Boreham Wood survived a late scare to overcome struggling Chester with a 1-2 win at the Deva Stadium.

Goals from Shaun Jeffers (31) and Bruno Andrade (38) for the second successive week, means that the Wood are now unbeaten in five.

Nyal Bell (77) netted for Chester with just over ten minutes remaining, but Luke Garrard’s side remained resolute and played out the remaining time.

Garrard made just one change to the lineup that won at St Albans, with Danny Woodards coming in at left-wing-back in exchange for Ricky Shakes.

Both sides took a while to settle into the match, with the first real chance going to Chester. Harry White struck low from just outside of the area, but Grant Smith was equal to it.

Angelo Balanta, making just his second start for the Wood since returning from injury, attempted to slip through Andrade, but his attempt was over hit and ran out of play.

Jordon Chappell indecisively twisted and turned around the box, but his eventual shot was well hit and saved by Smith.

Having returned to the side against St Albans, Jeffers was rejuvenated and looked bright in the early stages, he cut inside on the edge of the area and curled a shot just past the post.

Chester were on the back foot, but when the ball dropped sweetly for White, he had no second thoughts and thumped it on the half-volley, but the ball sailed over the bar.

A clever one-two between Kane Smith and Balanta, found space for the former, but Smith took too many touches and was dispossessed.

The Wood did make the breakthrough shortly after the half-hour mark, Jeffers had gone unnoticed in the area and nodded home Andrade’s corner.

The visitors then doubled their lead five minutes later. A cute ball from Keiran Murtagh was met, and drilled low into the box by Smith, Alex Lynch parried, but Andrade was alert to smash home the loose ball.

Murtagh was then gifted the ball by the Chester defence and he laid it to Smith, but his powered effort was saved by Lynch.

Chester returned from half-time in a more attacking fashion. Ross Hannah replaced Chappell and nearly made an instant impact, but he thrashed his effort over the bar from 25-yards.

Smith’s cross deflected to Murtagh and he cracked a strike at goal, but Ryan Astles blocked. The ball was recycled and Balanta curled an effort with his left foot, but again it was blocked.

Heavy rain and wind were effecting the game, allowing for little creativy, but the Wood had the chance to add to their lead when Andrade was brought down on the edge of the area.

However, the in-form forward lifted his free-kick over.

Andrade continued to look bright and somehow snuck the ball past Lathaniel Rowe-Turner and chipped it across the box, but Woodards couldn’t direct his header on target.

Chester hadn’t given up and Offrande Zanzala whipped a ball into the box, but there was too much pace on it and Bell couldn’t control it.

However, Bell did pull one back for Chester shortly after, he had found space in the area and fired in James’ cross.

Chester looked to push on and sent defender Astley up-front. Reece Hall-Johnson proceeded to throw a long ball into the box, but the defender couldn’t meet it.   

The Wood: G Smith, K Smith, Wells, Stephens, Champion, Woodards, Murtagh, Ricketts (C), Balanta (Shakes 82), Jeffers (Holman 74), Andrade

Subs not used: Turgott, Turley, Benson

Chester: Lynch, Hall-Johnson, McCombe, Astles, Rowe-Turner, Shaw, Dawson (Turnbull 73), James, Chapell (Hannah 45), Zanzala, White (Bell 62) 

Subs not used: Mitchell, Jones.

Goals:

The Wood: Jeffers 31, Andrade 38

Chester: Bell 77

 

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