Zak Brunt (5 (P), 75), Regan Booty (90+4)
Boreham Wood won their first ever match at the Gateshead International Stadium in eight attempts, following an incredible performance despite having to play over an hour with 10 men after Joe Newton was given an early bath in the first half. Two goals from Zak Brunt and another from substitute Regan Booty secured the win for Luke Garrard’s men.
Luke Garrard named an unchanged lineup from last Saturday’s defeat against Tamworth, with new loan signing Regan Booty on the bench.
Boreham Wood controlled much of the early possession and nearly took the lead after three minutes when an Abdul Abdulmalik cross was met by Matt Rush, who forced Heed keeper Tiernan Brooks into a good save. Two minutes later, Wood did take the lead when Charlie O’Connell was fouled in the penalty area and Zak Brunt made no mistake from 12 yards. On nine minutes, Kain Adom had the ball in the net for the hosts, but it was ruled out for offside. Two minutes later, Wood nearly extended their lead when Brunt went on an excellent run before shooting just wide. Wood continued to apply pressure and, on 21 minutes, should have gone two up when Jeff King’s cross was somehow missed by top scorer Rush when it looked easier to score.
Wood were nearly made to pay for that miss when Adom crashed the ball against the Boreham Wood crossbar three minutes later. On 26 minutes, Abdulmalik played in King, who forced Brooks into a good save. Abdulmalik was denied by the Heed stopper five minutes later. On 35 minutes, Wood were reduced to ten men when Joe Newton brought down Adom as he went through on goal. Referee Melissa Burgin had no option but to issue Boreham Wood’s first red card of the season. The hosts naturally had their tails up after the sending-off and were very much on the front foot leading into half-time. Jacob Butterfield fired high and wide on 38 minutes. On 44 minutes, Kian Pennant forced Ted Curd into a good save. Four minutes into first-half injury time, Adom brushed the outside of the Wood goal.
The hosts controlled much of the possession at the start of the second half, but the Wood defence held firm. Rush had the ball in the Gateshead net on 57 minutes, but it was ruled out for offside. A minute later, Butterfield forced a good save from Curd. Shortly afterwards, Curtis Edwards fired narrowly wide. On one of Wood’s rare attacks, Rush fired narrowly wide on 64 minutes.
Four minutes later, Edwards was denied by an excellent block on the line by Chris Bush. On 75 minutes, Wood doubled their lead against the run of play following an excellent build-up and some lovely passing involving Erico Sousa, Regan Booty and Rush, before an outstanding finish from Brunt for his and Boreham Wood’s second of the match. As well as giving Wood a vital cushion, the second goal knocked the stuffing out of Gateshead, and Wood were able to add a third in injury time. It was an unbelievable moment for former Gateshead midfielder Regan Booty, who chipped Brooks from the halfway line to announce himself to the Wood supporters and guarantee an emphatic win.
It was an excellent afternoon’s work for Luke Garrard’s men, who should have been out of sight before the sending-off, hung on for large periods, and saw the game out with two outstanding second-half goals.
Gateshead: Brooks, Flint (Hurst 61), Williams, Melbourne, Ferguson, Butterfield, Chapman, Edwards, Howe, Pennant, Adom.
Subs not used: Leech, Lowery, Fitzhugh, Bone, Lish, Gettins.
Boreham Wood: Ashmore, King (Coxe 88), Newton, Reynolds, Bush, O’Connell, Brunt (Payne 88), White, Abdulmalik (Booty 51), Sousa, Rush.
Subs not used: Benton, Clayden, Norris, Richardson.
Man of the Match: Zak Brunt.
Match report written by Brett Lewis.
