BLUEBIRDS DENIED BY MURTAGH AT THE DEATH

KEIRAN MURTAGH broke Barrow hearts with a 93rdminute equaliser as Boreham Wood somehow salvaged a point at Meadow Park to maintain their unbeaten home record.

John Rooney deservedly put Barrow ahead eight minutes from the end with his second goal of he season before Murtagh lashed home his last-gasp leveller.

Joshua Umerah partnered fellow Charlton Athletic loan striker Reeco Hackett-Fairchild for the first time in Boreham Wood colours and the forward enjoyed an early sight at goal, but sent his effort soaring over from inside of the area.

The Wood’s best chance of the half would fall to Umerah just ten minutes later after Murtagh had weaved his way through the midfield and released him.

However, his shot was blocked by Dan Jones and sent wide.

Barrow had been limited in the first half but grew into the game in the second period. Josh Kay was a lively presence and connected well with a long-ball forward; he knocked it on to his right foot, but curled it inches shy of the far post.

The game had opened up in the second half, but both sides continued to see their chances limited, until Barrow’s opener in the final ten minutes. Luke Burgess had been found in the Boreham Wood area and sent a strike crashing against the crossbar, John Rooney was fastest to reacted and poked home the rebound. Wood boss

Luke Garrard pushed defender David Stephens up front for the remainder of the game and he knocked down a dropping ball to Murtagh, who thumped it on the halfvolley with his left foot and into the bottom to earn a point. Garrard said: “The manner in which we conceded the goal was frustrating, but did they deserve to score it? Yes, because they were on top at the time. “But for me, the reaction from us was superb. To go 1-0 down in the National League in the 82nd minute, they slow it down immensely, they manage the game immensely and Keiran Murtagh has pulled one out of the bag.” Barrow manager Ian Evatt said: “I am gutted for the lads, because I think for the fourth match in a row, we have deserved to win a game of football. “It is a difficult place to come and they have got a lot of big, physical players who constantly test you and put it on you, but we have stood up to that and in the second half we took over the game. “We got ourselves 1-0 up, but then a wonder strike in the 93rd minute has killed us. “But, we can’t lose heart and I am really pleased that we are slowly but surely getting there.”

STAR MAN: Mark Ricketts (Boreham Wood) ATT: 564 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Carl Brook 5/10