Razzaq Coleman De-Graft gave the home side a deserved half-time lead with a well-struck volley, before National League top scorer Matt Rush added to his tally to level proceedings after the break. Danny Cashman’s subsequent brace would prove too much for the Reds to contend with, despite Coleman De-Graft netting a second goal late on from the penalty spot.
Two suspensions and a short turnaround from Friday night’s 3-2 defeat away at Tamworth forced Adam Hinshelwood into a number of changes to the Worthing starting line-up.
Remiero Moulton and debutant Ashley Nathaniel-George joined the supporting cast behind Jose Marquez up front, who was handed a first start following his goalscoring appearance in Staffordshire.
In midfield, Sam Packham made his inaugural start of the league campaign alongside Ricky Aguiar, while the defensive unit remained unchanged.
The opening period of play saw the home side take a slight edge in possession over last season’s play-off finalists, yet besides Aguiar’s long distance effort just passed the quarter of an hour mark, any attacking phases were upended through a lack of connectivity on the Rebels’ behalf.
That was until the 22nd minute when the hosts’ first real inroad into the opposition penalty area produced a finely-crafted opener, executed courtesy of Coleman De-Graft’s second National League goal of the season.
Recycling play from right to left, an incisive pass from Jayden Moore allowed Cory Adjetey-Brew to size up a low delivery from the left side of the box. On the receiving end at the penalty spot was Coleman De-Graft, who swept home on his weaker side at the second time of asking after his initial effort was blocked.
Continued Worthing pressure following the first goal nearly conjured a second just before the half hour mark. A free-kick in a central position, 30 yards out, invited an effort on goal from Aguiar, whose dipping strike looked destined for the top corner had it not been for a diving stop by Boreham Wood ‘keeper Luca Gunter.
Luke Garrard’s visitors arrived on the South Coast as joint top scorers in the division through the first four games, and eventually responded with attempts of their own in the minutes after going behind.
A blocked effort from outside the box bounced ahead of Regan Booty, whose half-volleyed strike arched just over the bar with Rebels stopper Taylor Seymour scrambling across goal to meet it.
The second half began in similar fashion to the first, with the game contested largely in the middle third preventing substantial chances from materialising at both ends. Good work from Aguiar and Packham to break up play in midfield allowed the Reds several chances to look ahead on the counter, Worthing’s defence had coped sufficiently with the threat posed by the Wood attacking front for the first hour of action, however a momentary lapse at the back proved costly with 61 minutes on the clock.
The league’s leading marksman, Rush showed predatory instincts to latch onto a ball between the hosts’ centre back partnership before slotting a composed finish past Seymour.
Rush came close to single-handedly overturning the deficit for the visitors only minutes after coming up with the equaliser. A similar scenario to the leveller; narrow build-up from the away side sent the forward through one-on-one with Seymour, however the Worthing ‘keeper was equal to the effort on this occasion.
The equalising goal sent Boreham Wood firmly in the ascendancy, with the home side forced further and further back into their own half as the minutes progressed. Renewed intensity from Garrard’s side would prove too much for the Rebels to deal with, as the Hertfordshire outfit went on to complete the comeback with less than ten minutes to play.
A pass played beyond the Worthing backline initially looked to set up for Rush to take on the strike, yet the ball would set up kindly ahead of Cashman, whose side-footed strike on his left foot nestled into Seymour’s bottom left corner.
Cashman’s influence on proceedings did not end there, as the former Rebel capitalised on the hosts’ skewed defensive shape to notch a brace for the afternoon. Building up down the left hand side, the ball landed at the foot of the Brighton & Hove Albion academy product, who steered infield before firing a clinical strike across goal to double the Wood advantage.
Restored hope for the home contingent was provided on the stroke of 90 minutes after substitute Wiktor Makowski won a penalty with his first involvement since after entering the field ten minutes from time.
Up stepped Coleman De-Graft from the spot, who coolly picked out the bottom right corner to set up one final push from the Rebels entering added time.
Boreham Wood’s second half blitz would prove too strong for Worthing to overcome, as the travelling side left Woodside Road with all three points following a disappointing turnaround from the hosts’ half-time lead.
Originally published by Worthing FC ↗