Boreham Wood started 2025 in fine style when an excellent second-half performance sealed a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Slough Town. Another hattrick from National League South top goalscorer Kwesi Appiah and two goals from new boy Matt Rush, off the bench, were enough to confirm the three points for Luke Garrard’s side.

Luke Garrard made one change to the starting lineup from Boxing Day’s win at Enfield Town, with Charles Clayden coming in for the injured Femi Ilesanmi at left wing-back. New signing Matt Rush started on the bench for Boreham Wood.

Wood started the game on the front foot, and after two minutes, a nicely worked corner from Tom Whelan picked out Jon Benton, whose cross fell to Kwesi Appiah, who flicked it just over the bar. On 18 minutes, a lovely ball from Appiah picked out Charles Clayden down the left. As Clayden ran into the penalty area, he was tripped by Scott Davies, and referee Tom Ellsmore had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Appiah made no mistake from 12 yards to give Boreham Wood the lead. Soon after Slough kicked off, they were level. An excellent run and pass from Slavi Spasov picked out Leon Parillon, who finished well past Nathan Ashmore. The equaliser lifted the visitors, who gave as good as they got for the rest of the first half.

On 23 minutes, Job Benton struck the crossbar from distance as Wood tried to restore their lead. Soon afterwards, Whelan had a goal-bound shot cleared off the line. On the half-hour mark, Spasov had a shot blocked by Josh Hare, and Wood were lucky that it deflected just over the bar. Soon afterwards, Sam Evans went close for the visitors but was denied by a fantastic goal-saving block from Charlie O’Connell. On 40 minutes, an excellent run and pass by Lee Ndlovu picked out Tom Whelan, whose fiercely struck shot was well saved by Rebels keeper Charlie Horlock. Soon afterwards, a Josh Hare cross was headed over by Appiah. In the first minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half, Dan Bayliss had a header cleared off the line by Jayden Richardson for the visitors. Just before the break, Dan Roth fired over from a free kick for the Rebels.

 HT: Boreham Wood 1-1 Slough Town

Wood were in complete control in the second half. Eight minutes after the restart, Ndlovu flicked on a Whelan corner into the path of Hare, who, despite not getting a good connection, saw the ball roll towards the net before it was cleared off the line. A double substitution soon afterwards really put Wood in control when Abdul Abdulmalik and Matt Rush were introduced. On 65 minutes, Abdulmalik found Appiah, who finished well for his second to put Boreham Wood back in the lead. Three minutes later, Rush rounded the goalkeeper and finished in fine style to make it three.

Wood’s situation was helped three minutes later when John Gilbert was shown a red card for the Rebels for a foul on Jon Benton. On 76 minutes, Appiah completed his hat trick with a fine header from a Benton cross to make it four. Two minutes later, a rocket of an effort from Rush crashed against the crossbar. On 87 minutes, Rush got his second with a good finish following an excellent Abdulmalik cross. Two minutes later, Rush came close to completing his hat trick but was denied by the feet of Horlock in the Rebels’ goal.

FT: Boreham Wood 5-1 Slough Town

It was another emphatic victory for Luke Garrard’s men, who continue their rich vein of form in recent weeks. Kwesi Appiah can’t stop scoring goals, and the addition of Matt Rush, who made a blistering start to his Boreham Wood career, can only help in Boreham Wood’s quest for promotion. They have a well-earned break from National League South action on Saturday as they head to Weymouth for an FA Trophy tie.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Richardson, Clayden (Abdulmalik 58), Bush, Hare (Agbontohoma 61), O’Connell, Payne, Whelan (Mafuta 71), Benton, Ndlovu (Rush 58), Appiah (Sagaf 78).

Slough Town: Horlock, Jackman, Beeden (Spicer 85), Bayliss, Spasov (Alfa 75), Gilbert, Parillon, Davies, Ochieng, Roth (Ogbonna 58), Evans (Amartey 78).

Subs not used: Prosper.

Man of the Match: Kwesi Appiah.

Match report written by Brett Lewis.