Boreham Wood were well beaten on a disappointing night in Greater Manchester against a dynamic Rochdale side. Two goals from Mani Dieseruvwe and one each for Devante Rodney and Ian Henderson, and a single goal from Boreham Wood in response from a Zak Brunt penalty, were enough to give Rochdale all three points.

Luke Garrard two changes to his starting line-up from Saturday’s defeat against Boston United, with Joe Newton and Marley Marshall-Miranda replacing the suspended Femi Ilesamni and Regan Booty.

The hosts started very much on the front foot and forced a succession of corners early on. Mani Dieseruvwe threatened the Wood goal on two minutes, but his shot was deflected wide. Two minutes later, Tarryn Allarakhia played in Tobu Adebayo-Rowlings, who fired wide. On six minutes, Dale took a deserved lead when Adebayo-Rowlings’ inch-perfect cross was headed home by Devante Rodney. Eight minutes later, Dieseruvwe nearly added a second but was denied by a good save from Nathan Ashmore. Ashmore pulled off an even better save three minutes later, diving full length to get to Callum Perry’s free kick. On 29 minutes, Dale added a second when a Ryan East corner was headed home by Mani Dieseruvwe at the far post, with the Wood defence ball-watching.

On 39 minutes, Kyron Gordon went on an impressive run before firing just wide of Ashmore’s goal. Four minutes later, Wood had their only meaningful chance of the first half when a Zak Brunt free kick was expertly saved by Oliver Whatmuff in the Dale goal. The Manchester City loanee showed just why he is so well thought of by his parent club. Just before the break, Allarakhia played in Adebayo-Rowlings, but the former Notts County winger could only head wide.

HT: Rochdale 2–0 Boreham Wood

Rochdale came out after the break with the same attacking mindset that they showed in the first half. That man Dieseruvwe, who has been such a thorn in Boreham Wood’s side this season, added a second five minutes after the restart. A stray pass from Abdul Abdulmalik was picked up by Jake Burger, who played in Dieseruvwe, who outmuscled Chris Bush before firing home. On 57 minutes, Brunt played in Matt Rush, who managed to get a shot away, but it was deflected off Callum Perry into the arms of Whatmuff.

On 69 minutes, there was a glimmer of hope for Boreham Wood when Brunt played in Rush, who tried to take the ball past Whatmuff, but the Dale keeper only succeeded in bringing him down in the area. Referee Simon Mather had no choice but to point to the penalty spot. Brunt made no mistake from 12 yards by sending keeper Whatmuff the wrong way to reduce the deficit. The hosts quickly got back on the front foot when Gordon played in an excellent cross for Ian Henderson to head home, but there was an offside flag. Henderson was on the end of things again on 76 minutes when he converted an Aidan Barlow cross, and this time there was no linesman’s flag. Dale managed to hold out comfortably for the three points, with Wood offering very little by way of a response.

FT: Rochdale 4–1 Boreham Wood

It was a disappointing performance from Boreham Wood once again. Although they were up against a very good team, Luke Garrard would have expected more from his players. With a critical away game at Woking on Saturday, Luke Garrard will want his team to right some wrongs from the last four matches and get their promotion charger back on track.

Rochdale: Whatmuff, Gordon, East (Pettit 79), Ebanks-Landell, Allarakhia (Pritchard 79), Gilmour, Dieseruvwe (Henderson 75), Rodney (Moss 55), Adebayo-Rowlings, Burger (Barlow 66), Perry.

Subs not used: Hosannah, Duku.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Coxe, Newton, Kensdale (Henry 76), Bush, O’Connell, Marshall-Miranda, Brunt, Abdulmalik, Clayden, Rush.

Subs not used: Curd, Payne, Norris, Richardson, Robinson.

Man of the Match: Zak Brunt.