Boreham Wood’s hoodoo against Woking is finally over after Luke Garrard’s men came from a goal behind to take all three points at Meadow Park with a 2-1 victory.
The Wood boss was forced into one change from the side that lost at Lincoln City in midweek, with Ben Nunn coming in for the unavailable Joe Devera.
It was a first half to forget for the Wood players as from ball one they failed to get themselves going and out of first gear. As much as Garrard tried to change things up and get his players going, it just wasn’t happening.
Woking created the first chance when Kieran Murtagh robbed Mark Ricketts of the ball and played it into the feet of Matt Tubbs. The on-loan Forest Green Rovers striker took a touch before curling a shot which Grant Smith saved with ease.
Woking then won a corner down the Wood’s right and a floated cross into the box from Nathan Ralph was met by an unmarked Joey Jones, who headed beyond Smith to give the visitors the lead.
The home side had their first opportunity when Nunn played an angled ball into the box, splitting the visitors’ central defenders. Kenny Davis, who made a run deep from midfield, headed into the arms of Brandon Hall.
Angelo Balanta intercepted after hesitation in the Woking defence and he played in Bruno Andrade, who took a touch before forcing Brandon Hall into a good save with his feet.
The ball was only half cleared from the resulting corner and from the edge of the 18-yard box, Matt Paine forced Hall into a fine save as the ball was heading into the top right-hand corner.
Right at the end of the two minutes of added time at the end of the first half, Andrade was fouled from behind. His free-kick found an unmarked Balanta but he couldn’t generate enough power to beat Hall.
But the game changed after the restart when Balanta levelled proceedings after Anthony Jeffrey found space on the right. He whipped in a sublime cross and Balanta got across his man to head past Hall.
Only five minutes later Wood took the lead with a superb team goal involving at least 12 passes where the Wood passed their way into the Woking box, culminating with Andrade firing past Hall to net against his former club.
Balanta had an effort well charged down on the edge of the area whilst Delano Sam-Yorke came close to equalising for Woking with a glancing header towards the far post.
Murtagh then forced Smith into a save; the dynamic midfielder driving the ball hard and low 20 yards from goal.
Femi Ilesanmi committed an unnecessary foul in a dangerous area out wide on the right. The free kick was hit low and hard and came back off Smith’s near post and away to safety.
To the surprise of all those in Meadow Park, the fourth official signalled for five minutes of additional time. Wood however saw the game out well and picked up a deserved three points to move up to ninth in the National League.
Boreham Wood: Smith, Nunn, Woodards, Ricketts, Paine, Davis (Lucas), Andrade, Jeffrey, Ilesanmi, Clifford, Balanta. Subs not used: Moke, Goodliffe, Uchechi, Kuhl.
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