1. United only need ten men.
Despite the dismissal of Plymouth Argyle loanee Adam Randell in the 72nd minute for a second yellow card, the Gulls still managed to dig in to claim a point. It isn't the first that United have picked up points after going down to ten men under Gary Johnson's reign. On March 16, 2019 the Gulls beat Dartford 2-0 in National League South after French defender Jean Yves Koue Niate received his marching orders early on. On August 17, 2019, United hung on to claim all three points with a 2-1 away win over Dover Athletic in the wake of Asa Hall's dismissal. Randell also joins a list of players who have been dismissed in recent fixtures between the Gulls and the Wood, which includes United's Ruairi Keating and Kyle Cameron and the Wood's Jamal Fyfield.
2. MacDonald stakes a claim.
With Lucas Covolan absent through injury, Shaun MacDonald once again donned the goalkeeper's gloves for the Gulls. Had it not been for the wicked deflection that Sorba Thomas' cross took off Ben Wynter's foot then MacDonald would have marked his return to the starting line-up with a clean sheet. MacDonald also made two crucial saves; in the 26th minutes he rushed off his line to snuff out the run of the onrushing Shaq Coulthirst and in second half injury time he produced a timely stop to deny the experienced Matt Rhead. There is plenty of competition for places throughout the United squad - and the goalkeeper's position is no exception.
3. Lemonheigh-Evans the man of the match - as well as the man of the moment.
United's former Wales Under-21 midfielder Connor Lemonheigh-Evans rewarded for an industrious display playing initially in the number 10 role between Danny Wright, and then in the centre of midfield alongside skipper Asa Hall following Adam Randell's dismissal. Lemonheigh-Evans's free-kick also provided the assist for Sam Sherring's 16th minute opener for the Gulls, as he continues to be one of United's brighter performers of the current campaign.
4. The importance of the set pieces.
Sam Sherring's second goal of the season, when he headed home a free-kick from Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, is the latest example of a number of goals for United this season that have occured as the result of a set piece. Sherring and Lemonheigh-Evans also combined for the Bournemouth loanee's first goal for the Gulls - on that occasion Sherring headed home a corner from the Welshman. Sherring's centre back partner Kyle Cameron also headed home two corners from Lemonheigh-Evans in the Gulls' 2-0 victory over Dover Athletic on October 17. This will undoubtably please United assistant manager Aaron Downes, who was always a threat in the opposition's penalty box from set pieces when he played for the Gulls between 2012 and 2015.
5. Thomas shows why he has attracted so much interest.
It could be successfully argued that Boreham Wood are the toughest team that United have faced at Plainmoor - they are the only side to have to come away with a point so far - and their highly rated wide man Sorba Thomas is the best individual player that they have come up against. Thomas, who was the subject of a bid from League One side Charlton Athletic earlier this season, was a threat throughout for Boreham Wood and it was his cross that took a wicked deflection off the foot of Ben Wynter. A whole host of Football League clubs are believed to be keeping tabs on Thomas and it would not be a major surprise to see him making the move to the EFL at some point in the distant future.
