Kelly (23)
Golden (31), Booty (79)
Luke Garrard named an unchanged starting line-up and an unchanged bench from Saturday’s victory against AFC Fylde.
It was a sloppy opening period from both sides as they tried to play the ball around. Wood had the game’s first chance in the seventh minute when Zak Brunt tried his luck from the edge of the area but fired straight at Cards goalkeeper Vincente Reyes.
Wood then started to control proceedings and forced a succession of corners but were unable to trouble a stubborn Woking defence. The hosts had their first chance in the 20th minute when Harrison Sohna fired just wide from a free-kick.
Three minutes later, the Cards took the lead when Sohna’s inch-perfect cross was met by a brilliant header from Josh Kelly, which gave Ted Curd no chance in the Wood goal. It was the former Maidenhead United forward’s third goal in his last two games against Boreham Wood, having scored twice in the recent FA Cup meeting.
Wood equalised in the 31st minute with a fantastic volley from Tylor Golden. Tarryn Allarakhia’s cross was headed into Golden’s path by Ben Whitfield, and the full-back arrowed his volley past Reyes before the goalkeeper could react.
Wood continued to turn the screw, and soon afterwards, Zak Brunt played a delightful ball to Ollie Bainbridge, whose cross was just out of Jay Bird’s reach. The period leading up to the break was fairly even as both sides looked to attack, and the score remained level at the interval.
Wood started the second half in control and, three minutes after the restart, were awarded a penalty. However, Brunt’s spot-kick was well saved by Reyes. It was Brunt’s second penalty miss in his last two matches and, ironically, the Woking goalkeeper’s second penalty save in consecutive games.
In the 51st minute, Bird went through on goal but was denied by an excellent block from Charlie McArthur. Four minutes later, the Cards had a good chance to retake the lead, but Steven Turner fired just off target. In the 58th minute, Reyes produced another excellent save, this time to deny Allarakhia.
In the 65th minute, Brunt thought he had redeemed himself for the penalty miss with an excellent turn and shot that looked destined for the far corner before Reyes somehow managed to keep it out again. Five minutes later, Reyes denied Brunt once more, this time saving a shot that went straight at him.
For the next period of the game, it was attack against defence as Boreham Wood tried to find a way through. In the 78th minute, Wood finally found a breakthrough when Regan Booty produced an excellent strike that even Reyes could not keep out. It was Booty’s first goal of the season, and it proved to be a vital one.
Wood’s task was made easier when Turner was shown a straight red card for a foul on Charlie O’Connell. Brunt was denied yet again by Reyes in the 87th minute.
A spate of late substitutions interrupted the flow of the game, but Woking pushed forward in search of an equaliser. A late freekick from the hosts found McArthur, but he headed just wide. Wood held on to secure all three points.
It was a battling performance from Luke Garrard’s men against tricky opposition and a fantastic away victory.
Woking: Reyes, Sohna, Syla, Kelly (Adarkwa 90), McArthur, Paul-Lavaly (O’Brien 61), Dulson (Marquis 61), Putman, Akinola (Dryer 90), Turner, Grant (Asare 86).
Subs not used: Ross, Adarkwa.
Boreham Wood: Curd, Golden, Bainbridge, Bush, O’Connell, White, Booty (Marshall-Miranda 90+1), Brunt (Wright 90+1), Allarakhia (Clarke 85), Whitfield (Cashman 72), Bird (Rush 72).
Subs not used: Wilkinson, Kensdale.
Man of the Match: Regan Booty
Written by Brett Lewis.
