ALLI LANDS BIG PUNCH BUT IT’S NO KNOCKOUT

LEE NDLOVU opened the scoring for Boreham Wood with Millenic Alli equalising for the visitors as the points were shared in this hard-fought encounter at LVBet Stadium Meadow Park in front of the BT Sport cameras.

Boreham Wood, having been so dominant in the first half, will regret not going into the break more than a goal in front. Halifax, on the other hand, were much better after the break and did well to get their equaliser. A frustrated Wood manager Luke Garrard told The NLP: “It’s very disappointing again to surrender points from a winning position.

“We should have been out of sight before they scored. We can’t keep doing this.”

Wood defender Chris Bush caused havoc in the Shaymen defence early on with a succession of long throws and Danny Newton had a shot blocked.

Two minutes later, Halifax goalkeeper Sam Johnson saved well from Jack Payne. The home side then took the lead on nine minutes with a fine goal.

Ndlovu ran from the halfway line to slot the ball coolly past Johnson in the visitors’ goal.

Wood continued to apply pressure with Newton going close a couple of minutes later.

There was some respite for the visitors when Alli fired wide from a free-kick on 17 minutes. Five minutes later Ndlovu nearly scored again but fired wide.

Soon after Newton had another chance following another Bush throw but his effort was blocked.

On the half-hour mark Shaymen forward Mani Dieseruvwe went close following a Harvey Gilmour corner but Wood keeper Nathan Ashmore was equal to it. The game was stopped on 33 minutes due to an injury to referee Adrian Quelch and he was replaced by fourth official Abigail Byrne.

Four minutes later, Ndlovu went close but his shot was deflected wide.

At the start of the second half Gilmour went close with a free-kick for the Shaymen but Ashmore was there to make the save.

The game then became scrappy for a period until, out of nowhere, Halifax scored an unbelievable equaliser through Alli on 62 minutes.

Following a great run, he gave Ashmore no chance with a superb long-range effort.

Straight away, Wood should have retaken the lead when, after some excellent approach play from Femi Ilesanmi, Newton fired wide.

On 71 minutes Wood had another chance to retake the lead as George Broadbent clipped the outside of Johnson’s goal.

Wood, stunned by the equaliser, spent the rest of the game on the offensive but were denied by a stubborn defence. In fact, it was the visitors who might have snatched the points when Festus Arthur fired just over in stoppage time. STAR MAN: Adam Senior (FC Halifax) ATT: 925 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Adrian Quelch/Abigail Byrne