Full-time: Chelmsford City 2-3 Boreham Wood
Boreham Wood substitute Lee Ndlovu’s brace earned his side a comeback win and three points at the EMJ Community Stadium.
Chelmsford City produced an impressive first-half performance and went into half-time two goals ahead after Charlie Ruff and Kane Crichlow found the back of the net.
The Wood’s recovery started in the 49th minute when Jayden Richardson pulled one back. Ndlovu then notched two goals for his side following his introduction in the 61st minute, meaning the visitors returned to Hertfordshire on Monday night with maximum points.
Robbie Simpson made two changes to the team that started last time out against Slough Town. Saturday’s super substitutes Ruff and Crichlow started from the beginning against the Wood after combining twice in quick succession to help their side win against the Rebels.
The visitors started the game brighter than City, and flashed an effort wide of goal in the opening 10 minutes. Richardson’s delivery picked out Kwesi Appiah, who fired his shot the wrong side of the post.
Simpson’s side grew into the game and showed Luke Garrard’s men warning signs of the danger they could pose going forward. Ruff nearly opened his account for the night earlier when Jazzi Barnum-Bobb’s long throw-in dropped to him inside the penalty area. Ruff was unable to keep his first-time strike down, and it went just over the crossbar.
Ruff made up for the miss when he put the Clarets ahead in the 26th minute. Vice-captain Ruff and Osman Foyo combined neatly, with the latter squaring an accurate delivery across goal to Ruff, setting him up to calmly pass the ball into the back of the visitors’ net from 12 yards out.
Crichlow doubled City’s lead in the 32nd minute. A free kick won by Jordan Greenidge in front of the halfway line was bent towards the penalty area by Alfie Bendle. Despite his diminutive size, Crichlow connected sweetly with Bendle’s delivery, guiding a bullet header towards goal, which struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced into the back of the net.
The visitors’ comeback started four minutes into the second half with Richardson’s effort. Richardson made a bending run inside from the right flank into the Chelmsford City penalty area before firing a powerful effort into the back of Woody Williamson’s net.
Boreham Wood’s equaliser came amid controversy when appeals for a foul on Sam Gale in the build-up to the visitors winning a corner were ignored by referee Chay Hathaway and his assistant. From the resulting corner, substitute Lee Ndlovu got on the end of a header back across goal, bundling home an effort from point-blank range.
Despite making a triple substitution after losing their lead, Chelmsford City were unable to turn the tide and went behind for the first time in the game when the visitors scored again in the 85th minute. A well-worked move was finished by Ndlovu, who was once again in the right place at the right time to turn a delivery across goal into the back of the net from close range.
The Clarets were unable to salvage anything from the remainder of the match and had appeals for a penalty ignored by referee Hathaway when Jake Hyde was brought to ground in the penalty box late on.
Simpson’s side will now have a rare mid-season weekend away from playing before returning to action next week in an away clash against Chesham United.
Chelmsford City XI: Williamson (GK); Barnum-Bobb, James (C), Gale, Williams (Hyde 86′); Bendle, Bland, Ruff (Tamplin 75′), Crichlow (McConnell 75′), Foyo (Appiah 64′), Greenidge (Babajide 75′).
Unused substitutes: None.
Yellow cards: James.
Boreham Wood XI: Ashmore (GK); Ilesanmi (Ndlovu 61′), Payne (C), Bush, Whelan, Benton (Agbontohoma 90+2′), Hare, Appiah (Marsh 81′), O’Connell, Dixon (Abdulmalik 61′), Richardson.
Unused substitutes: Sagaf.
Yellow cards: Ashmore.
Match Officials: Chay Hathaway (Referee), Teddy Osborn (1st Assistant), Oliver Kaya (2nd Assistant), Craig Barnett (Fourth Official).
Attendance: 668
by