Boreham Wood were made to settle for a draw after taking the lead twice in a classic National League encounter in Yorkshire against an inform York City side.

Luke Garrard made one change from Saturday’s win against Eastleigh with Cameron Coxe starting in place of the unavailable Jeff King.

Boreham Wood got off to the perfect start by taking the lead inside two minutes when an excellent run and shot from Abdul Abdulmalik forced Minstermen keeper Harrison Male into a save before Matt Rush was there to smash the ball home. Wood continued to control a lot of early possession but were almost undone on 12 minutes when a Joe Felix effort nearly caught Finaly Herrick out at his near post before the Wood keeper managed to push the ball out for a corner. From the resulting corner, Hiram Boateng’s shot was brilliantly blocked by Chris Bush. Ten minutes later, a Mark Kitching effort was again blocked, this time by Callum Reynolds.

On the half hour mark, a Zak Brunt free kick was headed into the path of Rush by Reynold’s, but Wood’s top scorer couldn’t quite get on the end of it. Four minutes later, York’s Ollie Pearce played in Boateng who was in on goal before Herrick made an excellent save to deny him. On 35 minutes, Alex Hunt fired over the bar from distance. Three minutes into stoppage time at the end of the half, Brunt tried to catch Male out at his near post, but the former Dorking Wanderers keeper was equal to it. The hosts were not to be denied and in the last of five minutes added onto the half, Alex Newby equalised for the Minstermen with a well struck shot.

HT: York City 1-1 Boreham Wood

Despite the blow of conceding just before the break, the Wood came out for the second half with a positive mindset. Six minutes after the restart, Rush had a goal bound shot blocked by Callum Howe. A minutes later, Abdulmalik forced Male into a good save after an excellent move. Straight away, York went up the other end and Hunt missed a glorious opportunity to give them the lead by firing wide from close range. The hosts then piled the pressure on, but the Wood defence held firm.

On 66 minutes, Wood took the lead again. Femi Ilesanmi caused havoc in the York box before laying the ball back to Lewis Richardson whose cross was neatly turned in by Rush for his second of the night and his 10th of the season. The goal stunned the hosts and for a period afterwards, they offered nothing. In fact, the Wood nearly got a third on 74 minutes when Brunt’s shot was well saved by Male.

On 83 minutes, Minstermen top scorer Ollie Pearce forced Herrick into a good save. The former Worthing frontman was largely kept quiet by Reynolds and Bush at the back. However, on 89 minutes, the hosts got their second equaliser of the match when an inch perfect Ben Brookes cross was met with an outstanding header from Luke Fallowfield. The hosts spent the last minute and the four added on minutes in the ascendancy but the Wood defence was able to hold firm, ensuring it was honours even at the end.

FT: York City 2-2 Boreham Wood

It shows how far Boreham Wood have come when they are disappointed to come away with a point against such an in-form side as York City, the same side that amassed 96 points in the league last season. It was another excellent performance from Luke Garrard’s men. They continue their long unbeaten run and have an equally difficult assignment away at Forest Green Rovers on Saturday to negotiate.

York City: Male, Fallowfield, Kitching, Palmer (Howe 41), Hunt, Grey, Boateng (Stones 78), Olley (Batty 66), Felix (Brookes 78), Newby (Banks 78), Pearce.

Subs not used: Sykes-Kenworthy, Sinclair.

Boreham Wood: Herrick, Coxe, Newton (Ilesanmi 62), Reynolds, Bush, O’Connell, Brunt (Benton 90), White, Abdulmalik (Norris 86), Sousa (Richardson 62). Rush.

Subs not used: Dixon, Henry, Clayden.

Man of the Match: Matt Rush.

Match report written by Brett Lewis.