Whyteleafe 0

Boreham Wood 1

Ryman League Division One

Wood made it a perfect ten at Church Road on Wednesday evening of last week, as John Lawford's 29th goal of the season pushed their winning run into double figures.

However, it was a victory that may have been achieved at a cost, as his 24th minute strike proved to be Lawford's last act of the evening, before being helped off the field two minutes later with a damaged hamstring.

This result all but ends the Leafe's promotion bid, but it was the Surrey side that made the majority of the early running.

Wood threatened in the 21st minute when a wonderful low cross from Otis Hutchings on the byeline found no takers as it flashed across the goalmouth.

But three minutes later the visitors notched the vital goal with a fine move and finish.

Gary Dixon fed Lee Harvey's charge forward on the right, and when the big defender's pass found Lawford on the edge of the box, Wood's leading marksman took one touch before smashing a low shot into the bottom corner.

Sadly he departed soon afterwards to be replaced by Youness Nabil, and Dixon had a good chance to double the lead, as he raced through onto Paul McKay's error but skied over.

Wood had to withstand a fair amount of home pressure after the break, but a combination of excellent defending in depth and some poor final balls from Whyteleafe preserved their advantage.

Nabil, Dixon, Engwell and Kelly went into fussy referee Durston's book as Wood dug in, whilst their forward ambitions were constantly frustrated by the home offside trap.

Boss Graham Roberts said afterwards: "This was a big win, but they're all big wins now. The lads have got the bit between their teeth, and they've battled through the last two weeks.

"We had a knock back before the game when Wayne Brown cried off with a calf strain, but we defended brilliantly under pressure tonight, and they didn't have a shot at (our) goal.

"The two lads in midfield (Meah and Hutchings) were awesome, and I think this result has all but got us promotion."

WOOD: Bonfield, Grime, Engwell, Wotton, Harvey, Paris, Meah, Hutchings, Lawford (Nabil 27), Dixon (Samuels 83), Delisser (Kelly 69).