Boreham Wood take their impressive league form into the FA Cup this weekend, facing Woking in the fourth qualifying round at Meadow Park on Saturday. The match offers a chance to extend a dominant run that has them clear at the summit of the National League.
Luke Garrard's side are first in the table with 35 points from 13 games, seven points ahead of Harrogate Town. They have won their last four league matches, scoring 11 goals and conceding just twice in that period. The most recent was a 2-0 away win at Sutton United, with goals from Bush and Danny Cashman.
Recent form underpins confidence
That victory was part of a sequence where Boreham Wood have won four of their last five matches across all competitions. The run includes a 3-1 home win over Altrincham and a 3-0 away triumph at Solihull Moors. Their only non-win in that spell was a 1-1 draw with Everton's under-21 side in a cup competition. Woking, their opponents, have had mixed results, drawing with Leicester City's under-21s and losing to Harrogate Town in their last two outings. Boreham Wood's defensive record is the best in the division, having conceded only eight goals in 13 league games this season. This solidity at the back has provided a platform for their success.
Team selection and availability
Both teams are expected to field strong sides for the cup tie. Boreham Wood's last starting lineup featured T. Curd in goal, with a defensive unit of J. Clarke, C. O'Connell, C. Bush and O. Bainbridge. The midfield and attack included R. Booty, T. White, B. Whitfield, Z. Brunt, L. Richardson and J. Bird. Manager Luke Garrard has reported a fully fit squad to choose from, with no new injury concerns ahead of the match. Woking's most recent side was built around goalkeeper W. Jaaskelainen and included forward J. Marquis. The Cards have several injury doubts, including midfielder R. Grego-Cox, who is undergoing a late fitness test.
The prize at stake
The prize of a place in the first round proper of the FA Cup adds significance to the fixture at Meadow Park. The winners of Saturday's tie will be in Monday's draw for the first round, where EFL clubs from League One and League Two enter the competition. This represents a major financial and sporting opportunity for both National League sides. After this cup encounter, Boreham Wood's attention returns to the league where they host AFC Fylde, who are seventh, on October 24. That match is part of a busy fixtures schedule as the club aims to maintain its lead at the top. The club has also confirmed that a sold-out crowd is expected at Meadow Park for the cup clash, with all tickets having been allocated.
