Boreham Wood 2

Stevenage Borough 0

Pre-season Friendly

Watched by former bosses Phil Wallace and Bob Makin, Wood turned on a super show on Tuesday evening at Meadow Park, to send their new expensively assembled charges unceremoniously back up the A1.

This may be a victory with nothing but pride at stake; but that will matter little to Wood fans on what proved to be a very enjoyable night for them.

As with any jilted lover, Wood set about Wallace's new beau with a vengeance, despite the fact that only Dominic Grime remains from the playing staff of that bygone era.

On an immaculate surface, Stevenage's Conference-honed sharpness and crisp inter-passing gave them early inroads into the Wood backline, but without creating any clear openings. Superbly marshalled by the experienced Alan Paris and Andy Polston, and ably assisted by another fine showing from Neil Baker, the home defence stood firm, and the evening developed an edge very quickly that had little to do with anything 'friendly'.

Former Woking striker Darren Hay went closest for the visitors, as his 25th-minute curler was clawed over by Noel Imber; but Wood had their opportunities too, as Paul Wilkerson had to beat out a fierce drive from Carl Levene.

Unfortunately, it was one of the powerful midfielder's last actions, as he was forced off the field following a tackle by Ryan Kirby, that could make him doubtful for the start of the league campaign.

The visitors made eight changes at half-time, and Wood capitalised on some poor defending as they went ahead 12 minutes after the break.

Kieren Adams' innocuous looking through ball was totally misjudged by Borough sub Dave Reddington, and Neil Selby ran through to finish confidently.

Brilliant work on the left by Andre Delisser, shortly afterwards, set up John Lawford for an effort that was pushed over by Chris Taylor, but Wood's leading marksman did not have long to wait to get on the score-sheet, as he headed home Dominic Grime's neat 68th-minute cross from the right.

Imber gathered Browne's shot, and Reddington flashed a header wide, but this was Wood at their best; and if they can reproduce this sort of form when the real stuff comes along, their stay in division one will be a brief one.

Manager Colin Payne said afterwards: 'It was an excellent show from the boys tonight ,, they are now fit and playing with confidence.

'Some of our passing was great, and although Stevenage changed their side at half-time, they replaced them with more first teamers.

'Sure they have got some injuries, but so have we; and I thought our spirit tonight was epitomised by 36-year-old Alan Paris, who stretched to make a wonderful tackle in the 89th-minute ,, that is the commitment I want to see this season.'

Makin, the last manager to lead the club to promotion, said: 'I thought Wood played well, and hopefully they will have the players here now that can get them back up.'

WOOD: Imber, Grime, Polston, (Tilbury, 87 mins), Baker, (S Hart, 80), Paris, Kelly, (Clarke, 87), Delisser, (Savage, 78), Hutchings, Lawford, (Talbot, 78), Selby, (Mills, 78), Levene, (Adams, 38). Subs (not used): A Hart, Leach.

STEVENAGE: Wilkerson, Kirby, Bunce, Smith, Miller, Graham, Way, Wraight, Nyamah, Hay, Illman. Subs: Taylor, Hockton, Reddington, Trott, Duckett, Armstrong, Abbott, Browne.