Boreham Wood lost their third National League game in a row on a disappointing afternoon against relegation-threatened Boston United. Wood took the lead through Abdul Abdulmalik just before the break. However, their afternoon started to unravel in the second half when first Femi Ilesamni and then Regan Booty were shown straight red cards, and the Pilgrims scored two unanswered goals through Lenell John-Lewis and Jody Hiwula to seal the three points.

Luke Garrard made four changes from our last league game against Altrincham, with Cameron Coxe and Femi Ilesamni rewarded for excellent performances against Brackley Town in the National League Cup in midweek with starts at full-back in place of Lewis Richardson and Joe Newton. Ollie Kensdale came in for the injured skipper Callum Reynolds for his first league start for Wood, and Charlie Clayden, also excellent in midweek, started instead of Marley Marshall-Miranda further forward.

The visitors started on the front foot and had the game’s first chance after two minutes when Ken Aboh fired over from outside the area. It took a while for Boreham Wood to get going and they created a chance on 12 minutes when, after some good interplay between Charlie O’Connell and Zak Brunt, Regan Booty had a shot blocked by Oisin Gallagher.

A minute later, Brunt struck a volley straight at Pilgrims keeper Andrew Wogan. Brunt went close again on 18 minutes but Wogan was again equal to it. Aboh fired wide again soon afterwards. On 20 minutes, Charlie Clayden went on a good run down the right before playing in Matt Rush, whose shot was blocked. On 22 minutes, Gallagher headed Clayden’s cross against his own crossbar. The rest of the first half was devoid of any real incident, with Wood unable to get a real foothold in the game, before Abdul Abdulmalik gave Wood the lead in the first minute of stoppage time with a rasping shot which keeper Wogan failed to hold.

HT: Boreham Wood 1–0 Boston United

Wood were fortunate to go into the interval in the lead and came out for the second half lacking any real intensity. The game turned on 52 minutes when the ball was played into the dangerous Aboh, who was tugged back by Femi Ilesamni in the area. Referee Alan Dale had no option but to award the Pilgrims a penalty and give Ilesamni a straight red card. Lenell John-Lewis converted from the spot by sending Nathan Ashmore the wrong way. All of a sudden, Wood were pegged back and had a one-man disadvantage.

Wood seemed to handle playing with ten men quite well and, three minutes after the sending off, Brunt fired just over for Boreham Wood. On 65 minutes, Greg Sloggett fired wide for the visitors. Two minutes later, Matty Carson forced Ashmore into an excellent save. On 71 minutes, Chris Bush went close for Wood but fired wide. Three minutes later, Cameron Coxe nearly repeated his goal from Tuesday night when he cut in on his left foot and shot. This time, he was off target. On 79 minutes, Regan Booty was given a straight red, presumably for something he said to referee Alan Dale. This reduced Wood to nine men and they were up against it for the final period of the game. On 81 minutes, the Pilgrims made them pay by getting the winner. Jordan Richards’ shot from distance was saved by Ashmore before Jordy Hiwula fired home to give Boston their first National League win in eight games.

FT: Boreham Wood 1–2 Boston United

It was a disappointing afternoon for Boreham Wood. They go into the important clash at Rochdale on Tuesday night not only in poor form but without a number of injured players, as well as Ilesamni and Booty, who will be suspended after today’s sendings off.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Coxe (Henry 83), Ilesamni, Bush, Kensdale, O’Connell, Brunt, Booty, Abdulmalik (Newton 71), Clayden (Marshall-Miranda 57), Rush (Robinson 83).

Subs not used: Curd, Payne, Sousa.

Boston United: Wogan, Carson, Ronney, Teale, Gallagher, Richards (Raiky 83), Sloggett, Hill, Aboh, John-Lewis (Hiwula 57), Cursons (Donnelly 77).

Subs not used: Lovett, Grist, Scott, Waldock.

Man of the match: Abdul Abdulmalik.

Match report written by Brett Lewis.