Ladies Day

Boreham Wood 4-0 AFC Fylde (National League)

It's Ladies Day today. Free entrance for all women who get a complimentary cocktail at the Glasshouse on arrival. Yet another inclusive modern marketing introduction from a small non league club who are trying their best to appeal to the wider audience.

Boreham Wood are flying in their division, top of the table with already clear space beneath them but gates are often under 2,000 in these parts. Another relatively small club AFC Fylde are in town today, going strong in seventh after securing promotion from the National League North last season. 

Anyone who predicted the tables at the start of the campaign might have had Fylde as struggling to avoid relegation this year so in comparison the Coasters are doing well, like Boreham Wood, punching well above their weight amidst older, bigger, richer and better branded establishments that we might have otherwise picked for promotion.

These two teams have similarities in size and ambition, both have in recent years climbed the walls of non league football and both have come close to making it, a playoff final away from getting into the Football League for the first ever time.

In 2018, Boreham Wood finished a highest ever fourth in the fifth tier before losing in the playoff final against Tranmere Rovers at Wembley Stadium.

A year later Fylde were thumped 3-0 in the playoff final by Salford City before relegation the season after, both sides have dropped into the division below, both have bounced back, Boreham Wood last season finishing fourth again, before being beaten agonisingly by Rochdale on penalties, whilst Fylde gained promotion scoring 112 goals and gaining 100 points in winning the National League North.

I'm excited about today as I think it's a game where Fylde can test their hosts. And in testing conditions too, as Storm Boelo heads to these shores, the wind and rain is picking up as I travel south towards Hertfordshire down the M1 and skimming past Watford and Radlett before pulling up just a couple of roads from Meadow Park where there's plenty of parking on the street sides.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

The Venue

It's eerily quiet as I walk towards the grey modern looking arena which is very well sign posted, each and every space outside has the opportunity to splash 'Meadow Park' or 'Welcome to Boreham Wood' on it.

I'm collecting my ticket from what looks like a burger truck signed 'Ticket Office' before walking towards the gates which a steward already opens for my anticipated arrival. "I've rolled out the red carpet for you" she says with a smile. "There's no red carpet here" I add... "just puddles".

It's grey, miserable and wet as I walk slowly around the front of the North Bank to my seat in the press area, Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard leans back sitting in the dug out cross legged drinking a coffee whilst being interviewed, it's all very laid back from the division's top gaffer. I'm intrigued by his demeanor and how he does things here.

It's the best view on the circuit for me. I've only been here once but I wanted to come back so soon because I like it so much, the press seats around ten feet high but up close to the pitch, a real elevated central view and it's right behind both dugouts so you get to hear every word said by the Manager and their Assistants.

Another scout has turned up less so happy today. He's asking for a photo of our team sheets as he can't get one. "Tightest club in Britain" he says. "They only provide access if you're one of their preferred agents, you have to buy a ticket, you don't even get parking" he blurts. "But it's ok when we pay £2m for one of their players". I tell him "they probably would prefer it if you're Swedish".

I've heard similar complaints about Boreham Wood but I've had no such issues here, a friendly helpful response from all involved and as I say the set up is great. A modern ground which is well protected from the wind and rain unless you are mad enough to stand in the open end to my right, where a couple of teenagers in coats brave the elements.

The Game

I've told the Fylde media team (who are also very friendly) I'm expecting them to give Boreham Wood a tough match today and that I believe it will be a good yardstick as to where they are at. One of them says "we don't lose when I turn up" so I think they are quietly confident, despite knowing this game is pretty much a free hit away at the runaway league leaders.

The two teams are out as the rain continues to lash down, the pitch by the way is pristine, an absolute carpet and testament to the ground staff who have it in magnificent condition. This suits Fylde who can play a bit, they have a lot of the ball early on as the wind gushes around the rain soaks those out in the middle. Boreham Wood are not liking the conditions, they are becoming frustrated as Fylde opt to let their keeper stand on the ball when he gets it passed back to him. Ted Curd is looking for Regan Booty to push forward and create space in midfield allowing Allarakhia to drop deep which opens up the longer direct ball. The system is inventive to pull around the Fylde players out of position but Craig Mahon's side aren't buying it, 'you can have it' they tell Curd, who stands on it for 60 seconds before kicking it long and straight back to Fylde.

It's good stuff from the visitors who are strongly stifling Garrard's strategy, one of his players gives the ball away and then blames someone else. Garrard is going ballistic... "Stop throwing your arms about" he shouts. "He's throwing his arms about" he tells his assistant (who reminds me of the Dark Destroyer from the Chase sitting a few rows higher up to get a better view down below). "The cunts throwing his arms about".

"Go get warm" he tells one of his players. "That cunts not doing it, I'm bringing him off" before telling his sub as he runs towards the touchline to stretch off "and if you don't do it I'll bring you off you cunt".

I love watching Garrard, he swears so much and gets irate by the smallest of detail, but I get the impression once he's calmed down he goes back to being a loveable personable human who simply loves the game. He loves himself, and he has a good team which I'm sure he loves, and they buy into his plan, and I doubt none of them are too bothered when he 'F' bombs them as they have probably heard it all so much already.

In contrast, Craig Mahon is cool and calm, quiet, he stands chilled on the touchline allowing others to do the talking, letting his players play, the seats here at Meadow Park allow you to analyse those in the dugout so well. There is no right or wrong in football, just personality, passion, and performance, which when combined positively ends up in achieving great results collectively.

