Boreham Wood 0

Dagenham & Redbridge 0

Ryman Premier Division

Next month Wood boss Bob Makin tackles the London Marathon for the second time in his life, and after a gruelling past fortnight, many of his players will be feeling that they too have suffered a similar test.

Last Saturday's table-topping battle with Dagenham was Wood's sixth match in 12 days, and the tiredness in mind and body was certainly apparent, especially in a first half ruled by the visitors.

Admittedly, the League and Full Members Cup defeats during the previous midweek were borne by a skeleton staff, but the Wood bones remained less than totally fleshed with the absence through injury of skipper Garry Nisbet (hamstring), Mark Brown (knee), and Steve Talboys (calf), as well as the suspended Alan McCarthy.

Considering those factors, Makin said: "We were without two of our usual back three, so therefore I felt we coped very well with Dagenham, although overall I think we were relieved when half time came.

"The wind was more of a factor than was apparent from the sidelines, and we looked to consolidate early on."

With only one win in their previous six league games, it was plain from their play that Dagenham can see their title hopes slipping away after having led the table throughout the autumn, and a tight opening phase saw them take a strong grip in midfield that strangled the service to Wood strikers Marshall and Samuels.

From here they launched wave after wave of yellow shirted attacks, pressing their hosts back onto the edge of their own area.

Dean Parratt, so often Wood's bete noir in the past, crashed one of his trademark 30-yard hammer blows against the crossbar in the 35th minute, and chipped over shortly afterwards, but the home defenders, bolstered by another industrious performance from Andy Prutton, held the line superbly.

A last ditch Dave Hatchett tackle foiled Danny Shipp after Steve Daly had lost possession, and it was not until the 43rd minute that Paul Gothard in the Daggers goal was extended, as he gathered Marshall's near post header.

Wood's second half showing was much better in the forward stakes, and twice Rob Hollingdale was provided with gilt edged chances to give them the lead. Firstly, he arrived late on the left side of the box onto Terry Robbins' 57th minute backheel, but seemed to scuff his shot, as did Steve Heffer with his follow up, enabling Tim Cole to block on the line.

Then, with little over a quarter of an hour to go, Prutton's wonderful crossfield pass put the winger in again in a similar position, but to no avail.

Wood introduced new signing Simon Ireland, an experienced midfielder released the day before by Doncaster, on the hour for an exhausted Dominic Grime, and he went close with a chance created by Samuels and Marshall, but ultimately both sides cancelled each other out.

It was the sixth meeting of the clubs in 16 months, and it was obvious that they knew each other very well.

Surprisingly for such a physical encounter, referee Wilkins saw fit to book only one from each side; Samuels for the hosts and former Wood man, John Nicholson, for the Daggers.

Makin said: "I am always disappointed when we don't win, but I thought the response from the players was magnificent, considering what they've gone through recently.

"Pruts (Andy Prutton) played 90 minutes on Tuesday, two hours on Thursday night, and another 90 minutes today, and Dominic Grime looked physically ill when we took him off.

"We're trying to get players back in to freshen things up a bit, but it seems we're losing them quickly."

He added: "There's no doubt we have the quality at the club, but have we got the stamina? It's all about character now."

League leaders Kingstonian await on Saturday.

WOOD: Taylor, Hatchett, Sewell, Robbins, Daly, Hollingdale, Grime (Ireland 60mins), Marshall, Heffer, Samuels, Prutton. Subs (not used): J Shaw, P Shaw.

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