FC Halifax Town v Boreham Wood - Boreham Wood Football Club Official Website

Boreham Wood suffered a disappointing defeat away in Yorkshire despite largely dominating the game.

Luke Garrard made two changes to his starting line-up for his side’s trip to Halifax Town, with new signing James Clarke making his Boreham Wood debut in place of Junior Robinson at right-back. Tom White also made his first start in midfield since November, replacing the suspended Marley Marshall-Miranda.

Wood got off to a good start and created an early chance when Abdul Abdulmalik played the ball across to Zak Brunt, whose inch-perfect pass found Lewis Richardson, with the latter forcing Shaymen keeper Sam Johnson into a good save. Despite Wood continuing to see a lot of the ball, the hosts then grew into the game and gave danger man Josh Hmami a chance to create, as his whipped ball for Will Hugill inside the box forced Ted Curd into a save.

Four minutes later, however, it was the former of the two who put Halifax into the lead when an inch-perfect Jay Turner-Cooke free-kick was headed in by Hmami, who outjumped the Wood defence.

Wood were level just five minutes later, however, when an outstanding pass from Chris Bush deep in his own half found Lewis Richardson, who cut inside and played in Zak Brunt, who finished with aplomb to continue his fine form.

Wood soon had a couple of half-chances to go in front through Matt Rush and Abdul Abdulmalik. However, they were made to pay for those missed efforts when the Shaymen regained the lead, as Cody Johnson’s cross wasn’t cleared properly by James Clarke, with Will Smith finishing well past Curd.

HT: Halifax Town 2–1 Boreham Wood

The hosts started the second half in the ascendancy, with the early exchanges played in the Wood half. However, it was the men in black who struck next as Abdulmalik’s fantastic run down the right allowed him space to cross for Richardson, who couldn’t miss from the six-yard line.

Matt Rush had the ball in the Halifax net just past the hour mark, but it was ruled out for offside. The real story, however, was Callum Reynolds making his long-awaited return from injury. He nearly marked it with a fairytale moment, with a header from close range, but that was thwarted by Johnson in the Halifax goal. With that being their only major chance following the equaliser, it wasn’t long before the Yorkshire side capitalised with just under five minutes to play. Billy Waters played an excellent pass to Owen Bray, who ran half the length of the pitch to finish well past Curd and, despite a late surge, it ended in defeat for the Wood.