Boreham Wood v Watford

<b>Match Report</b>

A blistering opening salvo of high octane football delighted the majority of the 922 crowd as Malky Mackay's full strength Watford side cruised into a 0 – 3 lead inside thirteen minutes. The first an individual effort by Michael Bryan, a pacy winger, was true quality. Picking up the ball on the halfway line he skillfully passed three Wood challenges advancing into the penalty area before curling an exquisite shot through a gap in the defence that left Tony Tucker no chance whatsoever.

Wood were struggling defensively at this stage with Watford giving little chance of possession. Tamas Priskin dragged down a volley superbly missing the target when well placed and with eight minutes played The Hornets went further ahead. Yemi Atta lost possession just six yards from goal, allowing Ross Jenkins to set up Danny Graham for an easy side step home. Graham, one of two new Watford signings gave Hornets fans high hopes for the coming Season when the ex-Carlisle United forward grabbed his second just four minutes later. Club Captain and ‘keeper Richard Lee rolled out to Academy star Rob Kiernan whose superb long ball over the Wood defence forced Atta into another error, failing to pick up the run of Graham, who picked his spot.

Slowly Wood regrouped and managed to quell the flood of goals. Jamie Richards the solo striker for Wood on the afternoon led the line superbly throughout with little or no support. Dan Cowie spurned a fine opportunity to make it four for Watford on the half hour, with Tucker doing well to smother the low effort, before Priskin again failed to find the target when well placed.

Mario Noto then headed Wood's first effort on target. A fine lofted ball from Kevin Stephens managed to pull the defence out of shape and the resultant loose ball was met by Noto's looping header which Lee had to work for to snatch from under the crossbar. Minutes later Greg Morgan found himself space to fashion a shot across goal from the edge of the area that was not too far off the mark, leaving Wood in a far better position than they could have wished for at the interval, given the frenetic opening of classy football from the Championship side.

Mackay replaced his whole outfield for the second half, with John-Joe O'Toole, Tommy Smith and Nathan Ellington involved. Ian Allinson replaced the struggling Joe Reynolds and Yemi Atta with Chris Watters and Leon Hunter. The Wood changes gave the side a more stable feel and they went on to compete well against a set of Hornets outfield players that were not a patch on their first half colleagues. The constant threat that the Wood defence had been under evaporated, allowing Wood to finally take some positives from the game.

Dee Okojie looked an extremely exciting prospect with his pace, close controls and positional awareness. However it was The Hornets who went close through ex-Chelsea defender Jon Harley who guided a shot just wide after good build up play down the right by Smith. Wood reduced the deficit when a defensive mix up between Scott Severin a recent signing from Aberdeen and ‘keeper Lee left the shot stopper stranded off his line. Okojie added an eye for goal to his CV with a beautifully crafted chip from a tight angle wide on the right which found the target.

Wood obviously buoyed by their first goal of the Pre-Season continued to compete, with the Watford fans beginning to vent their frustrations towards the end of the game. Ellington produced a fine cross for O'Toole who powered his header just over and with The Hornets committing a few late fouls, Watters was allowed a free kick attempt at goal which was just wide of the mark. Watford completed their scoring with the last kick of the game, when Harley this time found the target glancing home beyond Tucker after “The Duke” had skipped over a Curtis Ujah challenge to supply the telling low ball from the right.




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