Words Alex Birch | Pictures Jonathan Moore

Boreham Wood 3 Altrincham 1

Alty were on the wrong end of a 3-1 defeat in Hertfordshire, despite giving as good as they got against Boreham Wood.

An intense, full-on opening saw mini battles break out all over the pitch, with the constant fight for possession fraught.

Alty created two half-chances early on; Matty Kosylo's flicked header was saved and Sam Taylor's effort was blocked.

Jay Bird had the hosts only real effort of the opening 20 minutes, which Jake Cooper managed to block away for a corner.

Then on 26 minutes Jimmy Knowles cantered through the Wood defence after being found by Kosylo, rounded Ted Curd and finished into an empty net for his fifth of the season, sending the away fans into raptures.

Andy Firth had to be alert to deny a stinging strike from Ben Whitfield as time ticked down, otherwise Alty looked relatively comfortable heading into the break.

Within 11 minutes of the restart Boreham Wood were level. Chris Bush bundling home at the back post off a Whitfield set piece.

Jay Bird went close off a quick break as the home side turned up the pressure, but Firth was positioned well to stop the low shot.

Alty's goalie could do nothing about Boreham Wood's next effort on goal, however, as Whitfield twisted in the box before beating Firth from an angle to give the league's only unbeaten side their first lead of the day.

Try as they might, the visitors couldn't force an equaliser, and with the game heading into injury time, Danny Cashman finished low under Firth to seal Boreham Wood's 10th victory in 12 games to start the season.

Boreham Wood Curd; Clarke (Golden, 63'), Bainbridge, White (c) (Wilkinson, 90'+3), Bush (Kensdale, 90'+3), O'Connell, Richardson (Cashman, 81'), Brunt, Marshall-Miranda, Bird, Whitfield (Wright, 90'+3). Subs not used: Reynolds, Stapelberg.

Altrincham Firth; Banks, Cooper (Hinchy, 90'+1), Khan, Barlow (Breckin, 80'), Knowles (Weaver, 46'), Kosylo (Raymond, 90'+1), Taylor, Lopata-White, Crawford (c), Kirk (Reddin, 80'). Subs not used: Barnes, Isted.

HT 0-1

Goals Bush 56', Whitfield 74', Cashman 89' | Knowles 26'

Yellows White 45'+3, Bush 51', Marshall-Miranda 90'+3 | Khan 40', Cooper 55', Kosylo 68'

Reds None | None

Referee Kirsty Dowle

Assistants Abbas Khan & Ryan Whittaker

Fourth official Ayrton Hursey

Attendance 1,646 (126 away) 

Next Up

Aldershot Town are the visitors to The J.Davidson Stadium for our next Enterprise National League encounter - Saturday at 12:30pm. 

General admission tickets are on sale here or if you fancy hospitality we've tickets for the Robins Nest here and Club Alty 1891 here.