Boreham Wood 6-1 Eastleigh

BOREHAM WOOD 6-1 EASTLEIGH
SATURDAY 24th MARCH 2012

Blue Square Bet South 

Match report by Ray Murphy

It seems hard to imagine that ten days ago Eastleigh F C were talking of aiming for the play offs and a genuine good feeling about reaching the play offs. That is now almost mathematically impossible despite six more fixtures still to contest, but not even the eternal optimist could now believe that Eastleigh could clinch that last place.

On a run of form that has seen Eastleigh only collect four points from a possible twenty-one, averaging only a goal a game on the for column, it was a despondent Eastleigh side that trudged from the Meadow Park Boreham Wood arena following this five goal mauling, with Boreham Wood leapfrogging Eastleigh in the league table as a result.

Scott Rogers was recalled to the midfield to replace Ian Herring who found himself on the substitutes bench along side the fit again Tom Jordan. That was the only change to the starting line up that had been defeated at home by Tonbridge Angels four days earlier. The home side though are enjoying a good run of form with only one defeat in their previous eight games prior to this encounter. They retained the side that had been held to a draw at home by Salisbury in the previous midweek.

Boreham Wood were ahead on seven minutes after an even start by both sides. Ex-Eastleigh winger Graeme Montgomery delivered a left wing corner, which had been needlessly conceded, where the hosts centre back Callum Reynolds arrived unmarked to head home the opening goal.

Montgomery was out to prove what Eastleigh were missing and his whipped cross in the thirteenth minute to the near post saw Mauro Vilhete turn the ball just past the upright. A minute later after being set up by David Bryant, Montgomery received the ball on his unfavoured right foot and could not direct his shot on target.

On twenty-five minutes after being under pressure by Boreham Wood for a period, Eastleigh broke away and almost snatched an equaliser, Bradley Bubb collecting Lee Peacock's flick on, then with the ball sitting up nicely Bubb hit a swerving shot that was covered by home goalkeeper Elvijs Putnins.

Daryl McMahon on his return to his former club sent in a twenty-five yard free kick with a significant curl which Putnins turned away on thirty-two minutes then six minutes later McMahon’s pass into the path of Bubb in behind the Boreham Wood defence saw Bubb fire a shot through the legs of keeper Putnins but then rebound off the post.

Following Eastleigh spell of pressure, Boreham Wood created another opening on thirty-nine minutes when Mitchell Nelson's clearance from inside the area only struck Bryant - the ball arriving at the unmarked Montgomery who lacked composure with his finishing shot.

With the interval approaching both sides had chances to make addition to the scoreline. On forty minutes this time with Bubb as the provider, McMahon was the recipient who sent in a right foot volley just the wrong side of the upright with Putnins at full length to guard his net. On forty-two minutes it brought a last ditch tackle from Andy Forbes to stop Riza’s effort from hitting the target.

Tom Jordan was brought into the action at the start of the second period at the expense of Nelson, Forbes switching to right back. Within eight minutes of the second period though the game as a contest was over with Wood netting three goals in a five-minute spell.

On forty-eight minutes Montgomery’s free kick was half cleared allowing Riza to strike a volley, which struck a crowd of bodies falling for Bryant to force over the line. A minute later the ball fell for Montgomery on the half way line who purposefully strode forward, drawing Jack Dovey towards him before firing a low drive past the advancing keeper into the net.

There was time for Jordan to send a header from a McMahon free kick wide on fifty-one minutes before Wood added their fourth goal two minutes later. This time Jordan was in the action in his own penalty area when adjudged to have hauled Vilhete to the ground, which allowed Riza to fire home, the fourth goal from the penalty spot.

Things were not improving for Eastleigh who then saw Scott Rogers dismissed for a second yellow card following a challenge on Sam Cox. Whilst down to ten men though Eastleigh quickly grabbed what turned out to be a consolation goal. Sixty-seven minutes, McMahon with another free kick midway inside the Boreham Wood half though on the right flank, evaded everybody lined up in the box and nestled into the back of the net.

Any thoughts of a dramatic comeback though were quickly revoked when Wood restored their four-goal advantage two minutes later. Collecting the ball from twenty yards skipper Tony Garrard sent a shot, which proved too strong for the right hand of Dovey and found its way into the net.

Forbes cleared a header from Bryant off the line on seventy-nine minutes with Dovey beaten followed five minutes later by a rising drive from Riza that struck the underside of the bar and down and away to safety.

There was still time though for Wood to add a sixth in the final minute of the game and arguably the goal of the afternoon. A neat bit of skill from Cox allowed him to progress before firing a shot into the roof of the net and complete a miserable afternoon for Eastleigh.
Boreham Wood - 240312

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