Wrexham battled to 2-0 win over Boreham Wood at Meadow Park on Tuesday night, taking them to the top of the National League table.
It was a spirited and battling performance from the Wood, who dominated large periods of the game.
However, a second half brace from Ben Tollitt gave the visitors the lead and they were able to hold out against the home side.
Ricky Shakes came in for the absent Sean Shields in the Wood’s only change from Saturday, as Luke Garrard stuck with a 4-3-3 formation.
The Wood started strongly and enjoyed a positive opening five minutes, which ended with Tom Champion nodding narrowly over the bar, from Keiran Murtagh’s corner.
The away side grew into the game, but the Wood done well to marshal the ball out of play from a dangerous looking attack, led by Akil Wright. The subsequent corner came to nothing.
With the game slowing slightly, Champion tried his luck from range, but it failed to trouble and went over the crossbar.
The best chance of the opening stages fell to the Wood, as recent recruit Ralston Gabriel ran onto a timely through ball, but his powered strike was pushed wide by Rob Lainton.
A penalty box scramble ensued from the subsequent corner, which Wrexham eventually rushed clear. Claims for handball against the away side were quickly waved away by the referee.
The match continued in an even fashion and the next chance fell to Jamal Fyfield, but his header was held by Lainton, following Murtagh’s corner.
Ryan Huddart then made a superb fingertip save, pushing Jason Oswell’s strong header past his left post, for the Wood defence to clear.
Bradley Walker jinked past two Wood defenders before lashing a ball from just outside of the box, but it was blocked wide for a corner. The corner was headed at Huddart by Kieran Kennedy, but the Wood stopper pushes it wide.
There was a similarly high tempo start to the second half and Walker had a go from distance, but his effort was well over the bar.
Wood responded through Manny Parry, but he couldn’t get enough onto his header, following a free-kick by Murtagh.
The away side took the lead shortly before the hour mark, as Oswell’s cross deflected into the path of Tollitt, who smashed it past Huddart from close-range. The Wood’s defence called for a foul in the build-up, but the referee waved away their objections.
There was a second for Wrexham just eight minutes later, once again through a combination of Oswell and Tollitt. The latter met Oswell’s cross-field ball and thumped his effort past Huddart on the bounce, for his second of the game.
Bryan Hughes’ side could have had a third shortly after, as Akil Wright put the ball on a plate for Oswell, but somehow the striker glazed his shot over the cross-bar, from inside the box.
Wood were reacting well to the away side taking the lead and Thomas dashed after a loose ball in the box, but Lainton reacted quickly to block him at point blank range.
Substitute Bradley Ash then beat James Jennings down the right wing with some fancy footwork, but his low cross was intercepted.
Champion saw joy of his own down the right wing and beat goal-scorer Tollitt for pace, but his looping cross was headed away by Kennedy.
A Wood corner dropped sweetly for Murtagh in the box and he twisted a half-volley at goal, but it was blocked on its way through and eventually cleared.
Wrexham were struggling for control in the game, but found space to counter through Chris Holroyd, who whipped a well-timed ball into the box for Wright, but his header was saved by Huddart.
Manny Parry met a corner from Thomas, but his header was tipped over the bar by Wrexham stopper Lainton. Fyfield then headed wide from the resulting corner.
The Wood: Huddart, Ilesanmi, Ricketts ©, Parry, Shakes (Ash 69’), Champion, Gabriel (Shaibu 58’), Murtagh, Fyfield, Thomas, Kanu
Subs not used: Legg, Woodards, Ugwu
Wrexham: Lainton, Jennings, Kennedy, Young, Oswell (Stockton 71’), Carrington ©, Rutherford, Walker, Wright, Tollitt (Holroyd 78’), Lawlor
Subs not used: Dibble, Deverdics, Tharme
Att: 645 (243 away)
Goals: Tollitt 56’, 64’
