Boreham Wood 2-1 FC Halifax Town

Tobi Sho-Silva had given Town a 1-0 half-time lead, but The Shaymen succumbed to second-half goals from Kane Smith and Matt Rhead.

Pete Wild's side were full of energy and enthusiasm in a superb first-half, but slowed and faded after the interval as Boreham Wood fought back.

For 45 minutes, Town could dream. And based on that 45 minutes, rightly so.

But it wasn't to be, as Boreham Wood proved one hurdle too many.

Town fans can be proud of their team's efforts though, at Meadow Park and throughout the season.

Never mind a play-off eliminator, the game had the feel of a low-key pre-season friendly before kick-off, taking you back to Farsley just over a year ago.

Who'd have thought then that this was where Town's season would end up?

The Shaymen played with the same hunger and intensity that was so apparent in the early weeks of the campaign, snapping into tackles, closing down opponents and passing with purpose.

Town's positive attitude was led from the front by Sho-Silva, who leapt for flick-ons and, with strike partner Jamie Allen, chased down lost causes and harried defenders.

Kieran Murtagh and Mark Ricketts had decent chances for Boreham Wood, but the hosts didn't like how much Town were in their faces, making life difficult.

If they'd expected Halifax to sit back and soak up pressure, they were very much mistaken.

125 days on from Ebbsfleet, Town looked like they'd been counting down the days on a calendar.

Boreham Wood's defenders looked unsettled by Town's front-two, with some heated exchanges taking place between them after hesitancy on the ball and slack marking.

Halifax had the hosts rattled.

So much so that Jamal Fyfield badly misjudged a long ball, and Sho-Silva took full advantage by latching onto the ball ahead of keeper Grant Smith and finishing from close range.

Town were 70 minutes from Harrogate.

Top-scorer Kabongo Tshimanga brought a decent save from Sam Johnson low to his left, but Town's defence was far sturdier than Boreham Wood's flimsy construction, so progress from the hosts was limited.

Johnson again denied the dangerous Boreham Wood striker, this time from a tight angle, after Charlie Cooper had conceded possession cheaply.

But Boreham Wood failed to build a sustained spell of pressure.

Michael Duckworth, who looked fit and sharp, saw his free-kick saved at the second attempt by Grant Smith shortly before the break, while Sho-Silva turned and fired a rocket towards goal that Smith turned over brilliantly.

Even if every seat in the ground had been occupied, the anguished cries of centre-back Fyfield could still have been heard, as he lambasted his fellow defenders.

But such frustration summed up the home side's predicament.

Town were 45 minutes from Harrogate.

Tshimanga had looked a threat for Boreham Wood, but strike partner Matt Rhead was ineffective, while Town were simply quicker to the ball and more aggressive in the 50-50's all over the pitch.

Nathan Clarke was a reassuring figure of calmness and authority at the heart of the Town defence as the second-half started frantically, with neither team retaining the ball for too long.

Boreham Wood had begun to play with more urgency and attacking threat, but it looked nothing that Town couldn't handle, until the ball broke to Kane Smith on the edge of the box, and his deflected shot wrong-footed Johnson.

The hosts had a spring in their step, making good runs off the ball, getting players into dangerous areas and now had the momentum behind them.

Sorba Thomas was a constant threat down Boreham Wood's left flank, with the hosts getting joy in wide areas, pushing Town back.

The Shaymen weren't offering much going forward, and were starting to lose the 50-50's and second balls.

Tyrone Marsh stung the palms of Sam Johnson with a free-kick as Boreham Wood remained in the ascendancy.

By the time the second-half drinks break came round, Town were in need of it.

The Shaymen had disappeared as an attacking force, but were standing strong at the back, restricting Boreham Wood to shots from the edge of the box or further.

Jack Redshaw, Jack Earing and Jeff King were all brought on in an attempt to re-energise Town, but they were starting to look flat, seeing far less of the ball than in the first-half.

After Earing snuffed out one corner, the next saw a lovely delivery from Thomas and Rhead nodded home from six yards to complete the turnaround.

Town forced some last set-pieces, but never really had the hosts pinned back and never regained their attacking impetus.

Boreham Wood: G Smith, Ilesanmi, Ricketts, Fyfield, Champion, Thomas, Murtagh, K Smith, Marsh (Shaibu 87), Rhead, Tshimanga. Subs not used: Charles-Cook, Stephen's, Mingoia, Shakes, Yussuf.

Scorers: K Smith (54), Rhead (80)

Shots on target: 8

Shots off target:9

Corners:5

Halifax: Johnson, Maher, Brown, Clarke, Duckworth, Cooper, Staunton, Williams (J King 74), C King (Earing 74), Allen, Sho-Silva (Redshaw 63). Subs not used: Appleyard, Binnom-Williams, Nolan.

Scorer: Sho-Silva (19)

Shots on target: 3

Shots off target: 10

Corners: 4

Referee: Paul Howard

Town man of the match: Nathan Clarke