Boreham Wood finally secured their first win and clean sheet in pre-season by beating Wingate & Finchley 2–0, with second-half goals from Tom Whelan and Junior Dixon.

In a disappointing first half, Boreham Wood controlled a lot of possession and were playing the ball around nicely in midfield without really threatening the Blues’ keeper. Wood created the game’s first chance on 14 minutes when an Erico Sousa corner was headed over by Charlie O’Connell. The hosts nearly scored on 20 minutes when, after a rare move of quality, their number 7 forced an excellent point-blank save from Nathan Ashmore.

Three minutes later, a good move involving Luke Norris and Sousa nearly created a chance for Abdul Abdulmalik, but he couldn’t gather the ball. Just before the half-hour mark, a Charles Clayden cross was met on the volley by Tom Whelan, but it sailed over the bar. On 41 minutes, a Sousa cross was nearly turned in by Luke Norris, but the big striker’s header went just wide.

HT: Wingate & Finchley 0–0 Boreham Wood

The second half was a marked improvement for Luke Garrard’s men. They came out after the interval with a spring in their step. Whelan gave Boreham Wood the lead on 49 minutes. The move started with a nice one-two between Sousa and Norris, and when Sousa then played in Whelan, he produced a devastating finish which gave the Blues’ keeper no chance. Four minutes later, Charlie O’Connell had a header cleared off the line following a Whelan corner. Soon afterwards, a nice one-two between Whelan and Femi Ilesanmi ended with the Blues’ keeper producing a good save from Whelan.

On 65 minutes, Wood had a golden opportunity to double their lead when Junior Dixon was fouled in the penalty area. Up stepped Sousa, who somehow hit both posts with his spot-kick before the ball bounced out. Dixon went close soon afterwards with a nice turn and shot, but he was denied by a very good block on the line. On 75 minutes, Dixon got a deserved second with a nice finish after a mix-up in the Blues’ defence. With four minutes left on the clock, Dixon nearly scored again, but this time he shot over the crossbar.

FT: Wingate & Finchley 0–2 Boreham Wood

It took Boreham Wood a while to get going, but they were excellent in the second half and could have won by more than the two goals. With only one pre-season game to play, Luke Garrard’s side are looking in good shape with the big kick-off only 10 days away.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Coxe (King 68), Ilesanmi (Newton 68), Reynolds, Bush, O’Connell, Whelan (Henry 68), Sousa (Benton 73), Abdulmalik (Rush 68), Clayden (Clayden 78), Norris (Dixon 56).

Man of the Match: Junior Dixon.

Match report written by Brett Lewis.