Boreham Wood picked up a point away from home, as Gateshead came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at the International Stadium on Saturday.
Sean Shields put the away side ahead on the brink of half-time, with his first goal in Wood colours.
However, Ben Clarke’s men got themselves back into the game, when Scott Boden scored with their first shot on target.
Luke Garrard stuck with his tried and tested 3-5-2 formation, with Gozie Ugwu partnering Idris Kanu up-front and Shields in-behind.
A corner from Shield’s was met at the near post by the run of Keiran Murtagh, but he glanced his header narrowly wide of the far post.
A low cross from Cameron Salkeld deflected into the path of Jon Mellish on the edge of the area, but the Gateshead defender’s weak-footed volley sailed over the bar.
A free-kick from Shields’ on the left was headed clear by Mellish, but only as far as Ugwu. The ball dropped beautifully for the forward inside the box, but his volleyed effort was blocked by Jack Hunter, at close-range.
A low cross from White travelled across the face of goal, towards the on-rushing Lewis Maloney, but he couldn’t get a clean touch on it, and the ball sailed past him
The Wood took the lead on the brink of half-time, having dominated the majority of the first period. Femi Ilesanmi picked out the run of Shields into the box and fed the midfielder. The Ebbsfleet loanee collected the ball, cut inside, and side-footed it past Aynsley Pears, despite an attempted block from Mellish.
Salkeld struck an effort from 30-yards, in an unconvincing attempt to get the home team back into the game, but it sailed over.
Garrard’s side countered and Ugwu slipped through Shields, who evaded one challenge, but saw his edge of the box effort blocked by Mike Williamson.
Chances remained few and far between, as Murtagh curled an edge of the area effort, around the post.
Kanu battled around Mellish down the left and pulled it back for Ilesanmi, but his cross was claimed by Pears.
Wood broke on the counter and substitute Justin Shaibu travelled with the ball, he dropped his shoulder right, but swung a shot wide of the post.
Elliot Forbes, Robbie Tinkler and Greg Olley all linked up on the attack, with the latter seeing an effort blocked wide by Manny Parry.
The home side pulled themselves back level from the resulting corner. George Legg punched Olley’s initial corner out, but the midfielder picked up the ball once again out wide. Olley crossed low this time and it was turned home by Boden, at the near post.
The best move of the match arguably fell to Gateshead, with less than 10 minutes on the clock. Olley exchanged passes with Tinkler, who fed Tom White into the Wood box, but his shot deflected onto the crossbar and out.
Salkeld picked up the ball from 35-yards and took a touch, before thumping it towards the bottom left corner. Legg was equal to the shot, pushing it around the post.
Gateshead had grown in confidence following their equaliser and Boden nearly had a second, when a powerful close-range effort rattled the post, following. Ball from Selkeld.
The ball was then recycled and Tinkler found the head of Steven Rigg, but he couldn’t find the target, from close-range.
Still chasing a late winner, Rigg raced away from the Wood defence following a fantastic through ball by Olley. However, Legg was quick off his line and made himself large, to deny the forward with a superb save.
There was one final chance for Garrard’s men, as Thomas drove a low ball across the face of goal, Murtagh got a shot away, but it struck the crossbar.
The Wood: Legg, Ilesanmi, Ricketts ©, Parry, Shakes, Champion, Murtagh, Fyfield, Ugwu, Kanu (Thomas 88’), Shields (Shaibu 64’)
Subs not used: Burbidge, Woodards, Ash, Thomas
Gateshead: Pears, TInkler ©, Hunter (Olley 62’), Kerr, Williamson, Rigg, Salkeld, Mellish, White, Maloney (Forbes 62’), Boden
Subs not used: Foden, Thomson, Devitt
Att: 562 (23 away)
Goals:
The Wood: Shields 44’
Gateshead: Boden 75’
