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MATCH REPORT: Boreham Wood 1-2 Shots

Aldershot secured their first three points of the season with a 2-1 victory at Boreham Wood. Despite gaining a two goal advantage through Justin Amaluzor and Ryan Glover and looking comfortable, a fantastic George Williams free-kick gave the hosts hope of a point but The Shots held firm and head home with a win.

Neither team were able to make any instant impression of intent. Boreham Wood perhaps started the sharpest but could only muster a few shots from distance.

But, it was Aldershot who would take the lead in the 15th minute. Inih Effiong and Harry Panayiotou lined up superbly with a silky one-two setting Effiong free. He was ushered wider than he’s have liked by Jamal Fyfield but turning back, picked out Justin Amaluzor who was able to poke it home.

It’s fair to say The Shots responded better to going in front. Whilst they didn’t actively look to further there lead, they were happy to sit on their lead and let Boreham Wood work harder to equalise.

The hosts came close to getting that equaliser through no effort of their own in the 26th minute when Luca Ashby-Hammond failed to hold onto a Dennon Lewis cross. Giles Phillips was however on hand to clear off the line as the home strikers waited to pounce.

Phillips was enjoying his return to the starting lineup and was imperious in the air. His pace also gained a rapturous ovation from the travelling Shots faithful after doing really well to stop a Boreham Wood attack before racing onto his own clearance to stop another counter-attack.

Justin and Effiong linked up just before half-time in another neat one-two this time setting up Panayiotou whose audacious Van-Basten-esque volley was unfortunately not like the Dutch legend’s famous goal and instead shanked wide.

The hosts came their closest to scoring with the last attack before the break. Erico Sousa cut in from the left-wing before shooting inches wide with his right-foot.

HALF-TIME

A half-time substitution for The Shots saw Ryan Glover replacing Corey Jordan and a change of tactic for Mark Molesley’s side as they looked to show a more positive approach to going in front.

It was Boreham Wood who would see the first chance of note in the second-half. They enjoyed a string of corners in the opening quarter of an hour and whilst you’d expect Jamal Fyfield to be a danger from corners, you wouldn’t expect him to strike a beautiful volley just wide as he did in the 53rd minute.

Ryan Glover’s introduction gave The Shots another dimension to attack and the half-time change paid dividends just after the hour when he scored a second for his side. Josh McQuoid saw an effort from outside the box crash against the post and Glover was there to turn home the rebound from the near the penalty spot.

The tactical change seemed to take the home side by surprise and though they continued to win corners, failed to inflict any real danger on The Shots goal and it was Glover who again proved dangerous when he unleashed a stinging shot from distance that almost took Nathan Ashmore by surprise but the effort was straight at him.

Boreham Wood needed something special to change their fortunes and get back into the game and got just that when substitute George Williams scored a brilliant free-kick to give his side some hope.

Inspired by their route back into the game, The Wood pushed frantically for an equaliser and even chucked towering David Stephens up top who showed why he’s a centre-half with a shanked effort from close range after some serious pressure from the hosts.

But The Shots would hold firm for their first win of the season and enjoyed a passionate ovation from the fantastic travelling Shots faithful.

  1. Luca Ashby-Hammond, 2. Archie Davies, 3. Ollie Harfield, 4. Joe Partington (c), 5. Tyler Cordner, 7. Justin Amaluzor (6. Kodi Lyons-Foster 90+1′), 9. Inih Effiong, 10. Josh McQuoid, 11. Harrison Panayiotou (27. Tommy Willard 80′), 16. Corey Jordan (23. Ryan Glover 46′) 22. Giles Phillips. Subs not used: 13. Ryan Hall, 20. Michael Klass