Boreham Wood succumb to a 2-1 defeat in the sixth of their pre-season games. Michail Antonio scored twice early on for the Hammers before Erico Sousa pulled a goal back for Boreham Wood. New signing Luke Norris started for Boreham Wood.

Boreham Wood had the ball in the Hammers’ net in the first minute, but Matt Rush’s goal was ruled out for offside. The visitors took the lead two minutes later when a mix-up in the Boreham Wood defence created a chance for Michail Antonio, who finished well past Nathan Ashmore in the Wood goal. Hammers forward Elisha Sowunmi went close on 16 minutes, but his shot was deflected wide off Callum Reynolds.

The visitors doubled their lead on 22 minutes when a Sowunmi cross was headed home by Antonio for his second. Wood reacted positively to the goal and, three minutes later, an Aaron Henry corner was headed over by Femi Ilesanmi. Henry then crossed to Reynolds, who also headed over. On 30 minutes, Wood halved the deficit when Erico Sousa finished well past Hammers’ keeper Finley Hooper. Six minutes later, Reynolds did well to block Antonio’s shot and deny a hat-trick for the Jamaican international. The dangerous Sowunmi went close for the visitors on 37 minutes but screwed his shot just wide.

HT: Boreham Wood 1-2 West Ham United

The Hammers had the better of the opening period of the second half, and seven minutes after the restart Regan Clayton went close but was denied by Nathan Ashmore. Charlie O’Connell fired wide on 55 minutes. Wood started to turn the screw, and Ilesanmi went close with a header from a Junior Dixon cross before Henry was just off target with a well-struck shot.

A spate of substitutions on both sides affected the balance of the match for a while, but Boreham Wood emerged from the period the better side. Abdul Abdulmalik was causing all sorts of problems for the West Ham defence, and Dixon just failed to get on the end of Job Benton’s cross on 81 minutes. Joe Newton went close on 89 minutes as he cut in from the left, but his shot was deflected wide. From the resulting corner, Reynolds’ header crashed against the West Ham crossbar before referee Steve Parkinson blew the final whistle.

FT: Boreham Wood 1-2 West Ham United

While it was a disappointing result for Luke Garrard’s men, the performance was good overall, and they improved as the match went on. However, the Boreham Wood manager will once again be disappointed with the way his team defended at times, especially early on. They still have two weeks and two more pre-season games in which they can iron out any issues before the big kick-off against Rochdale on 9th August.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, King (Coxe 69), Ilesanmi (Clayden 69), Reynolds, Bush, O’Connell, Henry (Newton 69), Whelan, Sousa (Abdulmalik 69), Norris (Dixon 60), Rush (Benton 69).

Subs not used: Gevaux-Baena (GK).

West Ham United: Hooper, Robinson, Mayers, Caliste, Briggs, Oyebade, Sowunmi, Hargan, Antonio, Landers, Clayton.

Subs: Ajala, Trialist A, Akpata, Moore, Medine, Battrum, Adiele, Rigge, Brown, Luizão, Cummings.

Man of the Match: Erico Sousa.

Match report written by Brett Lewis.