Hartlepool United suffered their third defeat in a row as Boreham Wood ran out 1-0 winners at Meadow Lane. Lee Ndlovu’s strike was the difference in an entertaining affair.

Pools started the game well, with early chances for Dieseruvwe and Crawford both calling Ashmore into action. Another chance for the latter came and went a few minutes later, but a sliding block from Billy Sass-Davies ensured that the ‘keeper was untroubled.

At the other end, Wood pushed and probed, and they thought they’d taken the lead in the 24th minute. A cross found Marsh in space and although his header hit the back of the net, the flag was up for offside.

A Crawford cross evaded Dieseruvwe as the half wore on and Ndlovu dragged a shot across the face of goal, but the first half ended goalless.

In the second half, both sides looked to press on, and it was Wood with the first sight of goal. A low strike from Sousa looked dangerous for a moment, but it finished well wide of Jameson’s left-hand post.

Straight up the other end, Pools fashioned a chance of their own. Umerah held the ball up well and found Featherstone who, in turn, found Crawford. The shot was well struck, but Ashmore was able to gather at the second attempt.

Joe Grey came on in place of Finney with 20 minutes to go, and the substitute almost fashioned a chance immediately. Great persistence and quick feet down the right, but his low cross was well cleared by the defenders. A chance moments later fell Crawford’s way, but a well-timed tackle saw the ball go behind.

With Pools seemingly in the ascendancy, it was Boreham Wood that got the breakthrough. Ndlovu got the better of Onariase for the first time of the evening, and his strike beat Jameson to give the hosts the lead.

After the goal, it got even worse for Pools. First, Tom Crawford went down off the ball and needed to be replaced, and then Umerah also pulled up with a knock. Askey had already made his three changes, so the forward could only carry on.

With nine minutes of injury time on the board, chances were missed at both ends. Seaman’s cross was well held by Ashmore, while Marsh’s overhead kick went narrowly wide of the post for Boreham Wood.

Umerah almost got the equaliser with a few minutes to go, but a block saw the chance pass. In the aftermath, Grey’s cross found Dieseruvwe, but Ashmore caught it and held on.