Boreham Wood won their third game out of three in the National League Cup in a thoroughly entertaining match against Leicester City U21.

Luke Garrard made eight changes from Saturday’s win at Gateshead, with Cameron Coxe, Femi Ilesanmi, Jack Payne, Jon Benton, Charles Clayden, Luke Norris, Lewis Richardson and Regan Booty coming into the starting line-up.

Boreham Wood started on the front foot and nearly took the lead on five minutes when Cameron Coxe played in Luke Norris, who was denied by Foxes keeper Freddie Marson. Three minutes later, Norris’s looping header clipped the top of the crossbar. On nine minutes, Wood took a deserved lead when Clayden did well to keep the ball alive down the right before playing the ball back to Jack Payne, who delivered a lovely pass to Lewis Richardson. He twisted and turned before applying an outstanding finish into the far corner. Three minutes later, the former Burnley man nearly got his second with a well-struck free-kick, which Marson just managed to tip away.

Out of nothing, the Foxes equalised on 17 minutes with an outstanding shot from distance by Kevon Gray, which gave Fred Curd no chance. The visitors took the lead a minute later when an uncharacteristic mistake from skipper Callum Reynolds allowed Jake Evans to steal in and round Curd before putting the ball into an empty net. On 23 minutes, Jack Payne came close to equalising with a well-struck volley that went just over the bar. Wood continued to control possession but were undone again by a third Leicester goal on 29 minutes when, following another break, Kirsten Otchere produced a devastating finish past Curd in the Wood goal.

Wood pulled one back on 39 minutes when an inch-perfect Norris cross was headed in by Richardson for his second goal. On 42 minutes, Wood came close to equalising when Richardson was denied his hat-trick by a good save from Marson in the Foxes’ goal. Just before the interval, Cameron Coxe turned and shot straight at Marson. Almost immediately, Curd pulled off an outstanding save to deny Michael Golding.

HT: Boreham Wood 2–3 Leicester City U21

Wood continued their territorial dominance at the start of the second half as they pushed for an equaliser. Charles Clayden was off target with a header a minute after the restart. They then had two free kicks from outside the area in quick succession, but Regan Booty hit the wall the first time and Jon Benton did the same the second time. Wood equalised on 65 minutes when Jeff King was brought down in the area, and Norris made no mistake from 12 yards, sending keeper Marson the wrong way.

Five minutes later, Wood took the lead with a wonder-strike from Jon Benton, whose turn and shot gave keeper Marson no chance. Wood then managed the ball well and restricted the visitors. Golding went close on 84 minutes but was denied by Curd. The same player fired wide two minutes later after some indecision in the Wood defence.

FT: Boreham Wood 4–3 Leicester City U21

Boreham Wood got what they deserved in the end but made hard work of it. The goal from Benton was good enough to win any football match.

Boreham Wood: Curd, Coxe, Ilesanmi (Newton 66), Bush, Reynolds (King 54), Payne (O’Connell 54), Benton, Clayden (Rush 76), Booty, Richardson (Brunt 76), Norris.

Subs not used: Sousa, White, White.

Leicester City U21: Marson, Toko, Ali, Gray, Khela, Onanaye, Evans (Akolbire 71), Golding, Otchere (Hutchinson 71), Motsi (Fisken 71), Richards (Daniels 62).

Subs not used: Diallo, Donohue, Omobolaji.

Man of the Match: Jon Benton.

Match report written by Brett Lewis.