Boreham Wood 0 Carshalton Athletic 0 . . .

Ryman League Premier Division . . .

A brilliant second-half penalty save from stalwart keeper Noel Imber saved his side's blushes on a tense afternoon that had so much at stake for both sides.

Had Wood taken maximum points from the game, their league status would have been confirmed. However, they remain in a pack of seven sides fighting for survival that will go to the very last afternoon of the season.

They now need two points from their remaining two games to stay up. However, if Folkestone Invicta fail to take a point from their fixture at home to AFC Hornchurch tonight (Monday), then Wood will know prior to their penultimate game of the season 24 hours later at home to Staines Town, that a single point will suffice.

With striker Leon Archer recalled by Braintree Town just 24 hours prior to this tie, the task of bagging three points was made all the more ominous. Wood departed from their scintillating passing game that overcame Ware in such dramatic style in midweek in favour of an unwavering long-ball game, which seemingly made the visitors' task all the more easier.

Wood were constantly guilty of losing possession, with Simon Thomas delivering a poor percentage of headers won from Imber's clearances. With Carshalton themselves fighting for survival and knowing that a defeat to Wood would almost certainly send them packing to the lower reaches of the Ryman League, the stakes far outweighed the quality of football on hand. This was disappointing for the floating fans, who were offered a special cut-price deal which swelled the crowd to 358, Wood's second highest of the season.

Chris Bangura had a fine opportunity after six minutes, when he headed Gary Burrell's fine left-sided cross just over the bar.

Then, with the Athletic defence expecting an offside flag, Danny Barber sent a deep cross from the left that found Mark Burgess, whose lob back across the goalmouth was again headed just wide of the mark by Bangura.

Two minutes later, Carshalton missed a gilt-edged chance to take the lead. A free kick on the right was played short to Liam Collins, whose cross picked out an unmarked Charlie Side at the far post. With the goal gaping, he could only fire his effort straight at Imber.

Burrell then lifted a shot over the bar after making space to shoot, before going down inside the penalty area under the challenge of Liam Harwood, which did little to impress referee Mr Linden, who immediately waved play on.

Wood were by far the more productive side in the early stages, until Collins' dipping drive after 25 minutes forced a fine save from Imber. Thereafter the visitors found the momentum and confidence to pass their way back into the game.

There was a moment of hesitancy from visiting keeper Aaron Howe, who, with Thomas bearing down on him, chose to rush out and head away straight into the path of Burrell. He failed to gain advantage, however, sending his shot back into the body of the stranded keeper, and the Robins were off the hook.

Wood's best move of the game, involving Steve Wales picking out Chris Watters on the opposite flank, ended the half, with Bangura again going close with his head.

The second half was a stark disappointment from the home fans' point of view, with no change in tactics or personnel, allowing the visitors to gain full measure of the task in hand.

A conceded free kick 22 yards from goal was well struck by Matt York, forcing Imber to spill, and, from the resultant passage of play, Marvin Samuel was adjudged to have played Michael Johnson before the ball, gifting the visitors a penalty.

Phil Ruggles' run-up was purposeful. His shot had power and direction, yet Imber, featuring in his 347th appearance for the club, pulled off a superb save, diving low to his right to cleanly take the ball.

Bangura shot just wide as Wood thereafter tried to gain advantage from Imber's heroics, yet, as the game wore on, the home side seemingly ran out of ideas.

They had one last opportunity to win the game from a swift counter-attacking move. Bangura cleared from the edge of the Wood penalty area, finding Thomas, whose flick fell perfectly for the foraging Burrell. He advanced downfield, steering in a superb low cross from the left that was met by Wales, who slid in to agonisingly put his effort just the wrong side of the far post.

A brief break in play for a handbag display was followed up with one last effort from the visitors. James Evans shot around the post, thus preserving the stalemate in a game that neither side did enough to win.

WOOD: Imber, Burgess, Barber, Samuel, Atta, Maxwell, Wales, Watters, Thomas, Bangura, Burrell. Subs not used: Morgan, Vargas, Manuella, Reynolds, Lewis.

JOHN MEAD