Boreham Wood 2-4 Bromley

In what was a very entertaining game Bromley took a 4-1 lead into the interval, as they accepted most of the chances that came their way.

The hosts squandered several chances, particularly in the opening stages of the match, when Bromley seemed to be disorganised.

Elliott Godfrey produced a fine save out of Jamie Butler with his shot on the turn after five minutes and from the resultant corner, Luke Garrard scooped over the bar from close range.

Ryan Dolby broke clear five minutes later only to be denied by former Lillies stopper Gareth Williams, who was quickly off his line to smother at his feet.

James Hawes headed over an open goal, following a poor clearance by Jerrome Sobers, but it was Bromley who opened the scoring on 19 minutes. A long free-kick by Tony Finn rebounded off the chest of Williams and Sobers headed into an empty net.

Godfrey missed a great chance to level before Bromley increased their lead on 25 minutes when another free-kick was taken by Butler and headed on by Paul Vines to Nic McDonnell, who calmly sidestepped an exposed Williams before tapping home.

Boreham Wood reduced the arrears four minutes later from another free-kick. Following a cross from the left, Godfrey shot from the edge of the area but was caught by John Scarborough and Mario Noto curled the free-kick around the wall into the corner of the net.

The visitors restored their two-goal advantage on 35 minutes from yet another free-kick. Dolby was upended on the left touchline and Finn’s 40 yard shot went through a crowd of players and into the far corner of the net.

McDonnell was fouled by Ryan Kirby on the opposite touchline five minutes later and Dolby’s low shot deceived Williams as McDonnell ran across the keeper to make it 4-1.

All five first half goals had come as a direct result of free-kicks.

Dolby should have done better on 45 minutes when he shot over from a central position after a 30-yard run by Finn in which he wrong-footed two defenders.

Deep into first half stoppage time Vines broke clear but was pulled back by Kirkby in the area. Surprisingly Kirkby was only shown a yellow card by a lenient official and, for the second successive match, McDonnell’s poor spot kick was easily saved by Williams.

The second half was played in torrential rain and, as the half progressed, the pitch became littered with puddles, especially down the right hand side which Bromley were defending.

Boreham Wood made two changes at the interval and one of these, Junior Dadson, saw his 48th minute effort cleared off the line by Scarborough.

It was the substitute who contributed to the home side’s second goal on 58 minutes when he broke clear before running along the byeline and squaring back to Greg Morgan, who calmly picked his spot with a crisp finish.

Boreham Wood continued to call the tune and Morgan outpaced Harrison Dunk before crossing to Sherwin Stanley at the near post, where Butler denied the winger with a point blank save.

The Bromley goalkeeper was on hand to brilliantly tip over Noto’s looping long range shot on 79 minutes.

Boreham Wood were reduced to 10 men with five minutes remaining when Noto was shown his second yellow card for a two-footed tackle on Wes Daly.

As the game came to an end, Williams denied Warren McBean and Butler saved well at the near post to thwart Morgan.

Bromley: Butler, Graves, Dunk, Daly, Scarborough, Sobers, Finn, Henriques (Ibrahima 64), Vines, McDonnell (McBean 64), Dolby. Subs not used: Fray, Boyle, Jones. Att: 199.