WOOD SECURE SECOND PRE-SEASON WIN

Boreham Wood came from behind to beat Barnstaple Town 4-1 away from home, to secure their second victory of pre-season.

The win was led by a brace from wing-back Ricky Shakes, with David Stephens and summer signing Femi Ilesanmi also scoring in Devon.

Luke Garrard stuck with his usual 3-5-2 formation, as Bradley Ash returned to the starting line up, alongside Morgan Ferrier.

The away side saw a lot of the ball in the opening 20 minutes, without enjoying any real chances on the Barnstaple goal.

The home side were then able to take the lead shortly before the half-hour, as David Stephens gave away a penalty, that Town’s Billy Hopcroft tucked away.

The goal awoke Boreham Wood and they should have been level five minutes later. Keiran Murtagh’s cross was met by Ferrier, but he was intercepted before he could strike.

Stephens then got onto another Murtagh cross, but again, the home defence were able to block and thrash clear.

Murtagh was at the heart of his side’s attacks and sent another ball into the box, but Bradley Ash was unable to put the ball past the Barnstaple stopper, who saved well.

The equaliser would come on the brink of half time, as Stephens picked up the scraps of Murtagh’s intercepted cross, to prod past the ‘keeper.

Ash made way for Jeffers in the second half and he would nearly have an instant impact, but he could only aim his strike into the hands of the goalkeeper, following Ilesanmi’s cross.

Garrard’s side would take the lead after the hour mark, when Shakes met Ilesanmi’s whipped ball, took a touch, and thumped home.

Jeffers had looked lively since his introduction and got onto the end of another Murtagh cross, but the Barnstaple stopper was equal to it.

The lead was extended through Ilesanmi as the National League outfit began to take full control of the friendly tie.

Shakes completed the scoring following a well-worked cross from Sorba Thomas, sending Luke Garrard’s side back to their Brend Hotels basecamp with a win.

The Wood: Trialist one, Shakes, Ilesanmi, Ricketts (C), Parry, Stephens, Balanta, Champion, Ferrier, Murtagh, Ash