The Immediate Return - Logan Rankin

 A cruel relegation last term, into a commanding play-off campaign. 49 league games across the season, how quite did Boreham Wood make an immediate comeback in spite of their relegation?

23/24 was heart wrenching for Boreham, as they finished in 21st, 1 point away from safety. York just about scraped survival. Boreham were massively  underwhelming for the most part of their last campaign only amounting 52 points. Despite their  relegation to the Nation League South, they managed to retain key players in Nathan Ashmore, Charles Clayden, and Mo Sagaf. 3 players perfectly capable of preforming in the division above decided to stay true and loyal to their club and stay on for 24/25.

It was an eventful start for Boreham as they failed to lose in their opening 4 games - until they fell victim to a 2-1 defeat to Salisbury where Raynner Silva and Craig Fasanmade's goals were enough to send Wood into desperation despite opening the scoring with a penalty scored by Erico Sousa. Boreham would soon hammer relegated Welling United 6-0 with Kwesi Appiah taking the spotlight, grabbing player of the match. In November, they would only lose 1 game to fellow promotion foes, Eastbourne Borough 2-1, and continuing they winning streak until late January. Boreham Wood would end their final 5 games scoring 17 goals, and in their penultimate game, putting 4 past Enfield Town. Now they would have to be ready for the play-offs. The Wood took the lead in the play-off quarter-final against Dorking Wanderers with Erico Sousa, Dorking would comeback and grab 3 with Jason Prior and 2 own goals giving Dorking a 2 goal cushion with 10 minutes left to play. With only 2 minutes gone, Abdul Abdulmalik gave The Wood fans hope with a gave that gave Boreham to hang on to. And now? There was belief. With the seconds ticking away Meadow Park waited. And waited. Cameron Coxe would grab an equaliser in the 89th minute to put things all square against a 10 man Dorking Wanderers side. Six minutes added. Watching the in real time or TV, you would've assumed that it was going to extra time , but it was a moment of brilliance when Oluwafemi Ilesanmi lashed the ball on the edge of the box and soared past Harrison Foulkes in the 90+6th minute and with the last kick of the game. The next Boreham challenge would be Torquay away. That game wouldn't be as great as the comeback at Meadow Park but none-the-less a thrilling game to the neutral eye. Matt Rush would get the goal to send  Boreham Wood to the play-off final where they would face Maidstone United. Ashmore seemed to be a live spark denying many Stones' players to preserve his cleansheet. Charles Clayden had his moment as part of The Wood as he drew first blood, minutes after the second half began. Kwesi Appiah had a golden chance to win it for Boreham but his header was angled into the hands of Alexis Andre Jr. That would be that. Boreham Wood would be promoted back to the Vanarama National League at the first time of asking.

Kwesi Appiah, Matt Rush, and Nathan Ashmore were key reasons for Boreham's promotion success - Appiah netted 22 goals, and Rush snatching 13. Ashmore was key in the promotion final, and in the other 48 games within their season.

With an immediate return to the Nation League for Boreham Wood, they will have to improve and prepare for the harsh realities of the National League. More derbies, better opponents, and a whole new life for The Wood.