Team to Watch - Boreham Wood

The Wood have had an excellent start to life under their new boss Ross Jenkins, not only picking up plenty of points, but also transitioning to a new style too. Those who have seen Boreham Wood in years gone by, possibly in one of their lengthy FA Cup runs, won’t recognise this current side, despite much of the personnel being the same. Jenkins favours a patient build up style, which requires his defenders to bring the ball out from the back, and look to play the ball short, rather than hitting the channel as they may have done previously. It’s a style which brought Jenkins great success as part time Oxford City, with whom he won promotion from this division in 22/23. With greater resources, and a better quality of player, the outcomes could be excellent for this Boreham Wood side.

𝙉𝙀𝙓𝙏 ⏭️ 𝙐𝙋: Weymouth (H)

👀 The Wood return to Meadow Park on Saturday afternoon to take on @theterras

🪵 Be there, Wood Army!#WeAreTheWood pic.twitter.com/PhYKYLalEc

— Boreham Wood FC (@BOREHAM_WOODFC) August 21, 2024

Player to Watch - Ricky Holmes

He may be 37 years old, but Farnborough man Ricky Holmes still has plenty of life left in his legs yet. The experienced midfielder has played at a much higher level, as high as the Championship, and despite playing much of his career on the wing, he has recently moved inside, perhaps to accommodate for slowing down somewhat. But his form certainly hasn’t slowed, and if anything, it’s picked up. He’s started this season as he finished the last; by scoring goals. He scored on the final day against Weymouth, and backed that up with a decisive brace on the opening day against Chippenham. In fact, he followed that up with the only goal against Torquay, meaning Holmes’ goals alone have delivered 6 points so far for Farnborough.

Ricky Holmes at Charlton Athletic was absolutely unstoppable at times 🚀

Definition of Maestro | #cafc pic.twitter.com/KMriZ85Tqq

— Hub Football Club (@hubfootballclub) August 9, 2023

Hot Prospect - Josh Hedges

I had the pleasure of seeing Josh Hedges in action last weekend at the Ray Mac, and the 19 year old winger certainly didn’t disappoint. He ultimately proved to be the match winner, cooly rolling the ball home from the spot, from what would be the only goal of the game. But Hedges would go extremely close to adding a second, cutting in off the left hand side to curl one far corner, only to be denied by the post. It was that type of magic that Hedges threatened to produce all afternoon, drifting all across the Salisbury frontline, picking up pockets of space on a regular basis. He followed that up with another penalty, rescuing a point against Truro in the week, meaning he enters the weekend with two goals in two games. He’s able to drive with the ball, is fearless in his play, and won’t be at this level for too long if he keeps these performances coming.

Star boy Josh Hedges has 2 goals in 2 games now 💫👀 https://t.co/p6cUrj8ZnA

— tomhwilliams23 (@tomhwilliams23) August 20, 2024

Game of the Week - Torquay United v Dorking Wanderers

Two sides who have spent a lot of their recent history in the National League, Dorking have yet another long away trip down to the South West, after they opened their campaign away at Truro. Marc White’s side definitely deliver a certain amount of nostalgia from a National League South perspective, not least because the vast majority of their playing squad remains the same. Alfie Rutherford hooked home last weekend, with the rubber of the Meadowbank pitch flying after seeing the ball bulge in the net, an all too familiar sight the last time the 26 year old talisman played at this level. This Torquay side are a contrast however, very much finding their feet under new manager Paul Wotton. They’ve had a mixed start to the season, and are still settling due to the high number of arrivals they’ve had themselves. They too have a talismanic forward, in the shape of Cody Cooke, so there will be plenty of firepower on display in this one.

On our last visit to Torquay 📍

Nicky Wheeler scored this worldie 🚀

Will you be making the journey with us this Saturday? 🚌 pic.twitter.com/256J9BF8WF

— Dorking Wanderers FC (@DorkingWDRS) August 22, 2024