Despite a late attempt at a comeback from the Wood, Dover Athletic came away from Meadow Park with all three points, winning 2-3.
Manny Parry opened the scoring for Dover, netting his third goal in as many games. The defender capitalised on a loose ball in the Wood box, to knock it home.
The home side pulled one back in the 69th minute, with centre-back David Stephens scoring on his return from injury – his first goal of the season.
However, Dover were ahead again just three minutes later as substitute Kadell Daniel flicked the ball past Grant Smith. Femi Ilesanmi then added a third.
Luke Garrard’s side were handed a lifeline in the 87th minute, as Alex Davey crashed a strike into the roof of the Dover net.
However, Dover were able to retain their lead, as they defended a late onslaught from the Wood.
Tom Champion pushed into the Boreham Wood midfield and took the captain’s armband for the day, with Alex Davey, David Stephens and Jamie Turley filling out the back three.
The Wood went inches from scoring inside 20 minutes. The ball felt to Angelo Balanta, following a poor clearance from Dover stopper Mitch Walker, but he could only poke wide from close range.
Just a minute later, Keiran Murtagh had found himself unmarked on the edge of the box and the ball fell to him kindly, but he blasted a half-volley narrowly wide.
Further chances came for the Wood in the opening half an hour, with Andrade crashing a free-kick against the face of Connor Essam, and Stephens headed just wide from a corner.
Joe Quigley done well to chest down a long ball, which took both Essam and Giancarlo Gallifuoco out of the game, but the ‘keeper was out to claim it.
Dover countered and Jeffrey had been found with space in the area, but his effort was well blocked by Davey.
Balanta has looked in red-hot form in recent weeks and on the turn, he lifted the ball over the Dover defence with frightening accuracy, but Ricky Shakes was tackled.
Andrade had done well down the left-wing and flashed the ball across the box, but no one was there to turn it in.
On the brink of half-time the Wood went agonisingly close again, with Shakes driving the ball past Walker from inside the area, but it was blocked on the line by Essam.
Dover returned for the second half a different side and went ahead just seven minutes in. A cross has pin-balled around the box and struck the knee of Parry, it deflected in off the post.
The Wood were found looking for a way back into a game that they had dominated so well in the first half. Stephens hooked the ball back in the box, but no one could poke it past Walker.
Andrade danced around Ilesanmi but then had his cross blocked for a corner, which came to nothing. The Portuguese forward then headed powerfully at Walker, who just managed to keep the ball out.
The Wood did level shortly after the hour mark, with centre-back David Stephens thumping a powerful volley past Mitch Walker from the edge of the area.
But three minutes later, substitute Kadell Daniel had gotten himself in a good position in the box and hooked the ball past Smith on the turn.
Michael Folivi had been brought on in an attempt to level the scoring once more, and he wriggled his way through the Dover penalty area, but saw his shot blocked.
Dover then added their third goal of the afternoon, as former Boreham Wood player Ilesanmi cut inside of the box and fizzled a strike past Smith.
It had been an action packed second half and the Wood fought their way back into the match with three minutes on the clock. Andrade’s initial free-kick had crashed against the Woodwork and Balanta, Shakes and Turley had all seen efforts blocked, but Davey smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Despite five minutes of injury time, Dover were able to play out the remaining minutes.
The Wood: G Smith, K Smith, Stephens, Shakes, Champion, Murtagh, Andrade, Quigley (Folivi 59’), Turley, Balanta, Davey (Woodards 90’)
Subs: Woodards, Ricketts, Jeffers, Turgott, Folivi
Dover Athletic: Walker, Passley, Ilesanmi, Gallifuoco, Parry, Essam, Brundle, Pinnock, Bird, Nortey, Jeffrey
Subs: Richards, Fazakerley, Daniel (66), Bellamy, Okosieme (81)
Attendance: 527 (117 away)
Goals:
The Wood: Stephens 69’ Davey 87’
Dover: Parry 52’, Daniel 72’, Illesanmi 85
