Two goals in three second-half minutes from Emmanuel Dieseruvwe were enough to give Rochdale all three points in Boreham Wood’s first game on their return to the Enterprise National League.

Luke Garrard handed a first-team debut to Tom White, with other new signings Joe Newton, Aaron Henry, and Jeff King starting on the bench.

It was a cagey opening, and Boreham Wood’s new skipper Callum Reynolds had to be at his best to block Emmanuel Dieseruvwe twice in the first 10 minutes. On 11 minutes, Dale’s Devante Rodney was denied by the legs of Nathan Ashmore in the Wood goal. Two minutes later, a great Boreham Wood move from the back ended with Abdul Abdulmalik going on a jinking run before delivering a cross that Luke Norris was just unable to get on the end of. On 15 minutes, a Femi Ilesamni cross was headed into the arms of Dale keeper Oliver Whatmough by Charles Clayden.

On 27 minutes, an Erico Sousa free kick was headed into the side netting by Charlie O’Connell. Five minutes later, Dieseruvwe hit a well-struck shot from outside the area which Nathan Ashmore was able to push away. Dale’s Sam Beckwith tried his luck from distance on 44 minutes, but it sailed way over the crossbar.

HT: Boreham Wood 0-0 Rochdale

Four minutes after the restart, the visitors took the lead through new boy Emmanuel Dieseruvwe, who got on the end of a lovely move involving Joe Pritchard and Beckwith. The former Hartlepool United forward added his and Rochdale’s second three minutes later with an excellent turn and shot which gave Ashmore no chance. Dieseruvwe nearly got his hat-trick on 56 minutes when a Tobi Adebayo-Rowling cross was pushed in his direction by Ashmore, but he couldn’t get his shot on target.

Boreham Wood reacted well to this and, in the final part of the game, had numerous chances to get on the scoresheet. On 58 minutes, Clayden played in Abdulmalik, but his effort was deflected over the crossbar by Ethan Ebanks-Landell. On 68 minutes, O’Connell’s shot was well blocked by Dale midfielder Aidan Barlow. Six minutes later, Tarryn Allarakhia curled a shot just wide for the visitors. On 78 minutes, Junior Dixon’s shot was blocked by David Tutonda before O’Connell fired the rebound over the bar. On 87 minutes, Femi Ilesamni hit the post before Dixon fired over for Boreham Wood two minutes later.

FT: Boreham Wood 0-2 Rochdale

It was a disappointing result for Boreham Wood in a game where they gave a good account of themselves against one of the favourites for promotion. It was the quality of the forwards that was ultimately the difference between the two sides. However, Boreham Wood are unlikely to come up against many better centre-forwards than Emmanuel Dieseruvwe this season.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Coxe (King 74), Ilesamni, Bush, Reynolds, O’Connell, White, Sousa, Clayden (Dixon 69), Abdulmalik (Whelan 74), Norris (Rush 62).

Subs not used: Benton, Newton, Henry.

Rochdale: Whatmough, Gordon, Beckwith (Tutonda 64), Ebanks-Landell, Adebayo-Rowling, Pritchard (Allarakhia 64), East (Petit 78), Gilmour, Rodney (Amantchi 71), Barlow (Henderson 78), Dieseruvwe.

Subs not used: Hogan, Moss.

Man of the Match: Tom White.

Match report written by Brett Lewis.