MATCH VERDICT: Boreham Wood 0-0 FC Halifax Town

85 days after Town's heartbreaking play-off defeat at Meadow Park, it was a different team that returned seeking partial revenge.

It was a physically demanding ending to a physically demanding week, but The Shaymen came away with a creditable result against a side who are fancied to be play-off contenders once again.

Halifax had the better chances, and had they been a tad more clinical, could easily have come away with a win.

The first-half back in July belonged to Town and there were early signs it would be the same again as Town won a corner in the first 30 seconds, and a few minutes later, Jeff King's shot was parried behind by Nathan Ashmore after an error in defence by Femi Ilesanmi.

Boreham Wood seemed a little more rushed in possession, but Town looked cool and calm on the ball.

There was a delightful one-two between Luke Summerfield and Jack Earing, who again looked bright and lively, before Summerfield fired narrowly over from 20 yards.

Town had more finesse about their play, more lay-offs and inter-play, whereas Boreham Wood struggled to keep the ball inside the Halifax half, although Shaquile Coulthirst squandered a good chance by heading off target from a free-kick.

Both teams' preference was to play out from the back, but Town's aggressive pressing made Boreham Wood's defenders uncomfortable.

This was evidenced when Jack Earing caught the hosts dawdling at the back and darted towards goal, but the free-kick and subsequent punishment Halifax wanted for the alleged foul by Jamal Fyfield was not forthcoming.

Time and again, the home side lost possession playing out from the back, they couldn't see the Wood for the squeeze, and lacked the imagination to hurt Town in other ways, with Halifax's back three standing firm.

The Shaymen just needed to stay composed, and look to the pace of Jamie Allen and the movement and touch of Earing.

Town's work rate couldn't be faulted, as players funneled back, made up lost ground and were quick to close their opponents down.

Boreham Wood were restricted to very few chances; the only frustration was that Allen and Gold Omotayo too had seen little of the ball inside the box.

The closest either side came was when Kieran Green hit the woodwork after making space with a good touch out of his feet, but his shot from 25 yards out was magnificently tipped onto the post by Ashmore.

Had that gone in, it would have been a fair reward for 45 minutes' good work from Pete Wild's team.

King, getting forward well all game right from that early shot he had saved, was doing so again after the break, and fired wide across goal cutting in on his left foot.

King and Allen down the right flank were Town's best outlet, possession the pace and close control to penetrate the hosts' defence, which continued to look that bit more vulnerable than Halifax's.

Again the pace of Allen got him time and space on the ball as he burst onto a drilled pass upfield, but his clever cut-back was skied over the bar from Omotayo near the penalty spot.

That was a rare chance as the game edge towards next-goal-wins territory, with Town becoming a bit more sloppy and both teams playing it long more often, playing the percentages, taking fewer risks.

Halifax seemed to be tiring too after a busy opening week, and were relinquishing possession too cheaply and too often.

Sobra Thomas was Boreham Wood's best outlet down their left side, prompting the introduction of Niall Maher to help keep him quiet.

He and Kieran Murtagh had tame efforts on target as the hosts sensed a winner, but the sides couldn't be separated.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Champion, Fyfield, Ilesanmi, Ricketts, Mingoia (Whitely 53), Murtagh (Mafuta 90), Thomas, Smith, Coulthirst (Rhead 53), Tshimanga. Subs not used: Stephens, Francis-Angol

Shots on target: 2

Shots off target: 8

Corners: 4

Halifax: Johnson, Byrne, Clarke, Bradbury, King (Maher 84), Williams (Senior 70), Green, Summerfield, Earing, Allen, Omotayo (Woods 66). Subs not used: Davison-Hale, Nepomuceno.

Shots on target: 3

Shots off target: 10

Corners: 7

Referee: Ryan Atkin

Town man of the match: Jeff King - full of energy up and down the right flank, worked hard to cover his defensive responsibilities, and was a threat going forward