Matt Rush (20)
Ben Milnes (28) (P), Manny Duku (72)
Boreham Wood were beaten at home for only the second time this season by a determined Tamworth side. Wood took the lead through Matt Rush, only to be pegged back before half-time by a Ben Milnes penalty. Manny Duku got the winner for the visitors in the second half to snatch the points.
Luke Garrard made one change to the starting line-up from last Saturday’s comprehensive win against Brackley Town, with new loan keeper Ted Curd making his Boreham Wood debut in place of Nathan Ashmore, who has returned to Bedford Town on loan.
Boreham Wood had the better of the opening period, and Zak Brunt nearly celebrated his permanent signing from Barnet with a goal on five minutes, but his well-struck shot was saved by Lambs keeper Jas Singh. A minute later, Charlie O’Connell fired just wide. On eight minutes, an excellent cross from Jeff King picked out Matt Rush, who headed wide with the goal at his mercy. Two minutes later, the visitors could have scored the opening goal when a Beck-Ray Enoru cross was struck just wide by Jordan Ponticelli. Manny Duku had a good chance soon afterwards but fired high and wide.
On 14 minutes, a well-worked Boreham Wood corner caused havoc in the Tamworth defence when the ball was cleared into the path of Erico Sousa, whose fierce shot struck the crossbar. Straight away, King crossed to Rush, whose header was saved by Singh in the Tamworth goal. On 20 minutes, Wood took the lead when an inch-perfect cross from King took out three defenders and was on a plate for Rush, who couldn’t miss at the far post. The visitors equalised eight minutes later from the penalty spot when Ben Milnes sent Wood keeper Ted Curd the wrong way. Tamworth were nearly in front two minutes later when a goal-bound shot was headed off the line by Chris Bush. Sousa nearly restored Boreham Wood’s lead on 36 minutes but fired just wide. On 44 minutes, some lovely play from Abdul Abdulmalik and a neat pass picked out Joe Newton, whose shot clipped the top of the crossbar from close range.
The second half started with the same intensity as the first. The visitors had a good chance two minutes after the restart when they were four against two in attack, but Enoru was caught between shooting and playing in Duku and ended up doing neither. The next period of the game was attack against defence as Wood were camped around the Tamworth penalty area, with Sousa, Brunt and Abdulmalik causing problems. The Tamworth defence, to their credit, handled it well. On 55 minutes, some lovely play and a pass from Abdulmalik picked out Sousa, who could only fire wide. Six minutes later, Brunt had a shot cleared off the line by Kennedy Digie. On 69 minutes, a well-struck shot from Brunt was well saved by Singh.
Two minutes later, substitute Femi Ilesanmi forced Singh into another good save at his near post. Wood were soon made to pay for their missed chances when the Lambs took the lead on 72 minutes after an excellent break. Enoru played in Duku, who finished well to send the vocal away support into raptures. Four minutes later, a good dribble from Abdulmalik ended with his shot being blocked. In the final period of the game, Wood continued to dominate possession and tried in vain to create chances around the Tamworth penalty area. Some of the Lambs’ defending was heroic to say the least, and even ten minutes of stoppage time wasn’t enough for Wood to grab an equaliser.
It was a disappointing day for Luke Garrard’s side, who looked to be in control but were undone by some poor finishing and a gritty Tamworth performance.
Boreham Wood: Curd, King (Coxe 62), Newton (Ilesanmi 62), Reynolds (Richardson 90+3), Bush, O’Connell, Brunt (Norris 78), White, Sousa (Clayden 78), Abdulmalik, Rush
Subs not used: Payne, Benton.
Tamworth: Singh, Donker, Cockerill-Mollett (Curley 66), Digie, Rye, Bates, Milnes (Tonks 52), Ponticelli, Maher (Moles 66), Enoru (Creaney 81), Duku (Lynch 85)
Subs not used: Rachel, Hollis.
Man of the Match: Abdul Abdulmalik.
Match report written by Brett Lewis.
