Luke Norris (1), Lewis Richardson (44), Jon Benton (56), Regan Booty (90+1)
Boreham Wood secured their place in the quarter finals of the National League Cup with their fourth win out of four games in the competition, and it was a comprehensive victory against a Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 side that delivered it. Goals from Luke Norris, Lewis Richardson, Jon Benton and Regan Booty gave Boreham Wood a 4–0 win.
Wood got off to a fast start with a goal on two minutes. A Charles Clayden cross fell into the path of Luke Norris, who made no mistake from close range with a tidy finish. Wood continued to control possession but, on 11 minutes, the visitors nearly equalised with their first attack, but Daniel Mangue fired wide with a shot on the turn. Five minutes later, Jon Benton shot from distance but straight into the arms of Wolves keeper Lewys Benjamin.
On 23 minutes, Cameron Coxe went on a good run before cutting inside and shooting just wide. Eight minutes later, a lovely one-two between Coxe and Luke Norris ended with Coxe firing just wide with a well-struck shot. On 38 minutes, the visitors had a good chance to equalise when an inch-perfect Fletcher Holman cross was knocked just wide by Mangue, when it looked easier to score. Four minutes later, Chris Bush saw keeper Benjamin off his line and tried his luck from distance, only to clear the crossbar. On 44 minutes, Wood doubled their lead – and what a goal it was. An inch-perfect pass from Regan Booty picked out Lewis Richardson, who controlled the ball before firing past Benjamin.
Wood started the second half with the same dominance as the first period and, four minutes after the restart, a lovely one-two between Richardson and Norris ended with Richardson holding off two Wolves defenders before firing straight at keeper Benjamin. Wood were presented with a golden opportunity to extend their lead on 54 minutes when Richardson was brought down in the area. However, Norris crashed his penalty against the crossbar. Two minutes later, Wood did manage to get a third. Richardson’s shot was saved by Benjamin before Norris’s follow-up was also saved. The ball then found its way back to Richardson, who squared it to Jon Benton, who fired into an empty net.
After the third goal, the visitors grew more into the game and forced a succession of corners but, in truth, were unable to offer much going forward. Wood were on the ascendancy again in the last few minutes. Norris went close on 87 minutes with a deflected shot that Benjamin saved. In the first minute of stoppage time, Wood added a fourth with an excellent strike from Booty that keeper Benjamin could only get a hand to.
It was another impressive performance from Luke Garrard’s men in the National League Cup. It has proved a useful run-out for several fringe players, and a number of those will be banging on Luke Garrard’s door for a more regular start. Focus now turns to the big FA Cup Second Round tie against Newport County on Sunday.
Boreham Wood: Curd, Coxe (Reynolds 74), Newton, Bush, Reynolds, Payne (King 64), Benton (Brunt 83), Clayden (Rush 83), Booty, Richardson (Sousa 64), Norris.
Subs not used: Ilesanmi.
Wolverhampton Wanderers U21: Benjamin, Lopes (Ford 74), Olagunju, Voice, Pond, Bradbury, Holman, Ashworth (Stafford 88), Mangue, Esen (Barnett 57), Sutherland.
Subs not used: Grieves, Saba.
Man of the Match: Regan Booty.
Match report written by Brett Lewis.
