League-leaders Cheltenham Town come to Boreham Wood on Saturday for the first time in 18 years looking to defend a 14-match unbeaten run in the National League. 

Wood’s last meeting with the Robins came during the 1997/98 FA Cup, the visitors running out 2-0 winners in the second round after a 1-1 draw at Whaddon Road ten days earlier.

At the time Cheltenham Town were a side on the up. Having just secured promotion from the Southern League they finished runners-up in the Conference that season, won the FA Trophy for the only time in their history and gained promotion to the Football League the following season.

Wood were also enjoying success, posting the highest finish in their history at the end of that season – second in the Ryman Premier Division.

The Robins established themselves in the fourth tier of English football, gaining promotion for one season to Division Two (now League One) in 2001 and went on to clinch another promotion to the third tier in 2006.

A year later they famously did the double over Leeds United but were relegated back to League Two in 2009.

They soon regrouped, however, and were losing finalists in the play offs in 2012 and 2013. Their cause was helped by new signing Byron Harrison – who had played for Wood during the 2006/07 season – scoring 13 goals in 29 appearances.

However, last season spelled the end of Town's 16 year-stay in the Football League. It also heralded the arrival of Gary Johnson as manager with the remit of an immediate return.

Johnson is one of the most successful lower league managers in the country. After a spell as the head coach of Latvia he joined Yeovil Town in 2001, winning the FA Trophy in his first season and the Conference the following season.

Two years later got the Glovers into League One – a remarkable feat for a side who were sparring partners of Wood in the Ryman Premier League four years before the arrival of Johnson.

Johnson left the Glovers for Bristol City, Peterborough United and Northampton Town before returning in January 2012 to steer them into the Championship.

This season Johnson has built another side knocking on the door of league football and it will take something special from Wood to end their current 14-game unbeaten run.

Their away form is as formidable as their home form, winning eight times and losing just once in 13 fixtures away from Whaddon Road.

The Robins are top of the tree, four points clear of Forest Green Rovers. They have lost just twice in twenty seven games.

Goals have been coming from a number of sources. Billy Waters, 21, signed at the start of the season from Crewe Alexandra and has 11 to his name.

Seasoned striker Danny Wright has netted on ten occasions and is now serving his fifth National League side after signing from Kidderminster Harriers.

Eight-goal Jack Munns is a 22-year-old who started his career in Tottenham Hotspur’s Academy before slipping out of league football.

Wood, meanwhile, have bolstered their ranks with the signing of former Cambridge United striker Jordan Chiedozie.

He could make his debut for the club against the Gloucestershire outfit this weekend.