- Boreham Wood finished fourth in National League 2025-26, amassing 90 points and making the play-off final.
- Tamworth were mid-table in the same division, finishing 11th with 62 points.
- Boreham Wood beat Tamworth twice in league action during 2025-26, winning 2-1 and 3-2.
Tasty opener at Meadow Park
Boreham Wood will look to carry their momentum from the back end of last season through into the new National League campaign, and what better way to get things going than by beating Tamworth on Saturday?
The Wood ran the rule over the Lambs twice in the last season, winning both games, and they'll be confident of making it three in a row against Andy Peaks' side on the opening day of the season.
Luke Garrard's men finished fourth in National League 2025-26, then went all the way to the play-off final as they closed in on a place in English football's third tier. They didn't make it, but still, they have a serious promotion pedigree and deserve to be the bookies' favourites at 19/50.
It would be a major shock if Tamworth were to land a victory at 134/25, and indeed the Lambo's 2025-26 season was something of a mixed bag.
Peaks' side, in their final five competitive games of the campaign, had a 5-1 win over Braintree, draws with Eastleigh and Halifax, and a loss to York City, finishing 11th overall.
Wood are wide and will win
Matt Rush was Boreham Wood's main end-product man in the 2026 National League play-off final and is their most trustworthy forward. Rush scored in that game and had a knack of getting in the right place at the right time during the latter stages of the previous campaign, so he's the goal hero for the home side.
Abdul Abdulmalik also has the ability to create sparks for Boreham Wood. Zak Brunt was a man-of-the-match in the Wood's pre-season friendly against Norwich, and he brings the creative steel to the team.
While Boreham Wood will be the more positive of the two, Tamworth will give their all in terms of tackling and trying to get forward. Peaks' men are more pragmatic and will sit deep in a compact 4-4-2 formation, trying to protect the space and hit on the break.
Their 5-1 win against Braintree was a display of what they can do when the occasion suits them.
However, Boreham Wood didn't lose their shape, structure or momentum during the summer months, and they're coming into the opener on the back of a five-game unbeaten run that included wins over Morecambe, Sutton United, Forest Green and Carlisle.
Tamworth could punish Wood if they allow them space
They beat Tamworth in both National League meetings and will be keen to make a statement at Meadow Park this Saturday. The hosts have also added some more venom up top in the form of Matt Rush, Abdul Abdulmalik and Zak Brunt.
There's certainly a possibility that the Lambs could punish the home defence if allowed too much space, while Oliver Lynch is a dangerous player who can take advantage of any slip-ups. He scored a brace in the 3-2 Tamworth win over Boreham Wood earlier this year, and will fancy his chances of doing so again.
So, the draw is appealing at 18/5, and both teams to score at 3/5 is also a strong wager. The most likely result is a Boreham Wood win, and 1-0 or 2-1, as the previous meetings ended 2-1 and 3-2, would fit the odds.
