Sellars-Fleming (57)
Brunt (46), Whitfield (88)
Boreham Wood secured a fantastic win on the road courtesy of a late winner by Ben Whitfield, just 16 minutes after he came off the bench for his Boreham Wood debut. The win puts Boreham Wood three points clear at the top of the National League table.
Luke Garrard made two changes to his starting line-up from Saturday’s draw at Eastleigh, with Danny Cashman replacing Farhaan Ali Wahid out wide and Jay Bird replacing the injured Matt Rush up front. New loan signing Ben Whitfield, from Barrow, started on the bench.
Boreham Wood started in impressive fashion, with three good chances in the opening 10 minutes. On six minutes, James Clarke played an inch-perfect cross to Jay Bird, who somehow fired over when it looked easier to score. A minute later, a lovely turn and shot from Bird looked like it was going in, but keeper Maison Campbell pulled off a fantastic save. Two minutes later, a lovely corner routine involving Regan Booty and Zak Brunt enabled Tarryn Allarakhia to get a shot away, but again, Campbell was equal to it.
On seventeen minutes, in a rare Iron attack, Joe Starbuck tried his luck from distance but, fortunately for the Wood, it sailed wide of the post. Wood continued to press and, on twenty-two minutes, a lovely Oli Bainbridge cross was just out of Bird’s reach. Three minutes later, the hosts had a good chance when Kyle Hurst played in Ty Sellars-Fleming, whose rasping shot just cleared the crossbar.
On thirty-two Booty fired over from a free-kick, as did Brunt six minutes later. On forty-three minutes after another great run by Bainbridge, Allarakhia played in Danny Cashman, who was denied by Campbell in goal. Despite all their dominance, Wood were made to go into the interval level.
It took just 15 seconds of the second half for Boreham Wood to get their deserved lead, and what a goal it was. Brunt struck a shot from 25 yards out which arrowed into Campbell’s goal, sending the vocal away support into raptures.
On 52 minutes, Wood had an excellent chance to double their lead when Allarakhia ran through on goal, but Campbell produced an excellent save to deny him. Wood were made to pay for that miss four minutes later when Ty Sellars-Fleming rose above the Wood defence from a corner to equalise for the Iron.
The equaliser brought about a change, with Scunthorpe now on top for a sustained period and looking likely to get the winner. On 63 minutes, Luke Brennan crossed the ball into Danny Whitehall, whose shot was smothered by Luca Gunter in the Wood goal. Six minutes later, Whitehall nodded the ball to Kyle Hurst, who fired just wide with the Wood goal gaping.
On 75 minutes, Whitehall was involved again, this time from a free-kick which Gunter did well to save. A minute later, Gunter was at it again when Hurst played in Stan Ashbee, who couldn’t beat the Wood keeper with his header.
In one of Boreham Wood’s few chances during this period of the game, Bainbridge fired wide, just failing to get the goal that his outstanding performance deserved.
Wood got their winner on 88 minutes when a long ball in from Regan Booty was headed on by Charlie O’Connell into the path of Ben Whitfield, who endeared himself to the Boreham Wood faithful by nodding in the winner.
It was a vital three points for Luke Garrard’s men, who now go into Saturday’s massive game against Harrogate Town full of confidence.
Campbell, Evans, Whitehall (Parker 77), Brennan (Ogle 66), Rowley, Ashbee, Sellars-Fleming, Hurst (Gale 77), Starbuck, Butterfield (Beestin 66), Denton.
Subs not used: Jones, Parker, Bailey, Barrows.
Gunter, Clarke, Bainbridge, Bush, O’Connell, White, Brunt (Marshall-Miranda 90), Booty, Allarakhia, Cashman (Whitfield 57), Bird (Whitfield 57).
Subs not used: Curd, Golden, Kensdale.
Written by Brett Lewis.
