A fast Boreham Wood start made it a tough evening for the Shaymen, who struggled to get back into the game after Richardson opened the scoring for the hosts. Erico Sousa made it two after smashing the ball past Johnson. Devonport did get one back in additional time, but this wasn’t enough for the Shaymen to take anything back from London.
Only one change was made from the Shaymen’s last National League outing: Angelo Cappello came in for the suspended Jamie Cooke. Featured in the Boreham Wood lineup was former Halifax man Jeff King.
The early knockings of events were largely controlled by the home side, with the first chance of the game falling to Lewis Richardson after he was slipped through by Zak Brunt; his effort rose way above Sam Johnson’s net.
The next time Boreham Wood had an opening on goal was a different story, however. Neat interplay involving Tom White, Sousa, and Richardson saw the latter slip the ball past Johnson to put the hosts in front.
Following the goal, Town looked to assert themselves in the tie. A ranging drive from Thierry Latty-Fairweather saw him approach the Wood box before taking aim; his effort fell to Hmami, whose redirected effort was directed behind for a corner.
Half an hour into the tie, the Shaymen had their best opportunity yet. Angelo Cappello picked out Will Harris, who dragged his shot into the path of Will Hugill, but the 21-year-old couldn’t sort his feet out in time to test Ted Curd. Moments later, Owen Bray struck from distance after good centre-forward play from Will Harris; Bray’s effort fell just wide of the right-hand post.
It was all action as the first half drew to a close. This time it was the Wood who looked to counter, with Richardson testing Johnson.
The second half started slower than the end of the first; however, Boreham Wood doubled their lead with 25 minutes remaining. Richardson slid in initially after an Ilesanmi cross, but his effort was saved. Sousa was there on the rebound, however, to smash home.
With fifteen minutes to play, Adam Lakeland named three substitutes: Owen Devonport, Adam Smith, and Jay Turner-Cooke. Owen Bray, Cody Johnson, and Angelo Cappello were the men to be taken off.
The Wood nearly made it three late on. Charles Clayden’s whipped ball was cleared to the path of Matt Rush, but he couldn’t keep his effort on target. Johnson was then called into action once more to make an excellent save.
Five additional minutes were signalled at the end of the second period. In this time the Shaymen did manage to get one back through substitute Devonport. A teasing Josh Hmami ball found the head of Devonport, who powered past Curd to deny Boreham Wood the clean sheet and net his second National League goal of the season. But it was a case of too little too late in the end, as Halifax failed to make it back-to-back wins in the league.
Boreham Wood
22 Ted Curd, 15 Jeff King, 16 Callum Reynolds ©, 5 Chris Bush, 3 Femi Ilesanmi, 19 Tom White (23 Regan Booty 45), 6 Charlie O’Connell, 7 Erico Sousa (18 Luke Norris 88), 8 Zak Brunt, 20 Lewis Richardson (17 Charles Clayden 75), 32 Matt Rush
Subs: 11 Jon Benton, 2 Cameron Coxe, 4 Jack Payne
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson © 19 AJ Warburton, 5 Shaun Hobson, 3 Adam Adetoro, 36 Thierry Latty-Fairweather, 4 Will Hugill, 30 Cody Johnson (15 Will Smith 76), 17 Owen Bray (31 Owen Devonport 77), 8 Josh Hmami, 11 Angelo Cappello (27 Jay Turner-Cooke 77) 9 Will Harris
Subs:12 Nat Ford, 16 Jevon Mills, 20 Jack Jenkins, 29 Sean Tarima
Referee: Lewis Sandoe
Goals: Richardson 19, Sousa 67, Devonport 90 + 5
Yellow Cards: White 2, O’Connell 41
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 943 (49 away)
Boreham Wood 2 FC Halifax Town 1
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