The Score

It's all going well for Fylde, the game plan is working, they have Boreham Wood exactly where they want them after half an hour played, struggling for ideas, lacking creation, playing at a slow flat tempo that looks to be going nowhere, centre half Chris Bush is on the half way line, no passes available but a straight ball to Zak Brunt who's on the edge of the opponents area with a defender tight up his arse. Brush plays Brunt the ball and the league's best playmaker takes it upon himself to create his own opportunity. He turns the defender in an instant, runs through on goal and pokes home to give his side the lead.

It's magnificent from the divisions best player, everything was right from Fylde until that moment, Brunt's class has been the only thing uncontainable all half.

That leads to two things, Boreham Wood suddenly have their peckers up, and Fylde hit self combust. Moments after the opener Jay Bird is brought down softly for a penalty, Brunt steps up but blasts into the gardens behind the open end goal, but a decent run by Allarakhia shortly after ends with Tylor Golden heading home at the back post, he's been getting it off the Manager more than most but they share a chuckle after he scores.

There's time for more, moments before half time Jay Bird is running through on goal, he does what all good strikers do and blasts it as hard as he can straight at the keeper who dives out of the way, 3-0 Wood, the visitors have quickly downed tools.

"You're coming on, and you're coming on" Craig Mahon says to two of his subs ahead of half time, and in fact Fylde make four changes at the break, before a fourth goal is added on 54, Golden dispossessing Lancaster before squaring to Brunt who has an open net to pass into.

It's been an Achilles Heel all afternoon for Fylde who play the right footed Lancaster at left back, problem is he has no left foot and every time he gets it he's looking to kick with his right, which really makes getting the ball forward from that side difficult.

But Fylde do improve as Boreham Wood take their soddened feet off the gas, some half decent cameos in the second half from young Theo Upton and Jack Morris in particular whilst Kyrell Malcolm is another teenager who gets important minutes.

They came with a game plan which worked for half an hour did Fylde, but unfortunately when that game plan stopped working, the match was soon quickly over.

The Stars

Tylor Golden was surprising choice for supporters man of the match, moments before the announcement Garrard was shouting "fuck off Tylor" after a mistake by the Boreham Wood right back. "He's done my fucking head in today" said Garrard to his staff. But as the tannoy man named Golden as man of the match, Garrard sat back and chuckled to himself, before applauding along with the rest of the crowd.

Golden offers dynamism at right full back and gets forward positively but I really like the Boreham Wood left back Oliver Bainbridge who is a decent size and very comfortable on the ball, one of the few players who didn't 'get it' off Garrard.

In truth they don't have a bad player, the midfield engine is controlled by Tom White who is an unsung hero alongside Regan Booty, whilst the likes of Brunt and Allarakhia entertain with end goal in sight, they have so much firepower in attack, Jay Bird leading the line really well was replaced by Conor Wilkinson who's a great loan capture from Solihull Moors, whilst Matty Rush returns from injury, we know what he can do, they have Danny Cashman and Marley Marshall-Miranda who are both lovely attacking playmakers, easy on the eye.

As for Fylde, well I was looking forward to casting eye on Luca Thomas who in truth didn't have his best game but he didn't look out of place amidst decent opponents, working hard for the team he had a couple of sniffs and I think he has the fundamentals to become a top striker in the lower echelons of the Football League. Ever-willing to make runs with nice feet to get away from his markers.

Defensively Fylde were organised, in midfield it was simply a case of the home sides being better than theirs but in Greg Olley, Danny Mayor, Chris Merrie, they have decent experience with quality, whilst at right back I thought Aaron Drewe was perhaps their best player on the day.

The Verdict

A match which I said Fylde could test Boreham Wood and I think up until 30 minutes they really had them frustrated, then class told in Zak Brunt, sometimes good footballers simply have that ability to win football matches, tactics, tictacs, it's often players that still win games of football.

No shame in getting well beaten by this Boreham Wood team, I expect Fylde to bounce back and be competitive against those in and around them, the Wood right now are simply in a league of their own.

As for Ladies Day, well there wasn't many females about, a small crowd of 1,201 (with 62 Fylde fans) at least had the cocktail makers not working themselves too hard on the bar. Let's face it, probably wasn't the weather for it, wind and rain howling it was a horrible Saturday afternoon and Boreham Wood should have been scheduling something glamorous for the women perhaps later next spring, I expected posh frocks and handbags, we got waterproof coats and umbrellas, but apparently there was still some Karaoke on in the Glasshouse after the game. "I hope you've brought your singing voices" said the tannoy man as the home supporters walked past the North Bank and towards the bar soaked but stoked with their teams performance and three more points towards title target which I'm sure is starting to feel very realistic indeed.

The Teams

Boreham Wood: Ted Curd, Oliver Bainbridge, Tom White, Chris Bush, Charlie O'Connell, Zak Brunt (Marley Marshall-Miranda 84), Tarryn Allarakhia (Matt Rush 84), Tylor Golden, Regan Booty (Conor Wilkinson 75), Jay Bird (Will Wright 75), Ben Whitfield (Danny Cashman 65).

AFC Fylde: Patrick Boyes, Ethan Mitchell (Theo Upton 46), Max Taylor, Chris Merrie, Luca Thomas (Jack Morris 83), Danny Mayor (Kyrell Malcolm 46), Greg Olley (Luke McCormick 46), Will Lankshear, Corey Whelan, Millar Matthews-Lewis (Cedric Main 46), Aaron Drewe.

3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 24th October 2026, Meadow Park, Borehamwood (att 1,201).