BOREHAM WOOD 2, ALDERSHOT TN 1

ALDERSHOT Town’s unbeaten start to the National League season was deservedly ended by Boreham Wood who could have won by a greater margin.

Gary Waddock criticised his side’s work-rate after they were swept aside in the first half by a Wood team enjoying their best 45 minutes of the season.

The two goals may have been, respectively, controversial and fortuitous, but there was no doubt that the hosts were good value for the victory.

Although Cheye Alexander’s spectacular strike five minutes after the break narrowed the deficit, Aldershot could have no complaints about their first loss in five games.

“We were beaten by the better team today,” admitted Waddock, who consulted the results of his players’ GPS trackers before continuing: “Our work-rate wasn’t anywhere near what we need to give ourselves a chance in a game. We didn’t harry or pressurise them enough.

“Credit to Boreham Wood for their performance, but we didn’t play anywhere near the levels we have been playing at and the scoreline suggests that. They did their homework on us and tried to stop us playing, but you have to find another way to win and we didn’t do that.”

Certainly, Boreham Wood were too quick, strong and dynamic during the first half and, had they not spent much of the half frustrated by the assistant referee’s offside flag, could have plundered more than the two goals.

Jake Cole and his defence repelled a double chance for Angelo Balanta and Kane Smith, but on 26 minutes Balanta’s quickly-taken free-kick sent Bruno Andrade racing through to beat Cole from an acute angle.

Waddock’s argument that referee Simon Barrow was still talking to a Shots player while the kick was taken behind his back, fell on deaf ears.

Cole then superbly tipped Shaun Jeffers’ shot around the post, but knew very little about the second goal on 39 minutes.

Andrade’s agility won a free-kick inches outside the penalty area and when his shot was blasted into the wall, it ricocheted off Jeffers and past a wrong-footed Cole.

Will de Havilland’s looping header hit the crossbar before the break and, following the introduction of Shaun Okojie and Jim Kellermann, a resurgent Aldershot pulled one back in the 50th minute as Alexander’s stunning 25-yard drive arrowed into the top corner.

It proved a false dawn, though, as, for all of the Shots’ renewed purpose and momentum, they never truly tested Grant Smith for the remainder of the game.

Conversely, Cole had to parry Balanta’s effort seconds after the goal and then a shot from former QPR midfielder Andrade crashed off the post as Wood continued to craft the best chances.

Aldershot were never totally out of the game and in the 96th minute, goalkeeper Cole lent his weight to a corner in the opposing penalty area – but an equaliser would have been unjust.

Ten points from their first four matches suggested the Shots are more than capable of challenging for promotion, but this defeat proved they cannot allow either their standards or energy levels to slip if they are to sustain a push for the play-offs.

Boreham Wood: G Smith; Champion, Stephens, Turley (Woodards 87); K Smith, Murtagh, Balanta, Ricketts, Shakes; Andrade (Benson 74), Jeffers. Subs (not used): Johnson, Sach, Keita.

Aldershot: Cole; Alexander, de Havilland, Reynolds, Arnold; Gallagher (Arthur 71), Oyeleke; Fenelon, Rowe, Taylor (Okojie 46); McClure (Kellermann 46). Subs (not used): Lyons-Foster, M Smith.

Referee: Simon Barrow.

Attendance: 809 (462 away).

• Aldershot are home to Chester this Saturday. On Bank Holiday Monday, they visit Hampshire rivals Eastleigh.