League leaders Boreham Wood underlined their title credentials with a three goal victory over Hayes and Yeading United, thanks mainly to some impressive forward play from Matthew Whichelow and Lee Angol.
The opening stages featured lots of evenly matched sparring without any chances of real note for either side until Boreham Wood took the lead on the quarter hour mark. An under hit pass by Adam Everitt was intercepted by Whichelow and he ran purposefully towards the penalty area before feeding Wood top scorer Lee Angol right in front of goal who steered his curled effort into the corner of the net.
Soon afterwards, the hosts' pacy winger, Whichelow almost added a second, getting on the end of Graeme Montgomery's centre. However, Everitt atoned for his previous error by blocking what looked like a certain goal.
United responded positively. Ashleigh Artwell advanced menacingly through the right channel but was closed down before he could get a shot away. Then, Matty Harriott got United's first effort on target, a long shot which James Russell held comfortably.
On the half hour, Jordan Brown and Angol combined to give Whichelow another opportunity to shoot, which he took from 25 yards, but his rising shot was parried away by Calum Kitscha. Not long afterwards, his near post corner was flicked across the face of goal and wide by Callum Reynolds and then his in swinging free kick was headed clear from under the crossbar by Everitt.
Phil Babb made changes at half time with Artwell and Rhys Murrell-Williamson being replaced by Gary MacDonald and striker Nathan Elder, a new loan signing from Dover Athletic starting his second spell with the club. It had a positive effect as De'Reece Vanderhyde crossed for Elder but his header didn't have enough power to beat Russell. Wood went close soon afterwards but were denied by Kitscha's close range block from Luke Garrard's header following another dangerous free kick from Whichelow.
The home side doubled their advantage on 57 minutes. Junior Morias hit a fierce angled shot which Kitscha did well to keep out, but Angol retrieved the ball and returned the compliment for the first goal by teeing up Whichelow to apply a finish in the bottom corner.
With the league leaders two goals up, United needed to show that they weren't throwing the towel in, and showed just this as a long clearance was knocked down by Lewis Ferrell into Pat Cox's path and his volley was well controlled and directed, but straight into Russell's hands.
However, Wood were to go further in front on 74 minutes. An Angol free kick was blocked in the wall by Dean Inman but was done so by his elbow resulting in a penalty. Angol stepped up again and slotted the ball past Kitscha's left hand.
Ben Gerring bravely blocked another goalbound Angol effort and Montgomery headed well over from close range as the home side continued to carve out chances, but United struggled to get any foothold in the game and Boreham Wood were confirmed worthy winners.
Report by Nick Bell.
Photos by Ray Peploe.
United Man of the Match: Calum Kitscha.
Adam Everitt 
