Second-half goals from Zak Brunt and Abdul Abdulmalik were enough to give Boreham Wood their fourth league win in a row and maintain their impressive start to the season.
Luke Garrard made one change to last Saturday’s win against Altrincham, with Lewis Richardson returning from injury in place of the injured Erico Sousa.
The opening period of the game was played largely in the Boreham Wood half, but Wood had the game’s first chance on nine minutes when an excellent Chris Bush pass picked out Lewis Richardson, whose cross eventually found its way to Jeff King, who cut inside and fired straight at Pilgrims keeper Rhys Lovett. Five minutes later, a Zak Brunt corner was headed straight at the keeper by Charlie O’Connell. On 15 minutes, an inch-perfect Callum Reynolds pass picked out King, whose cross was collected by Matt Rush before he curled a shot just wide of the Boston goal. Two minutes later, the hosts had a chance when Owen Hampson played in Matty Carson, who shot wide.
When the match calmed down after an eventful start, Wood continued to dominate possession without threatening. On 35 minutes an excellent run from Jeff King ended with a disappointing shot from the right-back which went wide. A minute later King’s cross picked out Rush, who took his shot early but was denied by an excellent block from Zak Mills. In the 42nd minute a stinging shot from Bush forced Lovett into an excellent save. Just before the interval Greg Sloggett fired just over for the hosts with a well-struck shot.
HT: Boston United 0-0 Boreham Wood
Boreham Wood came out for the second half with renewed purpose and were able to apply some clinical finishing to their dominance. Five minutes after the restart they took a deserved lead. The move was started by Abdulmalik, who twisted and turned his way into the Boston penalty area before finding Tom White, whose inch-perfect pass picked out Brunt, who made no mistake with an excellent finish that gave Lovett no chance in the Pilgrims goal. Seven minutes later, Wood came close to getting their second when Jeff King’s thunderous free-kick cannoned off the Boston crossbar with Lovett well beaten. Apparently, the crossbar is still shaking!
Wood got their second on 61 minutes when an excellent ball from Reynolds picked out King, who went on an excellent run. Just when it looked like he would repeat his shot on goal from the first half, he laid it back to Abdulmalik, who buried it from the edge of the area. Boreham Wood were in total control for the rest of the game and at times were toying with the Pilgrims. The introduction of Charles Clayden and Cameron Coxe again added energy to their play and it looked like a third goal was coming. Boston threatened late on, but their efforts to pull a goal back were denied by Bush and Reynolds at the back, who were faultless all afternoon. Finlay Herrick was called into action on 90 minutes, saving a well-struck Kieron Donnelly shot.
FT: Boston United 0-2 Boreham Wood
It was another excellent three points for Luke Garrard’s men. While they weren’t at their best, they didn’t have to be against a disappointing Boston United side. For a long period, Wood were unable to break the hosts down, but when they did, they produced two excellent goals to do it. Luke Garrard’s men will be looking to continue their excellent form against, surely, a better opposition in Scunthorpe United on Wednesday night.
Boston United: Lovett, Teale, Mills, Sloggett (Grist 79), Hill, Carson, Hiwula (Donnelly 59), Lankshear, Richards, Hampson (John-Lewis 46), Cropper (Coyle 79)
Subs not used: Jones, Fogarty, Norkett.
Boreham Wood: Herrick, King (Coxe 75), Ilesanmi, Reynolds (Benton 90), Bush, O’Connell, Brunt, White, Abdulmalik (Dixon 75), Rush, Richardson (Clayden 66)
Subs not used: Ashmore, Newton, Henry.
Man of the Match: Jeff King.
Match report written by Brett Lewis.
