Morgan Feeney (39)
Abdul Abdulmalik (28), Zak Brunt (106)
An extra-time winner from Zak Brunt secured a fantastic victory at Carlisle United, sending the Wood into the Enterprise National League Promotion Final at Wembley next Sunday, where Luke Garrard’s side will face Rochdale.
Luke Garrard named an unchanged lineup following Wednesday night’s win against Forest Green Rovers in the Play-Off Eliminator.
The Wood started with real attacking intent, showing they would not be fazed by the home crowd, a crowd over 13,000 strong. Charlie O’Connell fired over on three minutes, while Abdul Abdulmalik caused Blues full-back Josh Williams all sorts of problems in the early stages. On 12 minutes, he fed Brunt, who fired straight at Gabe Breeze in the Carlisle goal. Two minutes later, David Ajiboye played in Callum Whelan, whose curling effort drifted just wide. Then, on 17 minutes, Abdulmalik twisted and turned before firing straight at Breeze.
Five minutes later, a Regan Booty corner was headed onto the arm of Breeze by Matt Rush and on 24 minutes, James Clarke’s effort drifted just off target. On 28 minutes, Wood took a deserved lead following a well-worked corner routine between Brunt and Booty. The ball fell to Abdulmalik, whose shot slipped through Breeze’s hands and into the corner, sending the travelling Wood faithful into raptures.
Wood’s number 10 was not done yet though, and, four minutes later, he teed up Leon Ayinde, who fired wide. On 38 minutes, Abdulmalik forced Breeze into a good save. However, two minutes later, the Cumbrians found their equaliser against the run of play. Ajiboye played in Morgan Feeney down the right, and his shot crept in at Ted Curd’s near post. On 43 minutes, James Clarke was picked out by Brunt but failed to keep his effort down.
The Wood began the second half in the same vein, dominating proceedings. Brunt went close again on 54 minutes, but Breeze was on hand to deny him. At that point, the hosts began to show more promise, with Harvey Macadam forcing Curd into an excellent save on 55 minutes. Carlisle dangerman, Regan Linney came to life on 62 minutes with an excellent run and shot, which Curd matched, before Stephen Wearne fired wide from the rebound.
Three minutes later, Linney again tested Curd, but was denied by the Wood shot stopper. On 72 minutes, Rush’s goal-bound effort was well blocked by Feeney and three minutes later, Linney once more forced Curd into action. On 81 minutes, Georgie Kelly had the ball in the net for the hosts, but the goal was ruled out for handball and Luke Garrard’s men held firm, taking the game to extra time.
The hosts continued to press in extra time and, soon after the restart, Chris Conn-Clarke forced a superb, fingertip save from Curd with a powerful strike. At that stage, it appeared the midweek exertions were taking their toll on the Wood, who, to many, looked set on holding out for penalties. However, that all changed in the fifth minute of extra time when Junior Luamba was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Brunt.
The dismissal shifted the momentum, and with the extra man, Wood found a renewed burst of energy. Three minutes later, Brunt fired just wide and on 102 minutes, he played in Rush, who was through on goal, but fired narrowly off target. Just before half-time in extra time, both O’Connell and Callum Reynolds had chances, but failed to hit the target in almost identical fashion, blazing their efforts over Gabe Breeze’s bar.
Shortly after the restart, Brunt got the goal his performance richly deserved. Tom White fed Lewis Richardson, whose superb reverse pass found Brunt, and the Wood number eight finished confidently past Breeze, lifting the ball over the Carlisle ‘keeper. Wood would control the remainder of the game, although the hosts threatened late on, with Bevis Mugabi and Aaron Hayden both going close. However, Luke Garrard’s men held onto the narrow lead, securing Play-Off Semi-Final victory.
Eight years after their last Wembley appearance, Wood will return to the home of English football next Sunday to face league runners-up Rochdale in a highly anticipated Promotion Final.
Carlisle United: Breeze, Feeney, Hayden, Ajiboye (Luamba 79), Whelan (Conn-Clarke 79), Linney, Galvin (Mugabi 113), Wearne (Yeboah 104), Williams, Armstrong (Kelly 79), Macadam (Ellis 100).
Subs not used: Mair.
Boreham Wood: Curd, Clarke, Ilesanmi, O’Connell, Bush, White, Brunt (Landers 111), Booty (Reynolds 70), Abdulmalik (Coxe 116), Ayinde (Richardson 82), Rush.
Subs not used: Ashmore, Sousa, Henry.
Man of the Match: Zak Brunt.
Match report written by Brett Lewis.
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