Ben Tollitt (51)
Matt Rush (45, 84), Abdul Abdulmalik (68)
Two goals from Matt Rush and one from Abdul Abdulmalik were enough to give Boreham Wood an impressive away win at FC Halifax Town and secure their first win of the Enterprise National League season.
Luke Garrard made two changes to his starting line-up from last Saturday’s draw against Tamworth, with Oliver Bainbridge coming in at left-back and Tylor Golden moving to right-back in place of James Clarke. Abdul Abdulmalik replaced Lewis Richardson on the wing. Both Clarke and Richardson dropped to the bench.
Wood got off to a positive start when, after three minutes, Tylor Golden was able to dispossess Raheen Conte before playing in Matt Rush. He tried to pull the ball back to Zak Brunt, but Shaun Hobson did well to cut the ball out. Four minutes later, Cody Johnson went on an excellent run and looked destined to play Zak Gilsenan in on goal, but Oliver Bainbridge somehow managed to intercept his pass.
Wood had a lot of the ball at this stage, with most of their moves started by goalkeeper Luca Gunter, who was playing more like a sweeper than a goalkeeper. The first real chance of the game fell to the hosts on 20 minutes when Johnson fired over from outside the area.
Wood’s first real chance occurred three minutes later when Abdul Abdulmalik went on an incredible run before playing in Brunt, whose shot was deflected narrowly wide. Bainbridge had a shot blocked shortly afterwards. On 31 minutes, a good flick-on by Matt Rush found Tylor Golden, whose shot was saved by True Grant.
At this stage, Wood forced a succession of corners but were unable to produce anything from them. On 39 minutes, Abdulmalik went on another excellent run but, just as it looked like the net would bulge, his shot went over the bar. Five minutes later, the Shaymen had a great opportunity to take the lead when Conor Carty’s well-struck shot went just over the crossbar.
Right on half-time, an error from Grant in the Halifax goal ended with Brunt playing an inch-perfect cross to Rush, who put Wood in front from close range and scored his fourth goal of the season.
Wood started the second half with an excellent move involving Abdulmalik, Booty and Bainbridge, but the latter’s cross was just out of Rush’s reach. Soon afterwards, Connor Douglas crossed the ball into the path of Ben Tollitt, who headed just wide. Two minutes later, Tollitt got his reward with an excellent finish to equalise.
The hosts saw a lot of the ball in the period after the goal but were unable to create anything else for a while.
The next chance fell to Boreham Wood when, on 61 minutes, a very good one-two between Rush and Abdulmalik ended with Rush forcing a good save from Grant. On 68 minutes, Wood retook the lead when Booty played the ball to Abdulmalik, who struck an excellent shot across goalkeeper Grant and into the net.
Wood extended their lead on 84 minutes. Abdulmalik produced some excellent wing play before crossing the ball to Rush, who made no mistake from close range.
It was an excellent win for Luke Garrard’s men at a ground where they often struggle. When Boreham Wood were up against it for a period in the second half, it was that man Abdulmalik who was the difference between the sides. Even the Halifax supporters clapped him off when he was substituted late on.
With Forest Green Rovers away next Saturday, Wood will want to seal back-to-back wins.
FC Halifax Town: Grant, Bradell, Flint, Hobson (Trusty 81), Conte (Warburton 68), Hugill, Johnson, Tollitt (Allen 74), Gilsenan, Douglas (Bray 81), Carty (Kawa 74).
Subs not used: Johnson, Morgan-Smith.
Boreham Wood: Gunter, Golden, Bainbridge, Bush, O’Connell, White, Brunt (Ali Wahid 85), Booty (Marshall-Miranda 88), Abdulmalik (Richardson 88), Allarakhia (Cashman 56), Rush.
Subs not used: Clarke, Kensdale, Stapelberg.
Written by Brett Lewis.
