Boreham Wood have reached the knockout stages of the National League Cup for the second season running following an emphatic 7-1 win against Middlesbrough U21s. Two goals apiece from Danny Cashman and Ollie Bainbridge, strikes from Tarryn Allarakhia and Zak Brunt, and an own goal were enough to seal the victory for Wood.

Luke Garrard made five changes to his starting line-up from Saturday’s FA Cup win against Woking, with Luca Gunter, James Clarke, Ollie Kensdale, Marley Marshall-Miranda and Ben Whitfield coming in for Ted Curd, Ollie Bainbridge, Chris Bush, Zak Brunt and Lewis Richardson.

Wood started on the front foot and had a chance in the second minute when Conor Wilkinson’s shot was saved by Boro keeper Dwayne Bernard. A minute later, Frankie Coulson’s shot went straight at Wood keeper Luca Gunter. Wood took the lead in the fifth minute when Wilkinson was fouled in the penalty area and Danny Cashman stepped up to send Bernard the wrong way. Cruz Ibeh tested Gunter two minutes later, but the Wood keeper was equal to it. On 10 minutes, Ollie Kensdale headed the ball into the path of James Clarke, who then headed over the bar.

Wood doubled their lead on 22 minutes when a ball over the top was beautifully controlled by Clarke, who played in Ben Whitfield down the right. His inch-perfect cross was expertly headed home by Tarryn Allarakhia at the far post. On the half-hour mark, Clarke was denied by an excellent save from Bernard. Wood made it 3-0 in the 37th minute following a lovely move involving Whitfield and Cashman, with the Barrow loanee’s cross turned into his own goal by Boro defender Josh Dede.

HT: BOREHAM WOOD 3-0 MIDDLESBROUGH U21s

Boreham Wood were a little sloppy at the start of the second half as Boro began to impose themselves on the game in the opening minutes. On 55 minutes, Wood made sure of the win when Cashman scored directly from a corner, with his delivery missed by Fahaan Ali Wahid and Wilkinson before flying straight into the net.

Frankie Coulson pulled one back for the visitors on the hour mark.

Nine minutes later, Ollie Bainbridge notched his first goal for the club with an emphatic finish following a lovely pass from Zak Brunt. Six minutes later, Bernard spilled Ali Wahid’s shot straight into the path of Bainbridge, who grabbed his second of the night, Wood’s sixth goal of the match and their 50th goal of the season in all competitions. Three minutes later, Brunt completed the scoring with a fantastic free kick after Bernard handled the ball outside the penalty area.

FT: BOREHAM WOOD 7-1 MIDDLESBROUGH U21s

Boreham Wood: Gunter, Clarke, Golden, Kensdale, Wright, Booty (O’Connell 46), Marshall-Miranda, Whitfield (Bainbridge 63), Allarakhia (Ali Wahid 46), Cashman (Brunt 63), Kensdale.

Subs not used: Bush, Richardson, Reynolds.

Man of the Match: Marley Marshall-Miranda

Written by Brett Lewis.