Regan Booty (10), Matt Rush (39)
Joe Sbarra (26)
A hard-fought 2–1 win against Solihull Moors ensures Boreham Wood will finish a magnificent 2025 on top of the Enterprise National League table. Goals from Regan Booty and Matt Rush, with a goal in between from Solihull forward Joe Sbarra, ensured Luke Garrard’s side gained all three points for the fifth match running.
Luke Garrard made one change to his starting line-up from Boxing Day’s thrashing of Wealdstone, with Lewis Richardson replacing the injured Erico Sousa.
The half started with the visitors on the front foot, with Joe Sbarra and Conor Wilkinson going close early on. On eight minutes, Abdul Abdulmalik went on one of his trademark runs but shot straight at Moors keeper Laurie Walker. Two minutes later, Wood scored the opening goal, and what a goal it was. Regan Booty curled in a fantastic free-kick from outside the penalty area which gave Walker no chance.
The visitors went on to control the next period of the game and, on 13 minutes, Scott High went on a great run before squaring the ball to Sbarra, whose shot was somehow cleared off the line by Callum Reynolds. Two minutes later, Jamey Osborne hit a fierce shot which Ted Curd did well to save.
On 19 minutes, Walker did well to deny Zak Brunt from distance. Five minutes later, Conor Wilkinson forced another good save from Curd. On 26 minutes, Moors got a deserved equaliser when Sbarra’s deflected shot beat Curd. The Wood keeper soon denied both Wilkinson and High with good saves. On 39 minutes, Wood retook the lead against the run of play when Matt Rush pounced from close range. Three minutes later, Brunt had a good chance to increase Boreham Wood’s lead but was unable to keep his shot down.
Boreham Wood were very much the better side in the second half and had numerous chances to extend their lead. Three minutes after the restart, Rush did well to create a chance for Abdulmalik, but his shot was deflected wide. On 50 minutes, Walker made an excellent save to deny Abdulmalik. On 64 minutes, Brunt played in Lewis Richardson, who struck the crossbar while stretching for the ball. Three minutes later, Osborne fired over in a rare second-half chance for the visitors. On 72 minutes, Walker pulled off an excellent fingertip save to deny a certain goal from Brunt.
In the closing minutes, Charles Clayden went close after being teed up by Abdulmalik but fired just wide. The Boreham Wood backline outmuscled the Moors forwards and offered very little opportunity for them to get back on terms.
It was an excellent three points for Boreham Wood against a very good Solihull Moors side, who have seen a vast improvement in form since Chris Millington took charge in October. Boreham Wood now go into their next game at home against promotion rivals York City in very good form.
Boreham Wood: Curd, King, Newton, Reynolds, Bush, O’Connell, Brunt (Marshall-Miranda 77), White, Richardson (Clayden 78), Abdulmalik (Ilesanmi 90), Rush (Norris 90).
Subs not used: Coxe, Payne.
Solihull Moors: Walker, Clarke, Osborne (Tipston 74), Whitmore, Wilkinson (Wakeling 46), High, Nurse, Rutherford (Sinclair 46), Sbarra (Worman 74), French, Stevenson (Lipsiuc 63).
Subs not used: Flahavan, Green.
Man of the match: Ted Curd.
Match report written by Brett Lewis.
