Report
A battling defensive display and some scintillating attacking almost brought Forest all three points at Boreham Wood on Saturday and, had they not conceded an unfortunate late own goal, they would have done just that.
Both teams settled early into their rhythm, each eager to get forward but also willing to defend. Forest always looked the more dangerous when on the attack with Dewayne Clarke causing all sorts of problems wherever he turned up in the front line.
It took fifteen minutes for Wood to have their first attempt on goal but that was easily saved by Gavin King. They should have gone ahead a few minutes later when Forest’s normally solid defence came across to the left of the penalty area leaving Joe Baker at the far post all by himself. Somehow he managed to shoot against the outside of the post when he had the whole of the goal to aim for.
Forest too were looking for that first goal but real chances were few and far between at this stage. One clear cut chance fell to Sosthene but when he ran through from the half way line and shot from the edge of Wood’s penalty area only to see Noel Imber pull off an excellent save.
Ten minutes from halftime Forest had to withstand a period of sustained Wood pressure when, it seemed, that every player was inside the penalty area having shots on goal. Inexplicably, the ball never found its way to King and the pressure receded.
Clarke then broke through at the other end and put a beautiful low cross into Wood’s six yard box which cried out for a tap in but Forest’s Joe Nartey was just inches away as the ball flew past. A few moments later, John Morgan popped up on the right and made the same kind of cross with the same result.
With only five minutes played in the second half Ali Demir replaced Joe Nartey up front to make his debut for the Stags and immediately his pace and agility added more bite to the front line.
Forest’s pressure was beginning to tell and they went ahead after 64 minutes when Simon Tickner joined the attack to rise above the home defence and head the ball into the path of Clarke who mad no mistake slamming the ball into the net.
On 72 minutes Wood made a double substitution to try to get the game back but it was still Forest looking the stronger with John Morgan firing over from 5yards when he could have sealed all three points for the Stags.
Now it was Wood’s turn to apply some pressure but some excellent defending from Tickner, Barnes Salmon and Elliott kept the visitors’ hopes high until six minutes from the end when Wood were awarded a free kick just inside their own half. The fact that the foul was actually on the Forest player, not by him, seemed to go over the referee’s head (as many things did during the game).
Imber came out and put a long ball to the goal line. Grime sliced the ball back across the penalty area where Forest’s Liam Baptiste unfortunately put the ball into his own net.
Wood went looking for the three points and would have had them but for two excellent tackles from Salmon and Tickner.
In the end, honours were even in what turned out to be an entertaining and enthralling game.