Boreham Wood and Dorking Wanderers served up a 2-2 draw in an early season classic. Although Boreham Wood dominated for large periods of the game, they had to come from behind twice to secure a share of the points at Meadowbank.

Head Coach Ross Jenkins made one change from Saturday’s victory Chesham United with Mo Sagaf returning into the midfield in place of Johnny Goddard.

Boreham Wood dominated proceedings early on and nearly took the lead on five minutes when an excellent Erico Sousa cross picked out Mo Sagaf who headed narrowly wide. Three minutes later Sousa forced a good save by Wanderers keeper Harrison Foulkes. The hosts took the lead against the run of play on ten minutes when Jason Prior finished well following some good work from Charlie Carter. The goal stopped Boreham Wood in their tracks as the hosts started to look in control for the next period of the game although they were unable to threaten Nathan Ashmore’s goal during this spell.

Wood got a well-deserved equaliser on twenty-five minutes when Sousa cut in from the left to fire his shot past keeper Foulkes before he could even see it. The hosts reacted well and two minutes later as Tony Craig headed wide from a Jimmy Muitt cross. For the rest of the first half Wood enjoyed a lot of possession but were struggling to break down a stubborn Dorking defence although Erico Sousa struck the side netting just before the interval when positioned to do better.

HT: Dorking Wanderers 1-1 Boreham Wood

Wood continued their dominance at the start of the second half and three minutes after the restart Tyrone Marsh was denied by an excellent block from Dorking right back Brennan Camp. On fifty-eight minutes Lee Ndlovu should have given Boreham Wood the lead when he was one-on-one with Foulkes but he was denied by the Dorking keeper’s outstretched foot when he tried to go around him. Two minutes later Boreham Wood were made to pay for that miss when the hosts regained the lead when Prior bagged his second with another cool finish, heading past Ashmore from a Matt Briggs cross.

Boreham Wood reacted well to going behind and laid siege on the Dorking goal, but the outstanding Aaron Kuhl always seemed to be in the way. Wood got their second equaliser on eighty-two minutes when some good approach play and a pulled back cross from Sousa picked out substitute Cameron Coxe who made no mistake and finished well. Wood were unable to get the winner in the last few minutes and in the end, were made to settle for a draw, despite some guilt edge chances and big shout for a penalty.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable match at Meadowbank between two teams who look capable of competing for the Vanarama National League South title this season. Ross Jenkins will be disappointed that his team couldn’t turn their dominance into a victory but will be happy with the spirit his squad showed to come from behind twice against one of the best sides in the league.

FT: Dorking Wanderers 2-2 Boreham Wood

Dorking Wanderers: Foulkes, Camp (Fuller 68), Craig, Muitt (McManus 5), Prior, Rutherford (Briggs 59), Carter, Taylor, Kuhl (Moore 75), Bowerman (Joe-Taylor 88), Francomb.

Subs not used: None.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Hare, Ilesanmi (Coxe 71), Bush, O’Connell, Payne, Whelan, Sagaf (Dixon 71), Sousa, Ndlovu (Appiah 88), Marsh.

Subs not used: Goddard, Mafuta.

Man of the match: Tom Whelan. 

Match report written by Brett Lewis.