Boreham Wood marked their National League Cup debut with a deserved 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest U21, thanks to second half strikes from Charles Clayden and Matt Rush.

Luke Garrard named six changes to the side that started last Saturday’s Enterprise National League opener with Tom Whelan, Junior Dixon, Jon Benton, Aaron Henry, Jeff King and Matt Rush all coming into the XI. 

Forest had the first opportunity after just two minutes when Jimmy Sinclair’s low cross found Omar Sillah, who swept his effort wide. Wood responded quickly, Benton firing just off target from range on five minutes. The visitors continued to look dangerous and on 17 minutes Ashmore was called into action, tipping Adam Berry’s powerful drive over the bar.

At the other end, Benton came close again on 24 minutes, denied by the legs of Luke Campbell from inside the six-yard box. Dixon then blazed over from close range after being found in the box by Henry on 29 minutes, before Sinclair tested Ashmore eight minutes later. Dixon continued to cause problems, twisting his way into a crossing position on 43 minutes, but his delivery was cut out by Forest’s Ben Hammond.

HT: Boreham Wood 0-0 Nottingham Forest U21

Wood began the second half brightly and nearly broke the deadlock on 52 minutes when Dixon got a shot away after a swift counter, Campbell saving well. Forest remained a threat, Berry going close with a fierce strike just wide of the post on 58 minutes, before Benton saw a long-range effort deflected over five minutes later.

The breakthrough came on 65 minutes when Jeff King’s corner was chested down by Benton to Charles Clayden, who drilled past Campbell to put Luke Garrard’s men ahead. Four minutes later, Henry almost doubled the lead with a thunderous long-range strike, but the Forest number one tipped over.

The second goal arrived with ten minutes to go when Chris Bush played a wonderful ball over the top to Cameron Coxe, who raced down the flank before laying the ball of to Clayden. The Wood number 17 whipped a cross in for Rush to calmly finish from close range. Rush almost added a third on 89 minutes, meeting an aerial ball with his head, but his effort flew over the Forest bar.

FT: Boreham Wood 2-0 Nottingham Forest U21

It was an impressive National League Cup debut for the Wood, combining solid defending with clinical second-half finishing to see off a lively young Forest side. Luke Garrard’s men now set their sites on Saturday’s trip to Carlisle United.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Ilesanmi (Coxe 46), O’Connell, Sousa (Clayden 46), Whelan, Dixon (Norris 78), Benton, Henry, King, Reynolds (Bush 46), Rush.

Subs not used: Abdulmalik, Newton, White.

Rochdale: Campbell, Thompson, Newton (Djanma 85), Hanks, Abbott, Hammond, Sinclair, Clarke (Blake 32 (Smith 48)), Sillah, Whitehall, Berry (Osong 85).

Subs not used: Willows, Anisjko, Modupe.

Man of the Match: Charles Clayden.

Match report written by Dom Gadd.