Boreham Wood 2 Harrogate Town 4: Fine away showing seals a return to winning ways

Simon Weaver's team recovered from falling behind early on to record a 4-2 success, their first win in three following defeat to Leyon Orient and a home stalemate with Wrexham.

Town began the better of the sides so it was somewhat against the run of play when their hosts took a 10th-minute lead.

Kieran Murtagh’s corner fell for David Stephens inside the box and although his effort was blocked, the ball was drilled back in from the right by Murtagh where Gozie Ugwu stooped to net at the near post.

At the other end, re-called Harrogate striker Aaron Williams ran on to Jack Muldoon’s clever flick and forced a good save from Ryan Huddart before the men in yellow and black pulled level.

Nineteen minutes were on the clock when Joe Leesley cut in from the left to curl beautifully across goal where George Thomson climbed and hung majestically to send a header past the despairing dive of Huddart.

Wood looked a real threat from set-pieces throughout, and both Manny Smith and Jamal Fyfield used their height to good effect, going close with headers before the break.

There were no more goals before the half-time whistle, however the second period exploded into life when Williams was rewarded for an industrious performance, putting Town ahead six minutes after the resumption.

The ball cannoned off him and straight into the back of the home net as he charged down gloveman Huddart’s attempted clearance.

Town clearly smelt blood and, as they turned the screw, their third of the afternoon arrived.

Leesley turned defenders inside out on his way to the left byline before drilling a low cross to the far stick where Femi Ilesanmi was on hand to slice into his own goal.

The Londoners looked to be reeling at this point, but they got themselves back into the contest on the hour-mark courtesy of an absolute thunderbolt from the blue.

Ugwu got the better of Howe in midfield, running into space and then letting fly from 25 yards, his vicious strike swerving past Belshaw and almost breaking the net in the process.

That goal breathed new life into the home team, but any hopes of a comeback were ended by Jack Emmett’s 74th-minute stunner.

Picking the ball up 30 yards from goal, the first-half substitute glided past a defender and then planted an effort from just outside the area beyond Huddart with his weaker left foot.

Inevitably, Wood threw everything at their visitors in the closing stages, and the Harrogate defence had to dig in.

Only an excellent Belshaw parry at point-blank range stopped an unmarked Smith from handing Luke Garrard’s troops a late lifeline, though that was as close as they were to come.

Victory for Town keep them third in the table, just a single point behind new leaders, Salford City.