WOOD STAY UNBEATEN THANKS TO ASHMORE
NATHAN Ashmore produced a stunning second half save to earn Boreham Wood their fourth clean sheet and deny goal-shy Stockport County.
Wood are the only team in the top three levels of Non-League not to have conceded a goal this season.
Ashmore had been untroubled until he sprawled to his left to spectacularly turn an Alex Reid volley behind.
Stockport also hit a post late on meaning they have now won just once and scored only two goals in their first four matches but manager Simon Rusk isn’t panicking.
“It’s very early days, we’ve had an incredibly tough start and not to mention the fact we’re going through a little bit of an injury crisis,” he said. “We’ve got another 38 games to go and we’ll be alright, we’re not far away.
“I think we’ve probably done enough to win it, again. In context it’s not a bad point away from home against a team that’s flying. We’ve been by far the dominant team in my opinion.”
County remain without striker Scott Quigley due to a hamstring injury and their troubles in front of goal were evident.
Their travelling support sang ‘we only win away’ yet for a long time neither side looked like taking maximum points.
The first effort at goal came in the 27th minute when right-wing back Kane Smith delivered the ball into the near post and Wood striker Scott Boden swept it wide.
Frankie Raymond had the only other effort of the half with a free-kick from 25 yards that skimmed the roof of the net.
Rusk recognised Stockport’s lack of threat at halftime and brought on their only other striker
Alex Reid to play alongside Paddy Madden. They looked more threatening after that but Wood went closest to opening the scoring.
Boden headed Raymond’s free-kick back across goal for Jamal Fyfield to strike. His shot was well-saved by Ben Hinchliffe and scrambled away to Kane Smith, who fired home but the offside flag was already up.
John Rooney had Stockport’s first shot on target on 68 minutes before Ashmore produced the highlight, tipping Reid’s strike behind.
Then, Hatters centre-back Jordan Keane hit a post from distance with Madden unable to adjust his feet to direct the rebound at goal as Wood held on.
“I’m happy with a clean sheet, that’s the biggest positive,” said Wood boss Luke Garrard. “We had an energy and enthusiasm to defend our goal which I love.
“It’s a fourth clean sheet in a row and that’s a habit, it’s now breading that and ensuring the boys stick to what we ask of them.
“Ashmore’s made a great save but other than that it was a non-event in my opinion.”