Late Goal Drama Sees Boreham Wood Through Top Wembley

Luke Garrard`s impressive side overcame a Sutton United side who finished third in the regular season by the odd goal in five in another thrilling semi-final at Gander Green Lane.

In searing heat and in front of a packed house, it would have been hard to follow yesterday`s terrific tie at Prenton Park between Tranmere and Ebbsfleet United, but this one had almost as much excitement and drama, without the off-field antics at the end of the game!

Both sides made a cagey start and neither goalkeeper had much to do in the opening 20 minutes or so.

The on 34 minutes, Sutton`s Josh Taylor`s cross was pulled back by Tom Bolarinwa, but Harry Beautyman's shot ricocheted off Tommy Wright and wide of Grant Smith`s goal.

Slightly against the run of play though, Wood broke the deadlock when Angelo Balanta met a through ball in the area, twisted around his marker and struck it delicately into the bottom corner past Jamie Butler.

Then, 8 minutes into the second half, Scott Doe and Ross Lafayette both leapt for the ball at a free-kick from Bruno Andrade and it ended up in the back of the net, with Doe being credited with getting the final touch to make it 2-0.

Sutton tried hard to get back into the game but came up against a solid Wood defence.

However, 7 minutes from time, that defence was breached when Bolarinwa headed home a free-kick following a foul on sub Kieron Cadogan.

Five minutes later it was surely game over as Andrade crashed a free-kick against the crossbar, Butler failed to recover from his initial dive and Michael Folivi headed into the empty net.

But 2 minutes into 7 additional minutes added on at the end of the game, the U`s got themselves a second with a header from Lafayette.

And then in the last minute of stoppage time, Wood `keeper Grant Smith prevented extra-time with an incredible close-range block from a header from sub Byron Harrison.

That save helped take Boreham Wood to Wembley.