A truly special goal was all that separated Boreham Wood and Aldershot Town as Abdul Abdulmalik’s 16th minute strike sent the Hertfordshire side to second in the Enterprise National League table, at the expense of a Shots side who put in an impressive performance off the back of FA Cup upset.
John Coleman made several changes to the side that lost in Weston-Super-Mare, with the benefit of a returning Tyler Frost – able to start for the first time this season – a significant boost.
The Shots would take on early pressure from one of the league’s most in-form sides, with Matt Rush and Abdul Abdulmalik finding openings in the first ten minutes, though astute goalkeeping from Pat Nash – starting for the first time in the league – quelled the danger.
Bolton loanee Sam Inwood made a fine league debut of his own, preventing a tap in at one end before turning provider on the 12-minute mark, playing an inch-perfect long pass to Kiban Rai on the penalty area from fully 40-yards. Rai struck well, though a good save from Nathan Ashmore prevented an opener, while Tyler Frost failed to convert the rebound.
The hosts would take the lead four minutes later, thanks to a piece of superb individual brilliance from Abdul Abdulmalik. The 22-year-old picked up the ball on the half-way line, before pulling off an unorthodox piece of skill to beat his marker and bear down on the Aldershot third. After taking several progressive touches, a right-footed strike from the edge of the area found the top-right corner to significant elation from the home support.
The Shots thought they had equalised shortly after through Kwame Thomas, who finished confidently on the end of Frost’s low cross from out right, though it would transpire that the forward failed to time his run correctly, with the offside flag quickly muting a rejuvenated away end.
It would be the familiar pair of Abdulmalik and Rush who would forge the next Wood chance, the former playing a precise through ball allowing his fellow forward the freedom of the area. However, an early decision to rush out from Nash closed down the angle, allowing the young keeper to make a tremendous one-on-one save.
HALF-TIME
While possession of the ball was largely shared in the second half, it would be the home side that would produce the vast majority of chances. A ball from right trickled through the entirety of the six-yard-box and seemingly only needed a toe, though an oncoming Zak Brunt was unable to make any connection with the goal at his mercy.
Brunt went close twice more, as a chipped finish beat both Nash and the left-hand post, before firing a powerful shot into the side netting from 12-yards just minutes later.
The Shots were almost gifted a bizarre equaliser as Nathan Ashmore misjudged a clearance, firing straight onto the chest of Chris Bush and out for a corner, to the relief of both of them.
Charles Clayden saw a fantastic strike from the corner of the area saved brilliantly by Pat Nash late-on, the midfielder began to wheel away in celebration after certainly finding the top-left corner, though Nash’s fingertips denied a second screamer of the evening.
A procession of attacking corners came the way of the visitors late on, though impressive game management from Boreham Wood saw the home side secure all three points on the night.
Attendance: 931 (164 away)
Shots line-up: 16. Pat Nash, 5. Ben Jackson, 7 Cameron Hargreaves (c), 8. Tyler Frost (24. Maxwell Mullins 72’), 9. Kwame Thomas (27. Toby Nelson 72’), 11. Ryan Jones (30. Tristan Abrahams 81’), 14. Cairan Gilligan, 18. Kiban Rai (34. Dejan Tetek 81’), 28. Archy Taylor, 33. Sam Inwood, 36. Will Armitage (25. Will Nightingale 65’).
Unused subs: 1. Marcus Dewhurst, 12. Keane Anderson.
Boreham Wood line-up: 1. Nathan Ashmore, 5. Chris Bush, 6. Charlie O’Connell, 7. Erico Sousa (17. Charles Clayden 69’), 8. Zak Brunt (3. Femi Ilesanmi 78’), 10. Abdul Abdulmalik (20. Lewis Richardson 88’), 12. Joe Newton (18. Luke Norris 78’), 15. Jeff King (2. Cameron Coxe 69’), 16. Callum Reynolds (c), 19. Tom White, 32. Matt Rush.
Unused Subs: 9. Junior Dixon, 11. Jon Benton.
