Jili Buyabu (34), Harvey Bunker (75) (P)
Matt Rush (65)
Boreham Wood succumbed to their first defeat in 18 matches, losing 2-1 against Forest Green Rovers. The hosts took the lead in the first half through Jili Buyabu before Matt Rush equalised in the second half. Harvey Bunker then sealed the points for Rovers from the penalty spot.
Luke Garrard made two changes from Tuesday night’s draw at York City, with Jeff King and Femi Ilesanmi — the two full-backs — returning to the starting line-up in place of Cameron Coxe and Joe Newton.
Forest Green Rovers started brightly and dominated the first half from start to finish, and could have gone into the break with more than a one-goal advantage. It was only some excellent Wood defending that kept the score down. Jayden Clarke was just off target with a free kick on eight minutes. In one of their rare early attacks, Abdul Abdulmalik had a shot blocked on 14 minutes. Four minutes later, Clarke had another effort which he screwed wide.
On 25 minutes, the hosts had a great opportunity when Jili Buyabu played in Tom Knowles, who put the ball on a plate for Harry Whitwell, but just as he was about to shoot, Temi Babalola got in his way and Finlay Herrick gathered the ball. Four minutes later, Callum Reynolds did well to block Isaac Moore’s shot. On 34 minutes, Rovers took a deserved lead when Buyabu beat Herrick from outside the penalty area with a well-struck shot.
The hosts had a couple of half-chances to add to their lead, but Wood nearly equalised on 42 minutes when Zak Brunt was in acres of space in front of goal but shot straight at goalkeeper Luke McNicholas. Wood were nearly made to pay on the stroke of half-time when Temi Babalola had a shot blocked on the line before Buyabu headed wide from the resulting corner.
Rovers continued their dominance after the break, and Harvey Bunker fired just wide six minutes after the restart. On the hour mark, Boreham Wood’s luck changed following the introduction of Luke Norris and Cameron Coxe. Both players had an instant impact. A minute after coming on, Coxe forced McNicholas into a good save. On 65 minutes, Norris’s pass picked out Matt Rush, who finished well to equalise and give him his 10th league goal of the season.
Just when Boreham Wood looked like being in the ascendancy for the first time, the hosts were awarded a penalty on 75 minutes when Coxe was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area. Harvey Bunker made no mistake from 12 yards to restore Forest Green’s lead. Unfortunately, this knocked the stuffing out of Luke Garrard’s men, and they were unable to really offer anything else. To their credit, the Rovers defence were excellent and didn’t allow much attacking Boreham Wood play in the closing minutes.
It was the end of a long unbeaten run, but Boreham Wood remain in a good position heading into the plum FA Cup First Round tie against Crawley Town next Saturday. They return to league action against Aldershot Town in 10 days’ time.
Forest Green Rovers: McNicholas, Inniss, Knowles (Kengni 64), Clarke (Bamber 64), Moore-Taylor, Bunker, Moore, Pemberton, Buyabu (Kanu 81), Whitwell, Babalola (Doidge 69).
Subs not used: Pagel, Haughton, Balagizi.
Boreham Wood: Herrick, King (Coxe 60), Ilesanmi, Reynolds, Bush, O’Connell, Brunt (Norris 60), White, Abdulmalik, Sousa (Richardson 81), Rush.
Subs not used: Dixon, Benton, Newton, Clayden.
Man of the Match: Femi Ilesanmi.
Match report written by Brett Lewis.
