A second-half goal from Matt Rush was enough to give Boreham Wood a well-deserved victory in the Play-Off Semi-Final against Torquay United and book a place in the Play-Off Final against either Eastbourne Borough (away) or Maidstone United (home).

Luke Garrard named an unchanged side from Tuesday night’s thrilling win against Dorking Wanderers, and it was good to see skipper Jack Payne and Jon Benton returning to the bench after injury.

Boreham Wood were much the better side in a first half of little quality. There were several misplaced passes from both teams, but the Gulls couldn’t cope with the quality of Abdul Abdulmalik, who ran them ragged. Erico Sousa had Wood’s first shot on goal in the 24th minute but fired over. Lirak Hasani forced Nathan Ashmore into a save two minutes later. In the 31st minute, Jordan Young’s cross cannoned off Ashmore’s crossbar. Four minutes later, Abdulmalik went on a run, leaving the Gulls’ defence in his wake before playing the ball to Femi Ilesamni, who fired weakly at Torquay keeper James Hamson. In the 37th minute, another run and cross from Abdulmalik was just out of reach for Matt Rush before Hamson gathered the ball. Charles Clayden fired over from the edge of the area five minutes later.

HT: Torquay United 0–0 Boreham Wood

Two minutes after the restart, Jordan Thomas had a good chance for the hosts, but Callum Reynolds somehow got there in time to block the shot. In the 49th minute, Lirak Hasani went close with a rising shot. Two minutes later, Josef Yarney forced a save from Hamson with a header, and Matt Rush fired just wide soon afterwards. In the 56th minute, following another mesmerising Abdulmalik dribble, he forced Hamson into a save at his near post. Three minutes later, Wood finally got their goal — and again, it came from the work of Abdulmalik, who crossed for Rush to tap home, sending the away support into raptures.

After taking the lead, the hosts were finally on the front foot as they searched for an equaliser. Matt Jay had a shot cleared off the line in the 65th minute, and the same player fired over five minutes later. The Gulls had a lot of possession but were denied by an outstanding defensive display from Boreham Wood, with Callum Reynolds having his best game since returning to the club in January. Tom Whelan was able to mop up everything in midfield and always seemed to be first to the ball. Jordan Dyer went close in the 84th minute but headed over. When the fourth official signalled nine minutes of added time, the home side were lifted. However, their quest for an equaliser left gaps at the back, and two minutes into injury time, Jon Benton was played through on goal but was denied by an excellent save from Hamson. Five minutes later, from a similar attack, Junior Dixon ran through on goal but, when he played in Benton, Hamson denied him again. Just before the final whistle, Ashmore did brilliantly to deny Omar Mussa.

FT: Torquay United 0–1 Boreham Wood

It was a very different game from the Dorking match, as Boreham Wood really had to dig in to achieve the victory. They now wait for the outcome of the other Semi-Final between Eastbourne Borough and Maidstone United tomorrow to find out who they’ll face in the final in two weeks’ time.

Torquay United: Hamson, Foulston, Dyer, Dreyer, Hasani (Ash 83), Young, Threlkeld (Mussa 65), Cooke, Hayfield (Jenkins Davies 63), Thomas (Palmer 86), Jay (Moxey 89)
Subs not used: Ilesamni, Foster.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Coxe (Bush 89), Ilesamni, Reynolds, Yarney, O’Connell, Whelan, Sousa, Clayden (Benton 63), Abdulmalik (Dixon 74), Rush (Appiah 83)
Subs not used: Payne, Marsh, Richardson.

Man of the Match: Tom Whelan.

Match report written by Brett Lewis.