In an entertaining match, Boreham Wood ran out 5–2 winners against fellow National League side Brackley Town and earned their place in the semi-finals of the National League Cup.

Luke Garrard rang the changes following Saturday’s defeat at Altrincham, with Nathan Ashmore returning from his loan spell at Bedford to reclaim the No 1 shirt. Ollie Kensdale, Charles Clayden, Cameron Coxe and Femi Ilesamni also started.

Boreham Wood came straight out of the blocks and dominated from the off. They took the lead on four minutes with a brilliantly worked goal. Some lovely interplay between Cameron Coxe and Zack Brunt ended with Coxe playing in Charlie O’Connell, who made a very good run before sending over an inch-perfect cross which Rush headed home. Four minutes later Abdul Abdulmalik played in Charles Clayden, whose shot was well saved by Brackley keeper Cameron Gregory. On 10 minutes, a Clayden cross was punched clear into the path of Abdulmalik, who fired way over. Eight minutes later Wood got a deserved second, and it was top scorer Rush again, who this time controlled the ball with his chest before an excellent finish from just outside the area.

On 21 minutes Coxe nearly added a third with an excellent turn and shot which went just wide. On 32 minutes Wood added a third, which was created by O’Connell, who played in Abdulmalik. His shot was deflected into the path of Femi Ilesamni, who fired home. Five minutes later Rush nearly completed his hat-trick but fired over when well placed. On 41 minutes, the visitors had their first effort on goal when Zak Lilly struck the post before Kian Harratt struck the rebound into the side netting.

Boreham Wood 3–0 Brackley Town

Four minutes after the restart the visitors nearly pulled one back when Harratt struck the upright before the ball bounced back to him and he forced a save from Nathan Ashmore. On 54 minutes Wood added a fourth with another excellent goal. Regan Booty played in Rush, who flicked the ball to Clayden, who found the net with a great finish. Three minutes later Brunt crashed his shot against the crossbar from the edge of the area. On 61 minutes Connor Hall pulled one back for Brackley with a neat finish.

On 72 minutes O’Connell fired just wide from a tight angle. Two minutes later Clayden was just off target with his shot. On 78 minutes the visitors pulled another one back when an inch-perfect cross from the left by Tyler Lyttle found Morgan Roberts, who fired home. After that goal Boreham Wood could have panicked but were able to control possession in the final period of the game and didn’t give their opponents another sniff at goal. In the final minutes of added time Wood got their fifth when an inch-perfect pass from Aaron Henry picked out Coxe, who then cut in on his left and put the ball into the top corner of Gregory’s net.

Boreham Wood 5–2 Brackley Town

It was a thoroughly entertaining night under the lights at Meadow Park as Boreham Wood progressed to the semi-finals of the Cup. After two successive defeats in the National League, Luke Garrard will take a lot of positives from this game into Saturday’s match against Boston United.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Coxe, Ilesamni, Kensdale, Bush, O’Connell, Brunt, Booty, Abdulmalik (Newton 66), Clayden, Rush (Henry 90).

Subs not used: Curd, Payne, Sousa, Richardson.

Brackley Town: Gregory, Calder (Lyttle 57), Price, Morrison, Brown (Simmonds 66), Roberts, Lilly, Pendleton, Hall (Newton 65), Harratt (Pollock 58), Haynes.

Subs not used: Worby, Wodskou, Byrne.

Man of the match: Cameron Coxe.

Match report written by Brett Lewis.