Match Preview: Yeovil Town vs Boreham Wood

Yeovil Town return to Huish Park this Saturday to face fifth placed Boreham Wood in the National League.

FORM…

YEOVIL TOWN

The Glovers can confidently stake their claim as one of the in-form sides in the league. Over their last five games, Richard Dryden’s men have won four (whisper it quietly) and lost just once, the single game reign of former boss, Danny Webb.

It’s the last three matches, however, that have truly impressed. After the hiring and swift departure of a manager in just 10 days, no one would blame the players for being unsettled. Yet the performances and results have been anything but with three straight wins, Yeovil sit in tenth just two points off the play-off places,

In their most recent outing, the Somerset side delivered another solid display, overcoming a struggling Sutton United team under the lights. The Glovers came out on top with a 2-1 victory. The ever-impressive loanee, Andrew Oluwabori, opened the scoring, before Sutton pulled one back. But in the 81st minute, Aaron Jarvis calmly slotted home from the penalty spot after Josh Sims was brought down in the box.

BOREHAM WOOD

It has been an amazing return to life in the National League Premier Division for Boreham Wood. Last season’s National League South play-off winners are undefeated since losing to fellow high-fliers Rochdale on the opening day of the season.

With Luke Garrard in charge once again – the club legend quit after relegation in 2023-2024 but returned in September – they have put together a steady mix of wins and draws including three wins and two draws in their last five games.

The summer saw the long-serving Tyrone Marsh depart the club, but Garrard strengthened his squad with the arrivals of the likes of experienced wing-back Jeff King and midfielder Zak Brunt on loan from York City and Barnet respectively. Former Swindon Town striker Luke Norris was also recruited and started with four goals in his first three games before suffering an ankle injury which has seen him sidelined since early September. Both Norris and fellow long-term injury victim Jack Payne, the club’s player-assistant manager, are both expected to miss the trip to Somerset.

In midweek, they faced a strong Southend United side in a tightly contested affair that finished 1-1. Top scorer Matt Rush was on target with his sixth goal of the season.

Yeovil should also be wary of Boreham Wood’s ability to disrupt their opponents, as the Hertfordshire outfit have seen their opposition reduced to 10 men on four separate occasions this season.

KEY PLAYERS…

YEOVIL TOWN – Morgan Williams

The centre-back has been in top form over the past few weeks, delivering key defensive performances  and even chipping in with a goal. Amid the recent upheaval off the pitch, Williams has remained a constant, earning the trust of fans with his consistency.

As a defender, he offers the full package for a National League centre-back. Comfortable on the ball and solid across any position in the back line, his defensive reliability has played a major role in Yeovil keeping three clean sheets in their last five games.

But it’s not just his work at the back that stands out. Williams is a regular threat from set pieces, having recently found the net against Altrincham last time out at Huish Park.

BOREHAM WOOD – Matt Rush

The forward has already netted six times in 12 appearances this season, including three goals in his last four outings. With 22 goals in 38 games for The Wood, Rush has proven himself to be a clinical and consistent finisher.

In recent matches, he’s led the line as a lone striker, with summer signing Luke Norris absent from the squad for the last four fixtures through injury. That shift in responsibility has sparked an upturn in form, as Rush continues to thrive as Boreham Wood’s primary attacking threat.

THE GAFFER…

Luke Garrard is nothing short of a Boreham Wood legend. After a playing career that saw him move between lower-league clubs, Garrard first joined The Wood in 2005 for a season before departing for Northwood FC. Following spells at Northwood and AFC Wimbledon, he returned to Meadow Park in 2010, where he spent six years before retiring as a player/manager.

Initially combining both roles, Garrard eventually took on the managerial position full-time. A true one-club manager, he has spent his entire coaching career at Boreham Wood. His first spell in charge lasted nine years and included 411 games. Though he stepped away in April 2024, he made a swift return just five months later in September and has overseen 53 games since.

LAST TIME WE MET…

Yeovil have not faced Boreham Wood since the final day of the 2022-2023 campaign when a Tyrone Marsh goal saw the Glovers’ time in the National League Premier finish with a defeat as we were relegated to the South.

The last meeting at Huish Park came in September 2022 and finished in a 1-1 draw. Alex Fisher found the net for the Glovers, while Jack Payne, now assistant manager to Garrard, scored for Boreham Wood.

DON’T I KNOW YOU…

There are no players in the Boreham Wood squad who have previously featured in the home dressing room at Huish Park. The Glovers’ Junior Morias and Charlie Cooper both had spells at Meadow Park though, so they will be familiar to the away fans at least.

THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…

The referee for Saturday’s match is Niall Smith. Read more here.