As far as first days in new jobs go, there are good ones and bad ones. Tommy Sampson is likely to remember his debut as Wood boss for a very long time, as his new charges gave him the ideal start last Saturday at a sparsely populated Croydon Sports Arena.

"I've only had two sessions to look at the players this week," he said.

"I had to pick a few peoples' brains about some of them, but this was one of those days where everything's gone for us.

"The players have my gratitude that they've done everything that I've asked of them.

"Admittedly, 5-0 was a bit false, and I'll have a bit of a reality check in the morning, but I'm not going to cry in my beer over it!"

It was an amazing afternoon that saw Matt Martin in the Croydon goal rarely called upon to make a save, despite ending up conceding five as Wood recorded their highest away league victory in 14 years.

The hosts trooped off the pitch at the final whistle with a rather shellshocked look about them, as they reflected on an afternoon where they enjoyed the majority of possession but were undone by a masterclass in clinical finishing by Sampson's men.

The rout started in the 16th minute, when a revitalised Jeran Meah strode onto John Lawford's intelligent pass to thump the ball low past Martin at his near post, but the home side had already missed two fine opportunities by this stage.

Nic McDonnell badly scuffed his shot when well placed in the fifth minute, and Noel Imber twisted to turn over a flying header from Dave Stevens shortly afterwards.

The Wood keeper denied Stevens again, but Croydon's ponderous offside trap was just begging to be exploited, and the inevitable happened nine minutes before the break, as Dominic Grime's pass left the line of blue shirts playing statues, and young wingback Elis Kodra ran through to mark his full debut with a rasping drive high into the rigging.

Sampson later singled the 19-year-old Kossovan out for special praise, revealing that he may not have played had Andy Polston been available.

The former Watford academy youngster took his opportunity with some aplomb, delivering a performance of no little skill and maturity beyond his years.

Meah and the reinstated Julian Capone sent efforts off target, and the second half was only 90 seconds old when any hope the Trams retained of railroading their way back into the match disappeared.

The impressive Steve Sinclair was crowded out on the edge of the box, but the ball broke to the unmarked Carl Drew eight yards out and the gift was graciously accepted.

After finding the net only once prior to this match, it took Drew a mere four minutes to add to his tally, as he seized onto Mark Dickinson's atrocious backpass to curl home the visitors' fourth.

With the destination of the points now sealed, Croydon proceeded to prove time and time again that getting out of bed that morning had not been the best decision that they could have made.

Chris Dickson badly scuffed his shot when set up six yards out by McDonnell, Peter Garland managed to head Danny Bower's cross wide when that had proved the more difficult option, and McDonnell's lob crashed down off the bar and back into a statuesque Imber's grasp.

A wag among the paltry gathering of 96 faithful declared "OK, referee, I think we've seen enough!", but substitute Gary Dixon added a postscript, neatly lobbing Martin three minutes into injury time after Lawford had won a high clearence from Imber.

A glowing Sampson remarked afterwards: "Injuries and unavailability dictated how we played today, but I couldn't have wanted for any more than that. It was a great start.

"The young lads Kodra and Sinclair were brilliant and the three centre halves were outstanding.

"The size of the win may flatter us, but I'm going to enjoy it tonight. It's been a special day."

At that,Sampson's mobile phone rang again with another well wisher calling to congratulate him on a dream start.

"Five-nil, yeah, that's right five-nil! Just call me golden balls." he laughed.

WOOD: Imber, McDonald, Kodra, Wotton, Harvey, Grime, Meah, Capone, Lawford, Drew (Dixon, 68 minutes), Sinclair (Brady, 89minutes). Sub (not used): Mehmet.

Croydon 0 Boreham Wood 5

Ryman League Premier Division

October 25, 2001 10:30

By DAVE RAWLINGS