th career appearance alongside him.
Theo Vassell makes his hundredth career appearance.