The first football of 2023 saw Dean Brennan’s Barnet side travel the 5.5 miles North-East to Boreham Wood and the LV Bet Stadium.
Barnet named a team that saw recent recruit David Moyo handed his first start after signing for The Bees last week.
Ahead of the tie, both sides marked the passing of Pele with a minute of applause.
The game got off to a quick start with both sides attempting to take control. The hosts went very close within the first 80 seconds. Laurie Walker was forced into producing two incredible quick-fire saves to his right with the ball then being cleared by Danny Collinge.
Both sides fought hard for possession in the opening stages with the hosts having a flurry of chances that were well-defended by the Barnet back line. Boreham Wood took the lead in the 16th minute. Danny Collinge attempted to clear a through ball but unfortunately played it into the path of a Boreham Wood attacker leaving a one-on-one.
Walker was forced into making a terrific low save, but The Wood striker had a second attempt and saw his acrobatic effort nestle into the Barnet net.
The hosts almost doubled their lead 2 minutes later. Quick passing cut out the Barnet defence and allowed a Boreham Wood a shot from the edge of the box. The effort beat Walker, but also beat the Barnet post.
Barnet began to come into their own over the next 10 minutes. Solid passages of play allowed The Bees to retain a good amount of possession, however they were unfortunately unable to break the hosts’ defence and weren’t able to capitalise or create any clear-cut chances.
Barnet’s best chance of the half came on the stroke of Half-Time. A Gorman corner was met by Collinge on the penalty spot. His strong header was fired just over the crossbar without troubling the Boreham Wood goalkeeper.
Half Time: Boreham Wood 1-0 Barnet FC
The 2nd half began with a different tempo. Barnet hit the post within the first couple of minutes. A deceptive cross from wide by Sam Beard was flicked on and beat the keeper. The effort sadly hit the post and was dealt with by the Boreham Wood defender.
Shortly after, Idris Kanu sprung into life and produced a sublime darting run into the opposition’s box. His strong effort flew just over the bar after beating the keeper. It was a positive start after the break for Barnet.
As the game settled, there were chances for both sides. Barnet replaced Gorman and Woods, with Armstrong and Hall and shortly after, Laurie Walker was called into making a huge triple save. The hosts found themselves through on goal and Walker had to make three back-to-back-to-back saves. Incredible composure and skill for our number 1.
In the 70th minute, Ben Wynter had the ball in the back of the net. His headed effort beat the keeper, however he was adjudged to have been in an offside position. Only 4 minutes later, Wynter had the ball in the back of the net again and this time he held his run. A delicious ball from the left was met in the middle by Wynter who finished well past a helpless keeper to draw it level.
With just 15 minutes left, Sam Beard was called into making a sublime tackle as the last man. Beard was inch perfect with his sweeping tackle to prevent a certain goal and saw the ball out for a corner that did not cause any difficulty for the Barnet defence.
While there were 4 minutes of additional time, neither side were able to get the breakthrough and it ended 1-1 in Hertfordshire.
Full-Time: Boreham Wood 1-1 Barnet FC
Starting XI: 1. Laurie Walker, 4. Danny Collinge, 6. Jerome Okimo, 8. Dale Gorman © (64’ 5. Marvin Armstrong), 11. Idris Kanu, 14. Harry Pritchard, 20. David Moyo (84’ 10. Daniel Powell), 21. Ben Wynter, 23. Sam Beard, 28. Sam Woods (64’ 7. Rob Hall), 33. Ryan De Havilland.
Unused Substitutions: 31. Aymen Azaze, 24. Dominic Revan
Attendance: 2340 (Away: 998)
