In Boreham Wood’s first ever game against Real Bedford, they ran out emphatic 8-2 winners, with an incredible seven goals coming in the second half. Luke Garrard repeated what he did against Watford by changing all the outfield players at half-time.

It was an even opening, with both sides comfortable on the ball and the Southern League Premier Division Central side keen to play it out from the back at every opportunity. Wood had the game’s first effort on goal on 12 minutes when, after some good hold-up play from Luke Norris, the big striker played in Abdul Abdulmalik, who then fired just wide. Two minutes later, Abdulmalik went on a good run before his cross was deflected into the arms of the Pirates’ trialist goalkeeper.

On 22 minutes, Norris went close, but the Pirates keeper pulled off a good save. Soon afterwards, Zak Brunt fired just wide. On 38 minutes, the hosts took the lead from the penalty spot when Ben Stevens made no mistake from 12 yards. Six minutes later, Luca Gunter pulled off an excellent save to deny Stevens his second of the night. The hosts were made to pay for this missed chance on the stroke of half-time when Wood equalised. Aaron Henry played in Brunt, who rounded the keeper before delivering an inch-perfect cross into the path of Callum Reynolds, who headed into an empty net.

HT: Real Bedford 1-1 Boreham Wood

Luke Garrard changed 10 players at half-time, with Gunter remaining in goal. One of the substitutes, Tarryn Allarakhia, gave Boreham Wood the lead two minutes after the interval with a lovely curling shot after cutting in onto his right foot. Four minutes later, the former Rochdale winger scored an even better goal from the same position to extend Wood’s lead. On 55 minutes, a now rampant Boreham Wood added a third. A delightful Regan Booty pass picked out Lewis Richardson, whose inch-perfect cross was tapped home by Matt Rush. Rush and Trialist A then had good chances to extend Wood’s lead.

On 74 minutes, the hosts pulled one back, and it was that man Stevens again who scored, this time with a fantastic lob from just inside the Boreham Wood half with Gunter off his line. Wood were not to be denied and very quickly restored their three-goal lead with a neat finish from Rush for his second. On 80 minutes, Trialist A did his chances of earning a contract no harm at all with an excellent strike from distance to make it six. Two minutes later, he was at it again with another excellent finish. On 84 minutes, Rush completed both the scoring and his hat-trick to make it eight.

FT: Real Bedford 2-8 Boreham Wood

It took Boreham Wood a long time to get going, but when they did, they were clinical and seemed to score with every opportunity. After two pre-season games, Luke Garrard’s men are shaping up well. As for Real Bedford, they were well in the game for a long period and played some nice football. It looks like they’ll have a good 2026-27 season. Boreham Wood now continue their pre-season campaign against an Arsenal XI at Meadow Park on Friday night.

Boreham Wood (First Half): Gunter, Clarke, O’Connell, Brunt, Abdulmalik, Trialist C, Henry, Reynolds, Golden, Norris, Marshall-Miranda.

Boreham Wood (Second Half): Gunter (Trialist B 73), Bainbridge, White, Bush, Richardson, Trialist A, Allarakhia, Trialist D, Booty, Kensdale, Rush.

Man of the Match: Matt Rush.

Written by Brett Lewis.