In a match that Boreham Wood dominated, they were made to settle for a draw despite spending most of the second half against 10 men due to the sending off of Hartlepool defender Max Kouogun.

Luke Garrard made one change from Monday’s win against Truro City, with Jeff King starting instead of Cameron Coxe, who dropped to the bench. New signing Zak Brunt began his second spell at Boreham Wood on the bench.

As soon as the match started, Pools forward Alex Reid was through on goal but was denied by an incredible tackle from Wood skipper Callum Reynolds. Had it been anything less than perfectly timed, it could have resulted in a red card for Reynolds. Soon afterwards, Jeff King fired over for Wood when well placed. On 16 minutes, a lovely turn and pass from Luke Norris found Matt Rush, whose shot was well saved by Pools keeper Harvey Cartwright. Five minutes later, an uncharacteristic error from Reynolds allowed Danny Johnson a clear run on goal, but he fired wide from a tight angle.

On 25 minutes, Pools defender Cameron John fired over from the edge of the area. A minute later, Norris stung the palms of Cartwright with a well-struck shot, which the Hull City loanee did well to divert wide. On 32 minutes, Abdul Abdulmalik fired wide following a good move involving Norris and Tom White. On 40 minutes, a lovely move involving Femi Ilesanmi and Abdulmalik resulted in a headed chance for Erico Sousa, but he was unable to get any real power on it as Cartwright gathered. A minute later, Abdulmalik was just off target with a shot on the turn. It was an excellent performance by Wood in the first half, and they were unlucky to go into the break level.

HT: Hartlepool United 0-0 Boreham Wood

The second period started with Wood continuing to press forward. Nine minutes after the restart, their case was strengthened further when Max Kouogun was given a straight red card for a foul on Luke Norris, who was through on goal. Unfortunately for the Pools defender, he was unable to replicate Reynolds’ inch-perfect tackle in the first half. Boreham Wood smelled blood and laid siege to Hartlepool’s goal, but the home defence—who had conceded just one goal in six games—held firm as Wood were frustratingly unable to force Cartwright into further saves. The free-kick following the sending-off was fired into the stand by Jeff King, before Abdulmalik fired over the bar three minutes later. On 64 minutes, Norris’s effort was blocked by some heroic defending from Reiss McNally.

Even the introduction of Zak Brunt for his second Boreham Wood debut couldn’t unlock the door. Every time the midfielder got the ball, he was surrounded by Pools defenders. Despite that, five minutes after his introduction he played a neat pass to King, who fired wide. At this stage, the Pools defence couldn’t live with Abdulmalik, who was a constant threat. They would have breathed a huge sigh of relief when he was substituted on 78 minutes, after which Wood’s threat diminished. In fact, Hartlepool, buoyed by their resilient defending, went on the attack for the first time since the red card, and Besart Topallaj forced an excellent save from Nathan Ashmore on 84 minutes. The hosts went close again in the second minute of stoppage time when Luke Charman played in Nathan Sheron, who couldn’t get any real contact on the ball. In the fourth of nine added minutes, Tom White played in Brunt, who was unable to get the ball out of his feet before finding Junior Dixon, whose first-time shot was well blocked by a Pools defender.

FT: Hartlepool United 0-0 Boreham Wood

It was an excellent performance from Luke Garrard’s men as they dominated the hosts. However, Wood were poor with their decision-making in the final third, particularly after Hartlepool were reduced to 10 men, and although they might have settled for a point before the game, they will be frustrated not to have taken full advantage of their extra man.

Hartlepool United: Cartwright, John, Kouogun, McNally, Francis (Charman 63), Johnson (Parkes 55), Sheron, Miley (Hunter 82), Reid, Topallaj, Daly (Walker 63).

Subs not used: Smith, Featherstone, Folarin.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, King (Coxe 78), Ilesanmi (Dixon 85), Bush, Reynolds, O’Connell, White, Sousa, Rush (Brunt 69), Abdulmalik (Clayden 78), Norris.

Subs not used: Coxe, Brunt, Dixon, Clayden.

Man of the Match: Abdul Abdulmalik.

Match report written by Brett Lewis.