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MATCH PREVIEW: Boreham Wood v Shots (A)

WHO ARE THE SHOTS PLAYING?

The Shots first midweek clash of the season is away to Hertfordshire outfit Boreham Wood. Otherwise known as “The Wood”, Boreham Wood were founded in 1948. Shots will be travelling to their 4,500 capacity ground Meadow Park.

HOW DID THEY DO LAST SEASON?

Boreham Wood made headlines last season for their impressive run in the FA Cup, going past Barnet, Eastleigh, St Albans City and AFC Wimbledon without conceding before meeting then Championship side AFC Bournemouth in the fourth round, knocking them out 1-0. Their impressive run came to an end in the fifth round away at Goodison Park, losing 2-0 to Everton.

As for the league, Boreham Wood finished on 67 points, seven points adrift of Chesterfield who occupied the final play-off position in seventh. Their ninth placed finish makes them Aldershot’s first opposition this season who weren’t in the play-offs last season.

HOW DID WE GET ON AGAINST THEM LAST SEASON?

Much like this season, Shots first clash against Boreham Wood last season was at Meadow Park. A Jamal Fyfield goal in the second half separating the sides, earning the Wood a 1-0 victory. The return fixture at the EBB in April was a more favourable day for the Shots, Ndjoli and Berkeley- Agyepong getting on the scoresheet for the Shots, earning a 2-1 victory.

WHO IS THEIR GAFFER?

Current Boreham Wood manager is 36-year-old Luke Garrard. Garrard spent 13 years as a player, but made headlines in 2015, as he was appointed manager of Boreham Wood in October 2015 at just 30, making him the youngest boss in all of England’s top five leagues.

In 2017/18, Garrard guided Boreham Wood to the National League Play-off Final, defeating AFC Flyde and Sutton United on their way before losing to Tranmere Rovers at Wembley. That season was also the first time Boreham Wood beat a team in the Football League when they beat Blackpool in the FA Cup.

Garrard has taken charge of 337 games at Boreham Wood, winning 122, drawing 107 and losing 108. It was actually a 1-0 away victory for the Shots which saw him get the job. Ian Allinson resigned after the game with the now Wood boss being appointed the next day. Garrard has quite a mixed record against the Shots with a 30% win rate, picking up four wins out of 13 since he took charge. Shots have won on five occasions and the sides have shared the points four times.

BOREHAM WOOD SQUAD UPDATE:

Boreham Wood will be without George Williams and Dion Kelly-Evans this weekend. Williams is out with a collarbone fracture, with his return date unknown, and Kelly-Evans pickup up a straight red card on the opening weekend of the season so misses out through suspension. Lee Ndlovu could return to the side, with his one game suspension being served against Notts County.

All three of those players join five others who have joined the Wood this Summer, Williams joining from Barrow on a free transfer, Dion Kelly-Evans joining from Notts County and Lee Ndlovu joining from Brackley. Jack Payne and Erico Sousa have joined Williams in transitioning from League Two to the National League, both joining for free from Crawley Town and promoted Grimsby Town respectively. Alfie Egan, Danny Newton, and Danny Elliot have joined from Ebbsfleet, Solihull Moors and Boston United for free, with Zak Brunt re-joining the side on another loan from Sheffield United u23s.

The eight arrivals has been met with 13 departures, most notably Jacob Mendy to Wrexham and Kane Smith to Stevenage. Scott Boden and Gus Mafuta have both swapped Hertfordshire for Yorkshire, joining York City, and Adrian Clifton has left for Maidenhead United. The final two National League departures are Jamie Reckord and Connor Smith, joining Yeovil and Barnet respectively. James Comley, Jack Munns, Frankie Raymond, Joshua Roach, Momodou Jallow and Nile Ranger have all also left the club.

ANY EX-SHOTS?

Boreham Wood have two ex-Shots currently on their books: 30-year-old centre-back Will Evans and 28-year-old central midfielder Josh Rees. Rees only spent one campaign at Aldershot, in 2020/21, making 39 league appearances and scoring 12 league goals from midfield for the Shots. Evans spent a bit longer at the club with his Shots career panning two seasons in 16/17 and 17/18. Shots reached the National League Play-offs in both seasons, with Evans making 75 appearances over the course of those two years.

HOW TO GET TICKETS:

Tickets can be purchased via the hosts’ website HERE, and they are priced as follows:

  • Adults: £20
  • OAP: £18
  • Under 16: £12
  • Under 12: £6

Thank you for your continued support!

HOW TO FOLLOW THE GAME:

The best place for live updates is Shots official Twitter @OfficialShots, and you can catch up with highlights of the game on the Aldershot YouTube channel HERE after the final whistle has gone.

There will be live BBC Surrey Sport online commentary of the game with Rob Worrall and a guest summariser.