Boreham Wood were made to make do with a point in a gripping encounter against play off rivals Forest Green Rovers, and having taken the lead on 52 minutes through Lewis Richardson, they were undone by a Kyle McAllister penalty 14 minutes later.   

Luke Garrard made two changes to his starting line up from last Saturday’s draw at Eastleigh with Ted Curd replacing the departed Nathan Ashmore and Marley Marshall-Miranda coming in for the injured Ollie Kensdale with Charlie O’Connell, dropping into the back four.

The match started at a frantic pace with both sides trying to attack. The early chances did fall Wood’s way, but an early Kyle McAllister corner which found Tom Knowles on the edge of the area was thwarted by Chris Bush which proved an early warning sign. Marley Marshall-Miranda’s challenge on McAllister forced a usually feisty Green manager Robbie Savage to be even more feisty on the touchline, which ended up in the former Blackburn Rovers man being booked instead. Ricardo Rees went on a good run minutes after before finding Jill Buyabu whose shot was blocked by Bush, and The Green kept the pace up when two minutes later, a McAllister free kicked was headed wide by Tate Campbell.  Abdul Abdulmalik then followed when he went on an excellent run before being thwarted by Green ‘keeper Harry Isted.

Rees then was involved again when he forced Ted Curd into a good save with a shot from distance, but Wood then worked their best chance of the half a lovely pass from Zak Brunt found Matt Rush, who was denied by an excellent save from Isted yet again. A minute later, McAllister found Christian Doidge with an inch perfect cross, but the veteran striker forced Curd into a good save to close out the half.

HT: Boreham Wood 0-0 Forest Green Rovers

As soon as the second half started, a mistake in the Wood defence by Chris Bush allowed Rees to steal in but fortunately for Boreham Wood, he fired wide. The visitors started brightly but in Boreham Wood’s first attack of the second half on 52 minutes, they took the lead. A well worked corner routine ended up with Brunt crossing for Lewis Richardson who headed home at the far post. Two minutes later, another corner created a headed chance for Charlie O’Connell who was denied by a fantastic save from Isted with the Wood supporters already celebrating a goal, before Matt Rush then had yet another chance from a set piece cleared off the line by several bodies in pink.

Wood were in almost total control, however against the run of play Forest Green went up the other end and were awarded a penalty for an apparent handball from Bush. McAllister made no mistake from the spot sending Curd the wrong way.

Leon Ayinde held of the Forest Green defence to get a shot in and a huge chance to give his side the lead, but Isted again was equal to it, like he had been for several chances before, and if it wasn’tfor him Wood would have been out of sight. Substitute Josh Osude was given an early bath for violent conduct following an elbow on Charlie O’Connell in the closing stages, but Wood couldn’t capitalise on the man advantage and had to settle for a point.

FT: Boreham Wood 1-1 Forest Green Rovers

It was an entertaining match at Meadow Park between two side who may meet again in the play offs. Forest Green’s determination mirrored that of their manager Robbie Savage but Boreham Wood looked in control until the penalty and Luke Garrard will see this as two points dropped. With two difficult away games at Southend and Tamworth to come, Boreham Wood will need to turn some if these draws into wins.

Boreham Wood: Curd, Coxe, Ilesamni, Bush, O’Connell, Marshall-Miranda, Brunt, Booty, Abdulmalik, Richardson (Ayinde 67′), Rush

Subs not used: Payne, Newton, Henry, Clayden, Norris, Robinson

Forest Green Rovers: Isted, Knowles (Kengni 76′), Buyabu (Morrison 85′), Mingi, Kircough, Kanu, Campbell (Bunker 77′), Nwoko, McAllister, Doidge (Osude 68′), Rees

Subs not used: Pagel, Haughton, Clarke

Man of the Match: Marley Marshall-Miranda

Match report written by Brett Lewis.