Young goalkeeper Finlay Herrick continued his excellent start to his first senior loan spell in the Enterprise National League with Boreham Wood, keeping a third consecutive clean sheet, taking his tally to six shutouts in nine matches, conceding only three goals during that run.
The Wood’s latest victory, a 2-0 home win over Eastleigh, extended their unbeaten streak to 16 games in all competitions. Their only defeat this season came on the opening day against leaders Rochdale, who they now trail by just two points.
Herrick has won seven and drawn two of his nine appearances for the Hertfordshire club, and is now preparing for an Emirates FA Cup first round tie with EFL League Two opponents Crawley Town at Meadow Park on Saturday 1 November. Before that, the Wood travel to York City on Tuesday and Forest Green Rovers on Saturday in the National League.
In EFL League One, Michael Forbes completed the full 90 minutes for the third time in nine days upon his return from international duty. After captaining Northern Ireland U21s to victory against Malta, a match in which he scored, and a narrow defeat by Germany, the young centre-back slotted back into Northampton Town’s back three as they came from behind to beat Doncaster Rovers.
It was the first goal the Cobblers had conceded with Forbes on the pitch in well over 400 minutes of football. In fact, they remain unbeaten with him in the starting line-up since August, with only Stevenage boasting a stronger defensive record in the division.
That impressive record, however, was not enough to keep out Lincoln City, as Lewis Orford’s Stevenage suffered just their second defeat of the campaign. A 69th-minute strike from Robert Street secured all three points for the Imps, moving them above Cardiff City at the top of the table, albeit having played a game more.
Orford, who featured on the bench in that game, will be hoping to make his debut tomorrow evening when the Boro host Crystal Palace U21s in the Vertu Trophy.
Also in League One, Gideon Kodua played just over 70 minutes for Luton Town, managed for the first time by new head coach Jack Wilshere, who fell to a 2-0 home defeat by Mansfield Town. After a promising start to the campaign, winning four of their first six league matches, the Hatters have now reversed that form, losing four of their last six.
Back in the National League, it was a day to forget for Mason Terry and Regan Clayton as Braintree Town failed to capitalise on defeats for fellow relegation-threatened sides Aldershot Town and Altrincham, instead falling to a 2-0 loss at Solihull Moors.
In the EFL Championship, Kaelan Casey came off the bench for the final ten minutes of Swansea City’s goalless draw away at Southampton.
Finally, abroad, Edson Álvarez played 64 minutes in Fenerbahçe’s 2-1 win over Karagümrük, with goals from Anderson Talisca and Marco Asensio securing victory.
