Match Report: Barnet 1-2 Boreham Wood

A first half Lee Ndlovu brace was enough to leave Boreham Wood victorious in the first National League play-off eliminator of the season.

Barnet pulled one back in the second period courtesy of the ever-reliable Harry Pritchard but they couldn't find the all-important second as their promotion hopes were dashed in front of a bumper home crowd.

Dean Brennan used the final day of the league campaign to rest key personnel and made nine changes from that XI here, only goalkeeper Laurie Walker and Dale Gorman, who played an hour, remaining.

Luke Garrard didn't have the luxury of resting players given they needed a point against already relegated Yeovil Town to secure their spot in these play-offs. Experience was the name of the game with Dion Kelly-Evans (DKE) and Will Evans returning to the starting XI in place of the injured Erico Sousa and youthful David Agbontohoma.

The hosts started the brighter, Barnet playing with a high tempo early on leading to a number of set-pieces. However, the best they had to show for it were wayward or deflected headers.

Boreham Wood weren't so forgiving. Chris Bush was given time to pick a crossfield pass to Ndlovu who controlled and forced Finley Potter into his area. The youngster failed to commit and Ndlovu cheekily rolled the ball between his legs and into the net.

Femi Ilesanmi had an effort on goal that was easily saved before Barnet stepped up again. Pritchard's speculative volley landed on top of the net, Harry Smith headed wide of the post and Idris Kanu forced a top save from the partially-fit Nathan Ashmore.

The killer blow came in first half stoppage time. Ilesanmi got the better of Jordan Cropper with ease and bore down on the Barnet box under little pressure. He was able to pick out Ndlovu who dropped off his marker and hit the post before finishing the rebound.

Barnet started the second half like a team that knew they had 45 minutes left to save their season and they were rewarded quickly, Nathan Ashmore unable to punch clear under pressure which allowed Jerome Okimo to tee up Pritchard from 12 yards.

Big moments came soon after, Pritchard seeing his effort from the edge of the box blocked before a brilliant Potter delivery was perfect for Smith, only for Ilesanmi to make a vital interception at the back post.

Later on, Kanu skipped inside and crossed for Nicke Kabamba who headed wide at the back stick. Kanu was enjoying himself and forced another good stop from Ashmore before blazing over Ryan De Havilland (RDH) cross.

Garrard knew his side were under pressure and added the vastly experienced Mark Ricketts to the mix. The tempo slowed down. The Wood managed things brilliantly with a Collinge header all Barnet really had to show for amount of play they had in the final 15 minutes. At the other end, substitute Danny Newton and Jack Payne couldn't find the target.

Experience shone and Boreham Wood were able to book their place in the semi-final where they face the small matter of a trip to Meadow Lane.

Barnet: Walker; Collinge Okimo Potter (Beard); Cropper (Armstrong) Gorman (Senior) Pritchard Kanu; RDH; Kabamba Smith. Unused: Hall Moyo.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore; Evans Fyfield Bush; DKE (Agbontohoma) Broadbent Payne Ilesanmi; Brunt (Ricketts); Ndlovu Marsh (Newton). Unused: Rees Lewis.

Tactics

Boreham Wood are what they are. They lined up 3-4-1-2 / 3-5-2 with the intention of ensuring they had a man spare defensively and Barnet had fewer options to play from the back.

Barnet were more fluid and happy to change things up. They started 3-4-1-2 with what looked like Okimo in the heart of the back three but moved to 4-2-3-1 with Okimo moving to left back, Kanu staying high and De Havilland moving to the right. After half time, they returned to an asymmetric 3-5-2 with Kanu high, Potter on the left side of the three and RDH, then Armstrong just ahead of Pritchard and Gorman.

Boreham Wood had a structured game plan that brought joy out of possession first half. Ndlovu and Marsh sat on the wide centre backs with Brunt on Gorman. This left Potter or Okimo free but when Gorman dropped in to show, Brunt would both cut the pass to Gorman and close in on the centre back with the strikers doing the same.

Ilesanmi and DKE were close to the Barnet wing-backs, Bush stepped up to tackle RDH which left Fyfield, Evans and Payne against Smith and Kabamba. Barnet often found themselves going long to Kabamba or Smith and playing for knockdowns or trying to thread a pass through the lines which would be cut out thanks to Boreham Wood's superior numbers.

Going the other way, Boreham Wood had no ambition to play out. Every pass went forward and if an attacking player couldn't play forward, they would hold up possession and lay the ball off so the next pass went forward into a runner. What they did do well was put almost everything down the sides of Barnet's back three, do Ndlovu and Marsh could battle 1 v 1 and chase before others ran forward in support. Very rarely, for most of the game at least, did Boreham Wood allow themselves to get caught in central areas and give Barnet the breaks they wanted.

Brennan changed it up at half time, as noted above. It became a battle of wits and bravery. Most notably, Gorman and Pritchard started rotating and taking their man-markers backwards, which opened space for the other and Okimo to play through the centre of the pitch. This created open space in central areas that would force Boreham Wood to step out, then creating space for others so they could in wide areas, particularly Kanu. It led to more set-pieces and crosses from dangerous areas, ensuring the visitors had to defend in numbers and clear lines, often to nobody.

At the other end, Boreham Wood were too hurried. When Ndlovu, Marsh or Brunt did receive the ball in the final third, they tried to make something happen as soon as possible, often leading to crosses to nobody or before players were set.

Luke Garrard did make an important change. Mark Ricketts replaced Brunt for the final 15 minutes and solidified Wood both aerially and on seconds, providing fresh legs and calmness in midfield.

Who impressed?

I thought this was a game where experience showed.

Femi Ilesanmi was excellent down the left, winning what felt like every battle, driving the team forward and playing a huge role in the second. The back three of Jamal Fyfield, Will Evans and Chris Bush stood up to be counted. Jack Payne showed his nous ahead of them while Lee Ndlovu not only scored both goals but didn't give the Barnet back line a moment's peace.

For Barnet, I thought Okimo was the calm head, the one to step out and just do the right things with the ball. Credit to Idris Kanu too - he took a number of blows during the game but kept getting back up and going again. If anybody was going to make the difference on the night, it was him.

Anything else?

Referenced above but Kanu foul watch was fun. DKE and Marsh were both booked for scything him down.

Nathan Ashmore. Injured early on. Couldn't walk. Had to kick with his left boot. Still pulled off two huge saves and helped his side deal with a barrage of set-pieces, crosses and long throws.

Wrapping it up...

Firstly, Barnet. They shouldn't be too disheartened by last night. It's never fun losing a play-off game, especially to local rivals, but on reflection, I suspect many will see the bigger picture and appreciate where they've gotten to.

Barnet have been in the doldrums for a while now. Bad decisions have cost them over and over but in Brennan, they have a man who knows what he wants, is decisive in how he goes about and has got backing from his chairman to make big changes and keep making changes when necessary.

This result will be a blow but I would be surprised if Brennan didn't already have a plan lined up for who and want he wants heading into next season.

For Boreham Wood, it's always a big achievement for them to make the top 7 and they showed everything Luke Garrard and his team are about on the night - not flashy but structured and know how to get over the line.

They face the toughest test of all next, an away trip to Notts County. Yet, they know they can go there without fear. Almost nobody expects them to get a result and that will be fuel to drive them on and prove people wrong.

For now, they've made the play-offs on final day, won their eliminator and finally got one over Barnet in the process. Whatever happens now, they should enjoy it.