Boreham Wood produced an excellent team performance in Essex to beat play-off rivals Southend United 2–0. Goals in each half from Abdul Abdulmalik and Matt Rush respectively were enough to secure the points for Luke Garrard’s men.

Luke Garrard named an unchanged starting lineup from Saturday’s draw against Forest Green Rovers.

It was a lively opening at Roots Hall with both sides showing attacking intent. Abdul Abdulmalik headed over after a nice cross from Cameron Coxe on four minutes. A minute later, Andrew Dallas had a shot which cannoned off the Boreham Wood crossbar. On eight minutes, and with the crossbar still shaking, Dallas again went close, but his shot was easily gathered by Ted Curd. On 11 minutes, Wood took the lead with a very well-worked goal. Zak Brunt played in Charlie O’Connell, whose inch-perfect pass found Abdulmalik, the Wood number 10 controlling it before burying his shot past Owen Mason in the Shrimpers’ goal.

Boreham Wood controlled a lot of the possession after the goal, but the next chance fell to Gus Scott-Morriss, who tested Curd at his near post, but the Chelsea loanee was equal to it on 25 minutes. Seven minutes later, a trademark Chris Bush throw-in found Richardson, who fired wide. Wood were able to nullify the threat from Southend leading up to the interval.

HT: Southend United 0-1 Boreham Wood

While the hosts dominated possession in the early period of the second half, Wood had some gilt-edged early chances in the second half. Two minutes after the restart, Abdulmalik played Matt Rush in on goal, but Mason did well to deny him. On 51 minutes Rush returned the favour to Abdulmalik, but he was denied by some good work from Cav Miley. Two minutes later, O’Connell got a shot in, but it went over the crossbar. On 55 minutes, Curd did well to deny Sam Austin and three minutes later, Southend’s number 10 shot just wide of the goal.

On 71 minutes, James Morton went close for the Shrimpers, but was just off target with his effort. Three minutes later, the lively substitute Leon Ayinde played in Rush, who couldn’t quite get his feet into position. A minute later, Rush made no mistake when he got on the end of a brilliant Abdulmalik cross, burying the ball home with a first time strike. The goal knocked the stuffing out of Southend and they rarely threatened afterwards. A Keenan Appiah-Forson shot came off the Boreham Wood crossbar on 87 minutes, but that was as good as it got for the hosts and Wood came away with all three points.

FT: Southend United 0-2 Boreham Wood

It was an excellent performance from Luke Garrard’s men as they look to secure a high-placed play-off position. They have a tricky encounter away at Tamworth on Saturday before welcoming league leaders York City to Meadow Park next Tuesday.

Southend United: Mason, Scott-Morriss, Goodliffe, Dallas (Walker 82), Austin (Golding 60), Gubbins (Morton 46), Taylor, Miley (Bridge 46), Kendall (Hopper 61), Appiah-Forson, Boyes.

Subs not used: Ndi, Golding, Coker.

Boreham Wood: Curd, Coxe, Ilesanmi, O’Connell, Bush, Marshall-Miranda, Brunt, Booty, Abdulmalik (Newton 86), Richardson (Ayinde 68), Rush.

Subs not used: Payne, Clayden, Norris, Robinson.

Man of the Match: Ted Curd.

Match report written by Brett Lewis.