BOREHAM WD 1, ALDERSHOT TN 1

NEVER underestimate the value of a point. Three days after Saturday’s frustrations at not beating Chester came a far more optimistic stalemate for Aldershot as they overcame injury, illness and a robust Boreham Wood side to stretch their unbeaten National League run to five matches.

Matt McClure’s equaliser snatched a draw for a team shorn of Liam Bellamy (achilles tendon) and Bernard Mensah (tonsillitis) before kick-off, and Shamir Fenelon during the first half to a stomach bug which also afflicted Iffy Allen.

The Shots, in the circumstances, showed admirable strength and resolve in refusing to be beaten.

There were even chances to win the game and manager Gary Waddock admitted: “All things said and done, it’s a really good point away from home. It was always going to be a tight and cagey affair. I thought we dominated the second half, but Boreham Wood are a good side. They’re a handful and they have certain way of playing which in the first half caused us problems.”

Joe Devera guided a free header wide in just the sixth minute as Wood make a typically physical and pacy start. Kenny Davis then sliced an eight-yard shot over the bar on 17 minutes.

Crucially, however, Aldershot were matching the hosts for work-rate and intensity as two solid defences stood their ground.

McClure had fired an early chance of his own wide and the best opportunity of the half came Aldershot’s way on 44 minutes. Anthony Straker and Jake Gallagher combined down the left and the resulting cross was perfect for McClure who put his free header straight into Grant Smith’s arms.

Two chances also fell to McClure early in the second half. An angled snap shot was well parried and a volley flew inches wide. In between, debutant Dion Conroy – on loan from Chelsea – also drew a strong save from Smith.

Soon, however, the marauding Morgan Ferrier took control for Boreham Wood. He was profligate with his first opportunity, racing clear of the defence but failing to find the net, and made a hash of a carbon-copy chance within two minutes. In between, Jake Cole pulled off a superb save to deny Connor Clifford.

Finally, on 63 minutes, Ferrier did put Wood in front, slotting the ball into the net after hesitant defending presented him with a gift.

“Can you explain to me what happened, how they got in?” asked Waddock of his players, “because it was a warning just before that. We were in good possession and then the ball ends up in the back of our net.”

The lead, though, lasted barely 180 seconds. The impudent Iffy Allen skipped into the box and chipped over a deep cross. Josh Wakefield drove the ball back into the middle and McClure’s deft flick restored parity.

Charlie Walker, returning from eight weeks out with an ankle injury, came off the bench and briefly the Shots sensed a comeback victory.

But Boreham Wood were themselves a resurgent force in the late stages. Ferrier snatched at a shot and put the ball over the top and Cole made another fine save to deny Angelo Balanta.

Both sides pressed for a winner and Scott Rendell seemed certain to snatch it in the fifth minute of stoppage time, only for his three-yard header from Straker’s teasing cross to be inadvertently deflected wide by a defender’s back.

Ultimately, though, Aldershot were happy to settle for their second draw of the week.

Boreham Wood: Smith; Woodards, Devera, Paine, Jeffrey (Uchechi 63); Davis, Ricketts, Clifford (Kuhl 90); Ferrier, Balanta, Ilesanmi. Subs (not used): Nunn, Boal, Murrell-Williamson. Booked: Ferrier, Clifford, Woodards.

Aldershot: Cole; Alexander, Evans, Reynolds, Straker; Fenelon (Rendell 39), Conroy, Wakefield (Walker 71), Gallagher, Allen; McClure. Subs (not used): Arnold, Saville, Smith. Booked: Evans, Conroy, Gallagher.

Referee: Neil Hair.

Attendance: 544 (274 away).

This Saturday, Aldershot are away to Southport who remain second from bottom, with only one win in 10 games, after their 4-1 home defeat to Barrow on Tuesday.