Wealdstone vs Boreham Wood | Match Preview
- Aryan Jolly
- 4 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Boxing Day will see the Stones host Boreham Wood in somewhat of a local derby as they look to build on an impressive late comeback, which saw them secure a draw against FC Halifax Town.
The Basics
Date: Friday, December 26
Venue: Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip, HA4 6JQ
Competition: The Enterprise National League
Kick Off Time: 3:00 pm
Broadcast Information: The game will be available to watch live via DAZN
News From The Vale
Firstly, everyone at Wealdstone Football Club sends their best wishes to Wealdstone Women’s captain Danni Holland after a serious medical incident occurred in the Stones’ match against Grenfell Athletic on Sunday 💙
Speaking after our two-two draw last time out, Sam Cox praised the “spirit” and “personality” of the team. You can find his full post-match interview here.
Following on from football freestyler Jay Rosa’s appearance at the Vale a few weeks ago, WBO European Lightweight champion Mitchell Smith will be in attendance on Friday! Mitchell was raised in Harrow Weald, just 20 minutes from the ground, and will be showing off his title belt to fans!
Our man in form - Dom Hutchinson: The architect of the Stones’ comeback on Saturday, Dom Hutchinson was a fairly straightforward choice as our man in form.
Hutchinson has established himself as a key member of Sam Cox’s squad in recent weeks, starting every game since the start of November, other than in the National League Cup.
The 24-year-old has added some real end product to his game in this period, providing a number of assists via his direct wing play, whilst also chipping in with a couple of goals.
He produced a composed finish amidst a scramble in the box to score Wealdstone’s first goal of the game against Halifax Town, and it was his cross that looped off Thierry Latty-Fairweather to equalise for the Stones on Saturday!
Hutchinson was deservedly named in the National League Team of the Week, and is now Wealdstone’s second-highest scorer in the league this season!
Great work, Dom, keep it up!
The Opposition
Recent form: WWWDW
League Position: 4th
Luke Garrard and Boreham Wood have become familiar opposition for the Stones over the last few years, with the Wood having an excellent record in this local “derby.”
After flirting with promotion from the fifth tier for a number of years, the Wood succumbed to a surprise relegation in the 2023/24 season, leading to Garrard resigning from his managerial post.
However, he returned to Meadow Park just a few months later and has overseen immense success. The Wood were promoted from the National League South, via the playoffs, and are fighting for the fifth-tier title.
The manager - Luke Garrard: Garrard is a name synonymous with Boreham Wood. In fact, they are the only club that the 40-year-old has ever managed.
He made over 140 appearances for them as a player and has been in the dugout over 500 times as the Wood’s manager. When first appointed, Garrard was the youngest manager in England’s top five divisions, and it took a bit of time for him to build his project.
In his third season at the club, he led Boreham Wood to the National League playoffs for the first time in their history, and he has since taken them to the playoffs on two more occasions.
What Garrard and the Wood are perhaps most well-known for in the wider footballing community is their ability to go on cup runs. They have reached the FA Cup Third Round a staggering four times in the last six seasons, facing the likes of Everton, Bournemouth and Millwall in the process.
Since his return to Hertfordshire, Garrard has moved away from the territorial style of football for which he was known and started playing a more expansive game.
The danger man - Zak Brunt: Due to this attacking style of football, Boreham Wood have a number of offensive threats. One man who is in particularly good form at the moment is Zak Brunt.
The 24-year-old signed for the Wood for a club-record fee in November, after initially arriving at Meadow Park on loan in the summer. He has immense experience at the top end of the National League, playing for teams that have reached the playoffs in each of the last four campaigns.
This season, he has added the goalscoring ability, which he previously lacked, to his repertoire. Brunt has already found the back of the net eight times in all competitions, making it the second-highest scoring season of his career, and two of these goals have come in his last two games.
Additionally, the attacking midfielder still possesses a creative flair; his assist for Regan Booty in the Wood’s FA Cup thumping of Newport County took his total number of assists for the season to six.
Buy Your Tickets Now!
The Stones are the only London club north of the River Thames to be playing at home on Boxing Day, so the Vale should be packed out and the atmosphere should be electric!
A ticket costs less than £20, and you can get an additional discount if you are a season ticket holder with a Premier League or EFL team, so make sure to buy your tickets now via the link below!
Please note that tickets purchased online in advance are always cheaper than on the gate and that seated tickets have to be purchased in advance
