Boreham Wood came from behind against FC Halifax Town to secure a vital second win of the campaign on Saturday.
The Shaymen looked set for victory when Nathan Clarke headed them into the lead in the 70th minute.
However, Charlton loanee Josh Umerah led the comeback with a 20-minute brace, including a 94th minute penalty.
Luke Garrard made one change to his starting eleven, with Femi Ilesanmi coming in at left-wing back, and Ricky Shakes moving further forward.
The visitors went close as early as the fourth minute, with Matty Kosylo expectedly at the heart of it. His cross was met by Jonathon Edwards, but the striker’s shot was deflected against the post and wide.
The Wood reacted to their chance and Ilesanmi sent in an excellent looping ball to Angelo Balanta, but he could only twist his header around the post.
The wing-back sent in a second superb ball, after winning it from the Shaymen’s midfield; he drove forward and slipped it through their centre-backs, but Shakes’ outstretched leg couldn’t quite reach it.
Balanta then fired a stinging strike inches wide of the left post, as the deadlock remained locked. A powerful half-volley from Mark Ricketts followed, but, it was blocked wide.
The second half was a livelier affair and Ellery Balcombe was called into action to push James Berrett’s effort over the crossbar.
Some great footwork from Murtagh on the right freed him up to cross for Umerah, but the striker couldn’t get a clean connection and it failed to trouble. Balanta then volleyed an Ilesanmi cross into the side netting.
Halifax took first blood in the affair, when Nathan Clarke leapt above his marker at a Ben Tomlinson corner to head his side into the lead.
Luke Garrard’s team responded well to going behind and nearly carved open an instant reply, when Keiran Murtagh sent a venomous 25-yard volley at Sam Johnson’s goal, only for the stopper’s fingertips to deny him.
They wouldn’t take long to level the scores though, with The Wood pushing forward. Ricky Shakes and Murtagh interchanged the ball between them down the wing and Shakes curled it into Umerah. The striker took the ball down perfectly and sent it flying past Johnson, with a rocket of a shot.
From then on, the Wood were on top, however Halifax’s stubborn defence was proving tough to break down.
With the game heading for a draw in the dying embers of added time, Tom Champion was brought down in the penalty area. Umerah stepped up in confident fashion and fired it past Johnson in goal.
The Wood: Balcombe, Woodards (Thomas 74’), Ilesanmi, Ricketts ©, Stephens, Shakes, Champion, Umerah, Murtagh, Fyfield, Balanta
Subs not used: Burbidge, Parry, Ash, Smith
FC Halifax Town: Johnson, Clarke, Brown ©, Kosylo, Southwell, Edwards (Preston 67’), Tomlinson, Lenighan, Berrett, Skarz, Hanson
Subs not used: King, Odelusi, Rowley, McLeod
Attendance: 575 (108 away)
Goals:
The Wood: Umerah, 77’, 94’
Halifax: Clarke 70′
