United 2
(Young 9′, Jay 41′)
Boreham Wood 2
(Abdulmalik 82′, Dixon 90+8′)
It finished all-square on Saturday, as Boreham came back from two goals down to snatch a late point at Plainmoor.
First-half strikes from Jordan Young and Matt Jay put United two goals up, and they held onto that lead for the majority of the second period. However after Abdul Abdulmalik pulled one back late on, Junior Dixon broke Yellow hearts with practically the last kick of the game to make it 2-2.
Paul Wotton made three changes to the starting eleven that drew with Weston-super-Mare in midweek, with Lirak Hasani, Offrande Zanzala and Will Jenkins Davies taking starting spots at the expense of Oscar Threlkeld, Cody Cooke and Omar Mussa.
United wasted little time in making their mark, and were ahead on nine minutes.
A misplaced pass from Wood’s Chris Bush was picked up on just outside the centre circle from Jay, and after ignored the cries of ‘shoot’ from the Plainmoor faithful, he instead opted to thread a delicious ball into Young inside the penalty area, with United’s No.8 applying the perfect finish by slipping the ball underneath the advancing Nathan Ashmore’s right arm.
1-0 to The Gulls.
Boreham responded with a decent period of their own, however despite enjoying plenty of the ball in and around the box, they were unable to seriously test Gulls stopper James Hamon.
Four minutes before the break, Torquay doubled their advantage.
A superb tackle from Jenkins Davies in the middle of the park saw Jay pick up possession and drive towards goal, before he drove an excellent placed right-footer into the bottom corner of the net to make it 2-0 form the edge of the box.
That was enough to see Wotton’s men two goals clear into the break for the second week running, although they would have been wary, following last weekend’s galling turnaround.
Following the resumption at the change of ends, Boreham missed early chances to halve the deficit, with the men in yellow in blue defending manfully thereafter as the visitors applied the pressure in a bid to get back into the match.
Jayden Richardson struck a post as Boreham knocked on the door, but up until the dying stages, Torquay’s backline appeared to have the measure of their opponents.
Sadly, just as there was seven days ago, there was to be another late, late sting in the tail.
Substitute Abdulmalik’s shot from distance appeared to have been hit in more than hope more than expectation, but when it hit the back of the net, it was suddenly game on.
As the game ticked into the final of seven added minutes, it looked as though Wotton’s side had done enough, but then, in the added time of added time, Wood struck again.
After Abdulmalik made one final burst down the left, a low ball was squared for Dixon, who duly fired home from eight yards to level things up.
Onto Chippenham.
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer (c) (16. Ed Palmer, 54′), 7. Lirak Hasani (2. Finley Craske, 57′), 8. Jordan Young (18. Oscar Threlkeld, 69′), 14. Matt Carson, 17. Offrande Zanzala (19. Cody Cooke, 70′), 20. Dan Hayfield, 22. Will Jenkins Davies (10. Omar Mussa, 87′), 26. Jordan Thomas, 27. Matt Jay.
Yellow Card: Dyer 55′
BOREHAM WOOD: 1. Nathan Ashmore (c), 3. Femi Ilesanmi (19. Erico Sousa,, HT), 5. Chris Bush, 7. Tom Whelan, 8. Mo Sagaf (20. Abdul Abdulmalik, HT), 11. Jon Benton, 12. Josh Hare, 14. Kwesi Appiah, 15. Charlie O’Connell (18. Junior Dixon, 70′), 26. Jayden Richardson, 32. Matt Rush.
SUBS NOT USED: 4. Jack Payne, 6. David Agbontohoma.
Attendance: 3,753 (85 away)