Judging by an entertaining evening at a damp Meadow Park on Tuesday, the joie de vivre' is back in Wood's football.

Between them, Wood and Hitchin served up a fine match that was a credit to the non-league game.

Despite the woodwork being struck three times and both goalkeepers being constantly called into action, the match hinged on 60 seconds either side of the hour mark, when Wood's future and their past met head on.

Leading by way of Brian Jones' first half strike, Wood went to sleep at the back for a moment, but that was all that was required for Shaun Marshall to head the Canaries level.

Marshall hit an incredible 45 goals during Wood's landmark 97/98 campaign, but within a minute he and his team mates were behind once again, as 19-year-old Chima Eberendu thumped home a fine header on his full debut that deserved to ultimately settle the match.

Manager Tommy Sampson had threatened changes after Saturday's FA Trophy exit at Purfleet, but in fact started with only one change from the 11 that had finished the game at Ship Lane.

Phil Mason returned for the Yorkshire-domiciled Dominic Grime, and Eberendu and Brian Jones kept their places predictably at the expense of Carl Drew and Julian Capone.

Jones was especially impressive in a fine first half, in which Wood passed the ball and created several great chances.

Sampson said: "I was delighted with the first half we were outstanding but we missed too many chances.

"But it was entertaining tonight and we won!"

Wood were determined to banish any thoughts of a Purfleet hangover from the start, and Eberendu produced a magic moment after only ten minutes, as he took Steve Sinclair's pass and chipped an exquisite effort against the bar from 25 yards.

The hosts deservedly went ahead in the 33rd minute when Jones, making his first start for a month, ran at the Hitchin defence before unleashing a wickedly dipping shot that flew into the net under keeper Nick Webb's body.

Noel Imber twice denied the hungry Marshall, but at the other end John Lawford saw his header crash back off the bar, with Sinclair's follow up bringing an excellent one-handed save out of Webb.

Marshall's leveller came in the 61st minute, as Wood scandalously left him unmarked on the six yard line to head home Akurang's cross.

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But Eberendu's spectacular twisting header from Engwell's fine ball into the box saw normal service resumed as soon as possible.

The proceedings continued to be of the end to end variety right up to the final whistle, with the busy Scott curling a great shot against the same crossbar that had thwarted the home side earlier.

Sampson reported himself delighted with his men afterwards: "That's nine points from a possible 12 since I've been here and we should have won the other one too.

"We let in a poor goal, but the lads are working hard and it would have been no surprise tonight if we had got five."

WOOD: Imber, McDonald, Engwell, Kodra, Harvey, Jones (Capone 81 mins), Meah, Mason, Lawford, Eberendu (Dixon 84),Sinclair. Sub (not used): Mehmet.

Boreham Wood 2 Hitchin Town 1

Ryman League Premier Division

November 7, 2001 13:39

By DAVE RAWLINGS