Boreham Wood succumb to a shock defeat at home against Chippenham Town in a match where they weren’t at the races. It was their first league defeat since 9th November, but fortunately, due to results elsewhere, Wood maintained their place at the top of the Vanarama National League South on goal difference.

Luke Garrard named an unchanged starting line-up and an unchanged bench from their win against Hampton & Richmond Borough on Tuesday night.

It was a bright opening for the visitors, who set out their stall early. Tom Mehew fired wide for the visitors in the 8th minute. Three minutes later, Luke Spokes fired a free-kick into the Boreham Wood wall. In the 13th minute, there was a good chance for Boreham Wood when Kwesi Appiah intercepted a sloppy pass and played in Matt Rush, who slipped as he was about to shoot, only to scuff the shot wide. The Bluebirds took the lead in the 15th minute when Mehew fired home after his initial effort was saved by the feet of Nathan Ashmore. Straight away, Wood equalised with an excellent goal from Jayden Richardson, who managed to power his way through the Chippenham defence before firing the ball past keeper Will Henry. In the 22nd minute, the visitors restored their lead with a neat finish from Spokes.

The Bluebirds nearly added to their lead in the 25th minute when a sloppy back pass from Richardson found Will Dawes, who was denied by Ashmore. Seven minutes later, Job Benton tried his luck from distance but was just off target. In the 37th minute, Benton had another go, but it was straight at keeper Henry. In the 41st minute, Spokes added a third and his second for the visitors with an excellent free-kick, which Ashmore could only get a hand to. Two minutes later, Rush fired wide for Boreham Wood. Just before the break, Tom Whelan was just off target with a free-kick.

HT: Boreham Wood 1-3 Chippenham Town

The expected fightback from Boreham Wood after the interval didn’t happen. The visitors’ defence was superb throughout, and Wood were unable to get past them, with chances at a premium. Ten minutes after the restart, Town’s Leone Gravata had a shot blocked by Josh Hare before a long ball by Chris Bush was miskicked by keeper Henry, creating a chance for Appiah. However, with the goal at his mercy, he struck it wide. In the 61st minute, Rush was through on goal but was denied by a goal-saving tackle from Luke Haines. Four minutes later, Matt McClure played in Will Dawes, who was denied by Ashmore.

At that point, a host of stoppages due to injuries interrupted Boreham Wood’s play, and they found it difficult to get going afterwards. With six minutes of normal time left, Appiah had a shot deflected wide by Freddie Grant. In the first of 11 minutes added on, substitute Caine Bradbury rounded Ashmore to fire into the empty net for Chippenham’s fourth. It was no less than what they deserved. Abdul Abdulmalik nearly produced a memorable moment at the end with an excellent run and shot that cannoned off the crossbar.

FT: Boreham Wood 1-4 Chippenham Town

It was a bad day at the office for Boreham Wood against an excellent Chippenham Town side who had done their homework on Boreham Wood. They were good value for their three points. Boreham Wood remain top, but with four teams on 52 points, it’s all to play for. Tuesday night away at Worthing is massive now.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Richardson, Ilesamni (Abdulmalik 53), Bush, Hare (Agbontohoma 53), O’Connell, Mafuta, Whelan, Benton (Dixon 81), Rush (Sagaf 90+1), Appiah (Marsh 90+1)

Subs not used:

Chippenham Town: Henry, Kind, Grant, Haines, Mehew (Amadi-Holloway 93), Andrews (Bradbury 47), Spokes, Gravata (Parsons 90+3), Dawes, Bray, McClure (Kargbo 67)

Subs not used: Williams

Man of the Match: Jayden Richardson

Match Report written by Brett Lewis