In one of the most incredible nights ever at Meadow Park, Boreham Wood came from 3–1 down with only eight minutes of normal time remaining to claim an unlikely 4–3 win in the sixth minute of stoppage time, booking a place in the semi-finals of the play-offs and a trip to Torquay United on Saturday.

Luke Garrard named an unchanged line-up following Saturday’s win at Tonbridge Angels.

The first half gave no indication of what was to come, with the visitors largely in control. Both teams displayed a positive mindset from the outset, but it was the visitors who had the game’s first chance, with Jason Prior firing just over after five minutes. During that period, Dorking had two penalty appeals turned down and forced a succession of corners, but the Wood defence held firm.

On 17 minutes, and against the run of play, Wood took the lead with a fantastic finish from Erico Sousa. Sousa nearly added a second on 29 minutes, but this time his shot was just wide of Harrison Foulkes’ goal. The visitors still looked threatening, and Charlie Carter went close on 37 minutes. Wood managed to hold firm and went into the break with a one-goal advantage.

HT: Boreham Wood 1-0 Dorking Wanderers

Boreham Wood came out for the second half with a more positive mindset and looked likely to add to their lead. However, Dorking got their equaliser nine minutes after the restart with a Femi Ilesanmi own goal, as the rest of the Wood defence were caught ball-watching following an Alfie Rutherford cross.

The visitors took the lead on the hour mark when a Jordan Norville-Williams cross was headed in by Jason Prior. Two minutes later, Prior headed just over from a similar position. Despite being behind, there was a glimmer of hope for Boreham Wood when Jimmy Muitt was sent off for Dorking for a second yellow card after fouling Cameron Coxe on 65 minutes.

The visitors restricted Boreham Wood to a couple of half-chances from Abdul Abdulmalik in the period following the sending off. In fact, they came close to adding a third when a Norville-Williams cross was headed wide by Tony Craig. Dorking made it 3–1 on 81 minutes when the ball was deflected off Ilesanmi again for his second own goal of the match.

There seemed to be no way back for Boreham Wood, despite their one-man advantage. Two minutes later, an excellent strike from Abdulmalik pulled one back and gave Wood some hope. Matt Rush fired wide two minutes later. Abdulmalik went close to equalising on 88 minutes, but this time fired over the bar. A minute later, Wood equalised with a brilliant header by Coxe from a Tom Whelan corner. It was no more than Coxe deserved after turning in some excellent performances in recent weeks. It also sent Meadow Park into bedlam.

When the fourth official signalled six minutes of stoppage time, Wood were confident of snatching a winner and nearly did so on a couple of occasions. With four minutes of stoppage time played, Abdulmalik threaded a ball through to Rush, whose well-struck volley was well saved by keeper Foulkes. A minute later, the ball was somehow kept out of Dorking’s goal when Kwesi Appiah went close again but was denied by a combination of poor finishing, great defending and bad luck.

In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Wood got their winner following a fantastic turn and volley from Ilesanmi, who more than made up for his two own goals and turned Meadow Park into ecstasy.

FT: Boreham Wood 4-3 Dorking Wanderers

It was a fantastic night for Boreham Wood and will live long in the memory for anyone who was there. However, Luke Garrard will be disappointed with some of the defending in the second half and will acknowledge that they have to do it all again away at Torquay United on Saturday. If Boreham Wood do return to the National League, they’ll have done it the hard way.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Coxe, Ilesanmi, Reynolds, Yarney (Bush 73), O’Connell (Appiah 75), Whelan, Clayden (Dixon 63), Sousa, Abdulmalik (Sagaf 90+9), Rush.

Subs not used: Agbontohoma, Marsh, Richardson.

Dorking Wanderers: Foulkes, Camp, Craig (Milsom 70), McManus (Briggs 53), Muitt, Prior, Rutherford (Murphy 65), Carter, Taylor, Gallagher, Norville-Williams.

Subs not used: McShane, Moore, Fuller, Young.

Man of the Match: Cameron Coxe.

Match report written by Brett Lewis.