Boreham Wood secured victory in a one-sided encounter against FC Halifax Town at the Mangata Development Stadium, with Lewis Richardson and Erico Sousa on the scoresheet for Wood and Owen Devonport getting a late consolation for the visitors.

Luke Garrard made two changes to the starting line-up from last Saturday’s win at Gateshead, with Femi Ilesamni coming in at left-back in place of the suspended Joe Newton and Lewis Richardson replacing the injured Abdul Abdulmalik out wide.

Boreham Wood started the match with real attacking intent as the away side were camped in their own penalty area early on. It took nine minutes for them to carve out a real opening when Zak Brunt went on a purposeful run before playing a delightful ball to Lewis Richardson, who fired over with just goalkeeper Sam Johnson to beat. It looked a matter of time before Boreham Wood scored and they got their reward on 19 minutes with a brilliantly worked opener when Tom White played a nice ball to Erico Sousa, whose first-time ball picked out Richardson, who turned well before burying the ball past Johnson in the Shaymen goal.

Wood nearly added a second on 27 minutes when Charlie O’Connell fashioned an opening for Brunt, whose well-struck shot was met with an impressive save from keeper Johnson. Two minutes later an incredible pass from Chris Bush picked out Sousa, who controlled it well before firing just wide. There were odd spells during this period of Halifax attacks and they nearly equalised on 30 minutes when Angelo Cappello found Josh Hmami in the Wood area, who tried to backheel in but sent it wide. Two minutes later Sousa went close again, but this time was denied by Johnson after a lovely combination of passing between Richardson and Jeff King. Soon afterwards, Matt Rush fired over when well placed.

HT: Boreham Wood 1–0 FC Halifax Town

Boreham Wood continued their territorial dominance after the break, but the Shaymen defence held firm. With Boreham Wood’s lead being so narrow there was always the worry that if Wood didn’t get a second, they would leave themselves vulnerable. On 61 minutes Sousa and Brunt, who were at the centre of everything Wood did going forward, played a one-two and Brunt’s cross was just out of the reach of Rush. On 66 minutes Rush forced another good save from Johnson. A minute later Wood doubled their lead. An excellent Femi Ilesamni cross was met by Richardson, who forced Johnson into another good save before Sousa buried the rebound to give Boreham Wood a two-goal lead and some daylight.

On 70 minutes an excellent shot from Brunt crashed off the post. Nine minutes later Brunt was at it again, this time playing Rush through, but Wood’s top scorer couldn’t get a shot in. On 86 minutes, after an excellent run from Charles Clayden, he played in Rush, who turned and struck a fierce shot that went just wide. Three minutes later Clayden was involved again, this time crossing the ball for Rush, who couldn’t keep his shot down. In the fifth minute of added time the visitors pulled a goal back through Owen Devonport from close range. Fortunately for Boreham Wood, the goal came so late that the visitors were unable to follow it up with any pressure.

FT: Boreham Wood 2–1 FC Halifax Town

It was an important three points for Boreham Wood for two reasons. Firstly, some of their promotion rivals also won earlier in the day and secondly, it’s their last league game for three weeks and they needed the points on the board before the enforced break from league action. Wood’s next three matches are in three different cup competitions and while Luke Garrard will be preparing initially for the National League Cup tie against Wolves U21s on Tuesday night, all eyes will be on the second-round FA Cup tie against EFL basement side Newport County next Sunday.

Boreham Wood: Curd, King, Ilesamni, Reynolds, Bush, O’Connell, Brunt, White (Booty 44), Sousa (Norris 88), Richardson (Clayden 75), Rush.

Subs not used: Coxe, Payne, Benton.

FC Halifax Town: Johnson, Adetoro, Hobson, Latty-Fairweather, Cappello (Turner-Cooke 76), Johnson (Johnson 75), Hugill, Hmami, Warburton, Bray (Devonport 75), Harris.

Subs not used: Ford, Mills, Tarima, Jenkins.

Man of the Match: Erico Sousa.

Match report written by Brett Lewis.