Boreham Wood 0-1 Kingstonian
PLAYOFFS, KNOCK ON WOOD

Kingstonian's fine away form continued with a 1-0 win at Boreham Wood in a game of, unusually for Ks, few chances. To call it smash and grab would be harsh - the home side barely tested Luke Garrard any more than Ks tested opposing number one Tony Tucker - but it was a tight contest decided by a penalty decision that would surely have infuriated the home side.

The win elevated Kingstonian to third in the league, quite remarkable considering that their goal difference remains negative and they have the worst defensive record in the league. Ks' defensive shortcomings may be turning around on last night's evidence though, with Alan Dowson quite rightly picking his back three out for praise after an impressive nullification of Wood's offence.

Wood's Jamie Richards was the first to have a chance, heading over the bar on five minutes, while shortly afterwards Bobby Traynor volleyed a Christian Jolley cross wide with an uncharacteristic lack of confidence. Ks, playing a 5-4-1-come-3-4-3, with Jolley and Lewis Cook supporting Bobby Traynor in attack, looked solid at the back but shorn of the injured Dean Lodge, struggled to find creative impetus. Tucker saved a weak Simon Huckle header with ease, while two minutes later Garrard used his legs to make a fine save.

Garrard denied Richards again on 30 minutes, parrying out his twenty-yarder and pouncing on the rebound before anyone in a white shirt. The few minutes before half time provided the biggest flurry of activity in the whole game, but Jolley fired wide for Ks and Huckle had another effort saved, while for Boreham Wood Dean Green presented Garrard with an easy save from a free header before the goalkeeper made a better save just before the break.

Chances in the second half were even sparser than in the first. Traynor fired a free kick over and wide for Ks, while Wood defender Marvin Samuel did superbly to deny Jolley after a Cook cross left him with a golden chance. Garrard's goal was also threatened, but Richards fired a chance wide and Ryan Moran gave him a simple save.

Not for the first time this season, a Dowson substitution reaped almost immediate benefits, ten minutes from time. Carl Wilson-Denis was introduced, and his first contribution was an attempted cross that Ryan Kirby blocked with his hand. It was almost certainly ball-to-hand and was overlooked (or perhaps missed) by the referee, but the linesman flagged to give Ks yet another penalty this season. Whether it was deliberate enough to warrant a penalty is debateable but the referee, who had irritated the Ks fans all game, eventually pointed to the spot. For the seventh time this season, Traynor converted and although Boreham Wood bossed the last ten minutes, Ks defended resolutely and regained their spot in the playoff places.