A Bruno Andrade brace inspired Boreham Wood to a 2-1 win over Gateshead, as they made it three league wins on the bounce.
It was the Wood’s first win against the Heed since their promotion in the top tier of non-league football.
Bruno Andrade netted either side of a deflected goal from Wes York, as the home team preserved their playoff place.
Alex Davey had come into the side in place of Tom Champion, while Morgan Ferrier slotted in upfront alongside Andrade.
There was an early chance for the Wood, but Ferrier could only send Grant Smith’s long-free kick into the stands.
It was an end-to-end opening 15 minutes, but neither side had been able to trouble the opposition goalkeeper. Danny Woodards chased back to make a vital challenge, following an inviting cross from Paddy McLaughlin.
Andrade had been buzzing around in the early exchanges and cut around two Heed defenders with ease, but he couldn’t aim his shot on target.
A viscous strike from Jordan Barrow was blocked on its way to goal, as Gateshead looked to create an opening.
An ambitious attempt from Mark Ricketts could have caused real danger, but his long-range volley drifted over the crossbar.
Smith was forced into a superb diving save, when Ben Fox fired a free-kick into the bottom right-corner.
With both sides pushing for an opener, Ferrier floated a cross in for Andrade, but the forward headed off-target. Andrade’s wide free-kick was then knocked clear by the visitors.
Both teams were creating plenty of chances but were failing to find that killer edge. Ferrier burst down the left-wing and cut inside on Scott Barrow, but again his chance would sail shy of the target.
An opener came with 10 minutes of the first half remaining and the move was begun by a superb through ball from Keiran Murtagh, Ferrier latched onto the end of it and whipped a cross in for Andrade, who tucked it home with an overhead kick, after a Heed deflection.
Gateshead returned for the second half with a spring in their step as they looked to level the scores and wouldn’t have to wait long for their opener. A powerful long-range effort from Russell Penn deflected off York and past Smith in the Wood goal. The Wood defenders argued that there was a hint of offside in the effort, but the referee let it stand.
Richard Peniket then attempted his own acrobatic effort, but his overhead kick was claimed by Smith.
Andrade got his head onto the end of another Wood cross, this time from Smith on the right-wing, but he could only aim it wide.
On-loan Gateshead midfielder Fox had looked a menace all game, but he curled a weak free-kick straight into the hands of Smith.
Andrade would then ensure that FA Trophy history wouldn’t repeat itself in the league, with a special solo effort. He picked the ball up on the left-wing and shimmied his way between two Heed defenders, before thumping a strike past Graeme Montgomery from a tight angle.
The forward took up a similar position just minutes later, but this time swung a cross in for Ferrier and Fyfield beat him to it.
Ferrier then turned provider as he kept the ball in play and crossed for Andrade, but it was volleyed over Montgomery’s bar.
Ferrier and Andrade had been linking well all game, and the former would again feed the latter, but the Heed defence recovered to block and clear.
Former Sunderland prodigy Rees Greenwood had been brought on by Steve Watson in attempt to level the scores again, but when he cut inside on the left, he dragged his shot off-target.
With just a minute of regular time to go, Wood substitute Ricky Shakes nipped infront of his marker to volley Smith’s cross at goal, but Montgomery pulled off an excellent close-range stop.
The Wood: G Smith, K Smith (Folivi 90+1’) Woodards, Ricketts ©, Stephens, Murtagh, Andrade, Turley, Balanta (Shakes 65’), Davey, Ferrier
Subs not used: Harfield, Quigley, Thomas
Gateshead: Montgomery, Vassell, Barrow, Fyfield, York, Peniket (McNall 77’), Burrow (Johnson 77’), Preston (Greenwood 73’), McLaughlin ©, Penn, Fox
Subs not used: Hanford, Williams
Goals:
The Wood: Andrade 35’, Andrade 75’
Gateshead: York 55’
Attendance: 464