In a thrilling encounter at Gander Green Lane, Boreham Wood got over the line after a great second-half comeback to win 4-3 in a game that could have gone either way.

Luke Garrard made one change from Saturday’s draw at Hartlepool, with Zak Brunt making his first start since returning to the club in place of Matt Rush, who dropped to the bench. New signings goalkeeper Finlay Herrick and striker Lewis Richardson took their place on the bench.

It was an entertaining start to the game with both sides showing attacking intent. On two minutes, a long ball over the top caused problems for the Wood when Ashley Nadesan was able to outmuscle both Chris Bush and Femi Ilesanmi. Fortunately for the Wood defenders, he shot straight at Nathan Ashmore. Two minutes later, Luke Norris forced a good save from United keeper Jack Sims. On nine minutes, Wood took the lead when an outstanding run and defence-splitting pass from Erico Sousa picked out Jeff King, who took a touch and buried his finish past Sims in the Sutton goal. Four minutes later, a United forward was one-on-one with Ashmore, but the Wood keeper pulled off an outstanding save to deny him.

Wood went close a couple of times as the first half went on. On 24 minutes, Abdul Abdulmalik went on one of his trademark runs, but his cross was just out of the reach of Norris. Three minutes later, a lovely roll of his feet and cross from King was again just out of the reach of Norris. Wood were made to pay for these missed opportunities on 31 minutes when United equalised. Lewis Simper headed the ball across goal, where Jayden Harris made no mistake from close range. The hosts took the lead on 42 minutes from a nicely worked free kick, when Harris touched the ball to Simper, who struck fiercely into the corner of Boreham Wood’s goal.

HT: Sutton United 2-1 Boreham Wood

The second half started in the same vein as the first, with both teams going for it. Abdulmalik nearly scored a spectacular goal five minutes after the restart when his chip came off the post with keeper Sims beaten. A minute later, Ashmore cleared the ball straight to Wadham, who teed up Brandon Njoku, but he couldn’t get a real connection on his shot. Njoku fired over shortly afterwards. Luke Garrard rang the changes, introducing Cameron Coxe and Matt Rush, who had the desired effect. Coxe was a constant threat for the rest of the match, and Rush didn’t give the Sutton defence a moment’s peace. On 65 minutes, Coxe played in Abdulmalik, who found space and finished well to equalise.

Sutton then went close a couple of times through Simper and Mohammad Sabre before Wood got a penalty on 84 minutes, when Lewis Richardson, who had just come on, was fouled in the box. Zak Brunt stepped up to give Boreham Wood the lead. In the third minute of stoppage time, Wood got their fourth after some excellent hold-up play from Rush, who played in Richardson, who unselfishly supplied Sousa, who buried his shot in the corner to double Boreham Wood’s lead. Sutton, to their credit, didn’t give up, and Edon Pruti scored an incredible goal from 35 yards which gave Ashmore no chance. Boreham Wood held out for the three points.

FT: Sutton United 3-4 Boreham Wood

It was an excellent win for Luke Garrard’s men against tricky opposition. The side produced some excellent attacking football and showed spirit in the second half to come back.

Sutton United: Sims, Phipps, Simper, Nadesan, Pruti, Taylor (White 87), Wadham, Harris (Dabre 59), Boutin, Eccleston, Njoku (Ogbonna 72).

Subs not used: Aziaya, Jones, Reeves.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, King (Coxe 58), Ilesanmi, Bush, Reynolds, O’Connell, White, Sousa, Brunt, Abdulmalik (Richardson 83), Norris (Rush 58).

Subs not used: Herrick, Dixon, Newton, Clayden.

Man of the Match: Erico Sousa.

Match report written by Brett Lewis.