HARROGATE HARRYING ENDS WOOD HOME RUN

HARROGATE recovered from a shocking start to bring Boreham Wood’s unbeaten home record to an end with some luck and some style.

The Wood took a thirdminute lead through new striker Gozie Ugwu but the visitors scored twice in three minutes shortly after half-time to seal a fine come-from-behind victory and cement their third place in the table.

Happy Harrogate manager Simon Weaver told

The NLP: “To score four goals is a big positive and there were times in the game when we really got onto the ball and hurt them and got through them and created chances.

“But there are also areas in the game that we can learn from.

“I would like to see a greater consistency with the passing and us being a bit more composed defensively.”

The Wood began brightly and opened the scoring when Keiran Murtagh’s corner fell to David Stephens.

His shot was blocked by Callum Howe before Ugwu, the striker brought in from Chesterfield a fortnight ago, snapped the loose ball past Town keeper James Belshaw.

Harrogate drew level on 19 minutes when George Thomson got onto the end of Joe Leesley’s cross and beat Wood custodian Ryan Huddart with a well-placed header.

Six minutes after halftime, Town turned the game around when Aaron Williams closed down Huddart, whose clearance crashed off his back and straight into the net. Three minutes later, Town doubled their advantage when Joe Leesley danced down the left, beat his marker and drove in a cross which luckless Wood defender Femi Ilesanmi diverted into his own net. Nine minutes later, Boreham Wood pulled one back, thanks to a stunning goal from Ugwu, who lashed the ball past Belshaw from 30 yards. But Town quashed any hopes of a comeback on 74 minutes when substitute Jack Emmett coolly carried the ball forward and curled his shot into the left-hand corner from the edge of the area. Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard cut a frustrated figure after the match – and took his share of the blame. He said: “My biggest frustration is with the second half performance. “I take full responsibility as manager of this football club. “But when you offer up goals in the manner that we did today, then the players have got to hold their hands up as much as me. “At no stage though, am I saying that it is because we played below par, or that Harrogate did not deserve to win this game of football, not at all. “Harrogate came here with a togetherness and a group of players who have gone up a level.” STAR MAN: Joe Leesley (Boreham Wood) ATT: 566 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Will Finnie 7/10