Wood continued their pre-season preparations with an entertaining 2-2 draw at home to an Arsenal XI. In a game filled with energy and attacking play, the Wood took an early lead but would ultimately have to find an equaliser late on against a technically gifted young Gunners side.
Luke Garrard made seven changes from the 11 that started Wood’s 0-2 loss to Watford in midweek, seeing Coxe, Whelan, Newton, Clayden and Rush come back into the lineup alongside Chris Bush and Erico Sousa, who made their first appearances of pre-season.
The game and with that, life in a new third kit, got off to a perfect start for the Wood with Matt Rush opening the scoring inside the opening two minutes. A well-worked move down the left saw Charles Clayden deliver a pinpoint cross into the box, allowing Rush to convert from close range. Wood nearly doubled their lead moments later when Rush and Abdul Abdulmalik combined to tee up Erico Sousa, but his effort flew just over the bar.
The Arsenal XI soon began to apply the pressure and in the 11th minute, Gunners number 10, Alex Marciniak levelled the score with a composed finish. The visitors looked dangerous on the break, and Marciniak almost added a second from a free kick midway through the half, only for Nathan Ashmore to make a solid save and keep the scoreline level.
At the other end, Aaron Henry tried his luck from a set piece, but his effort was blocked by a wall of red. Rush had another opening late in the half, driving forward with intent, but was cut out by Nyggard before he could get his shot off. Despite chances at both ends, the two sides went into the interval all square.
HT: Boreham Wood 1–1 Arsenal XI
The second half began in similar fashion, with both teams continuing to look for openings. The Gunners struck first after the restart, taking a 2-1 lead just past the hour mark with Maslow Hashi applying the finish.
Undeterred, Wood kept pressing for an equaliser and Jon Benton came close, curling a strike from distance, his effort well saved by substitute keeper, Khari Renson. There were strong appeals for a penalty when Femi Ilesanmi was brought down in the box with just under ten minutes remaining, but claims were waved away by the referee.
Wood’s persistence finally paid off in the 83rd minute, substitute Junior Dixon firing a powerful strike low and into the bottom left corner to restore parity. Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing stages, but neither could find the decisive goal.
FT: Boreham Wood 2–2 Arsenal XI
While the result ended level, Garrard will take plenty of encouragement from his side’s performance that showed quality, resilience, and energy throughout the contest. As pre-season continues to build towards the Enterprise National League opener against Rochdale, matches like this provide valuable minutes and confidence.
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Coxe (Trialist A 46), Bush (King 46), Sousa (Benton 46), Whelan, Abdulmalik (O’Connell 63), Newton (Ilesanmi 46), Henry (Trialist B 63), Reynolds (Trialist C 63), Clayden, Rush (Dixon 46).
Arsenal XI: Nygaard (Ranson 46), Hamill (Ismail 46), Clarke (King 60), Chapman (Onyekachukwu 46), Washington (Ogunnaike 46), Julienne (Murisa 46), Ferdinand (Hashi 60), Marciniak (Thompson 46), O’Neill (Bailey-Joseph 46), Sagoe Jr (Phillips 60), Zecevic John (Oyetunde 46).
Man of the match: Charles Clayden
Match report written by Dom Gadd.
