Wood Left Half Baked By Malky's Men

Boreham Wood 0 Watford 5

Pre-Season Friendly

Saturday 10 July 2010

by John Mead

Wood received a first half roasting against a full strength Watford side on a blisteringly hot afternoon. All the goals came in the first half, with the Golden Boys four up after just 18 minutes.

However the second half was an altogether different affair and despite the fact that the visitors are full time professionals the Wood defence made amends for a torrid opening half.

Watched by nearly 800 fans mainly clothed in yellow jerseys Malky Mackay's side did not disappoint. Early Wood pressure on Scott Loach's goal soon subsided after eleven minutes. A fine pass from Sherwin Stanley found Claude Seanla in a crowded penalty area who could not convert. Watford took full advantage and in the blink of an eye were on the attack through Will Buckley. Picking up possession inside his own half he raced past the Wood defence into the area finishing with ease past Simon Overland.

Three minutes later Watford again exposed the Wood defence. The impressive Piero Mingoia fed Danny Graham down the left. Luke Garrard failed to track the move allowing Graham to lay into the path of Buckley who fired home from close range past a static Overland. It went from bad to worse just two minutes later. A lofted ball forward from Lee Hodson was easily gathered by Graham. With the Wood defence completely missing Overland was over exposed and the ex-Carlisle United striker was allowed to pick his spot.

With just eighteen minutes played Watford went four up. This time Overland spilled a low drive from the right from Adam Thompson allowing Stephen McGinn to tap home from close range. Greg Morgan then forced a brilliant stop from the England “Under 21” International who rushed out to save with his legs as Wood tried to halt the onslaught.

Stanley made way for Bobby Highton after thirty-eight minutes, leaving Manager Ian Allinson little time to assess his partnership with Seanla, forcing Leon Hunter up into attack. Buckley, realising that Mackay would be fielding a fresh eleven for the second half went in search of his hat-trick with a low drive that Overland did well to repel. However his third did come after forty-three minutes when a brilliant left sided cross from Mingoia found the ex-Rochdale man who was just too hot for the Wood defence.

Wood were a credit to the Club second half. Up against ten fresh full time players in over thirty degrees of heat they refused to buckle. Matt Whichelow, Gavin Massey and Liam Henderson in the Watford attack were kept relatively quiet, thanks to a much improved showing from Garrard at right back and Overland in goal. Putting their first half inadequacies behind them they added to the robustness showed throughout from Ryan’s, Moran and Kirby. Whichelow lost his battle with Garrard throughout and a fine double save from Overland denied Rob Kiernan from close range.

Seanla was feeding from scraps in the Wood attack, yet never gave up. The introduction of seventeen year old Charlie Hunter heralded the resurgence of Wood's passing game, with the youngster’s vision and thriftiness in possession a real asset. The heat began to play its part, with Watford exercising extreme patience in possession, whilst their defence rarely looked like burning out. Overland kept the scoreline down with a fine one on one stop to deny Whichelow who had an eternity to pick his spot after springing the offside trap, before again denying the striker in the closing stages.

Team: Overland, Garrard, Kirby, L. Hunter, Moran, Fraser (Sub – C. Hunter 60 mins.), Clarke (Sub – McEwan 84 mins.), Allinson, Seanla (Sub – Anson 84 mins.), Stanley (Sub – Highton 36 mins.), Morgan (Sub – Brett 74 mins.).

Goals: Watford: Buckley 11,14, 43. Graham 16, McGinn 18.