A late equaliser from substitute Kwesi Appiah salvaged a point for Boreham Wood after Jake Gray gave the Beavers the lead on the stroke of half time.

Ross Jenkins made three changes following last Monday’s defeat against Worthing with Cameron Coxe making his first start of the season in place of Femi Ilesanmi at the back, Tyrone March come in for Mo Sagaf in midfield and Abdul Abdulmalik started ahead of Lee Ndlovu up front. 

It was an even start to the game with Boreham Wood controlling a lot of possession, but the host were able to counter any threat. Beavers’ keeper Ted Curd was equal to Tom Whelan’s free kick on ten minutes. Three minutes later Junior Dixon’s shot was well blocked by defender Dominic Revan. Soon afterwards, Chris Bush had the ball in the Hampton net but the linesman ruled the goal out for offside. On twenty-three minutes, Tyrone Marsh fired just wide after an excellent interchange between Abdul Abdulmalik and Tom Whelan. Two minutes later, Bunmi Babajide dispossessed Jack Payne in midfield before forcing Nathan Ashmore into an excellent save.

On the half hour mark Abdulmalik went on an excellent run but just failed to keep his shot down. Eight minutes later, Josh Keeya fired just wide for the hosts. Abdulmalik went close again a minute later. On the stroke of half time Hampton took the lead when Chris Bush was dispossessed by Jake Gray in the Wood penalty area and the Beavers forward made no mistake from close range.

HT: Hampton & Richmond 1-0 Boreham Wood

Wood came out for the second period determined to right the wrongs from the first half. Junior Dixon fired just wide three minutes after the restart following some good approach play from Abdulmalik. The hosts had a good chance through Archie Taylor on fifty-eight minutes but he was off target with his shot. Seven minutes later keeper Ted Curd pulled off an excellent save to deny Whelan. The hosts nearly put the game to bed on sixty-eight minutes when Babjide played in Keeya but his shot zipped just wide of Ashmore’s goal.

From there on,Boreham Wood peppered the Beavers goal and created numerous chances. On seventy-two minutes a well struck Whelan free kick was headed narrowly wide by Dixon. Four minutes later, an excellent run and cross from Erico Sousa found the head of Dixon but somehow Dominic Revan cleared it off the line. On eighty-three minutes Bush’s pass was almost turned into his own goal by Revan. Just when it looked like Boreham Wood were destined not to score, they finally got their goal in the third minute of stoppage time. A deep Whelan free kick was expertly headed in by substitute Kwesi Appiah at the back post for a well-deserved equaliser.

It was a relief to come away from the Beveree Stadium with a point but once again, the performance wasn’t what head coach Ross Jenkins would have wanted. There is a break now from league action as Boreham Wood travel to Eastbourne Borough next Saturday for their FA Cup second qualifying round tie.

FT: Hampton & Richmond 1-1 Boreham Wood

Hampton & Richmond: Curd, Campbell, Atkinson (Vilhete 87), Keeya, Roberts, Gray, J Taylor, Babajide (Wall 90+1), A Taylor, Revan, Williams.

Subs: Musampu, Brissett, Brown.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Coxe, Sousa, Agbontohoma (Ilesanmi 68), O’Connell, Bush, Payne, Whelan, Marsh (Goddard 64), Sousa, Dixon, Abdulmalik (Appiah 64).

Subs not used: Clayden, Mafuta.

Man of the match: Tom Whelan.

Match report written by Brett Lewis.