Bromley continued their unbeaten start to the season and moved up to second place in the National League with a hard fought victory over Boreham Wood at a sunny Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon.

The Ravens lining up 4-4-1-1 had to sit back for long periods in the opening stages of the first half, with Wood keeping possession of the ball in midfield, but not really creating anything with it.

Bromley did have the first real chance of the match on 28 minutes when Joe Kizzi crossed for Reeco Fairchild-Hackett, but the young winger headed wide of the far post.

Late on in the half Wood had a couple of long range efforts, but Mark Cousins saved from Piero Mingola and Jamal Fyfield fired over from a corner.

Then in injury time Fairchild-Hackett broke down the right and cut into the box beating one Wood defender before crossing the ball along the six yard box for Michael Cheek to score from close range at the far post, giving The Ravens the lead at the break against all the odds.

Boreham Wood started the second half on top also, Mingola set up Kabongo Tshimanga who was denied by an excellent save from Cousins at his near post and Mingola fired over with the next chance.

Just after the hour Bromley lost Jack Holland to an ankle injury, but his replacement Marc-Anthony Okoye was equally as solid at centre back, winning everything in the air.

Fellow central defender Chris Bush put in a superb block to foil Kane Smith in the act of shooting and Cousins made a great save from Adam McDonnell low down by the post as he cut in from the left.

Hackett-Fairchild had a couple of wayward efforts for the home side as they rallied for a spell while Michael Klass shot over from a corner.

The final few minutes saw Boreham Wood dominate, with a sustained spell of pressure around the home box, but Bromley’s back line and keeper were equal to all that was thrown at them, the closest effort being Sorba Thomas’ long range dipping effort that was too high.

Neil Smith’s side now travel to Maidenhead United on Monday afternoon looking to keep the run going and possibly even go top of the table if results go their way.

Bromley: Cousins, Kizzi, Wood, Holland (Okoye 69), Bush, Coulson (Mekki 61), Bingham, Raymond, Hackett, Rees (Klass 75), Cheek.

Subs Not Used: Dunne, Henry.

Goal: Cheek 45+2 

Boreham Wood: Gregory, Woodards (Shakes 82), Ricketts, Champion, Stephens, Mingola (Marsh 72), McDonnell, Tshimanga, Fyfield, Smith, Shaibu (Thomas 62).

Subs Not Used: Ilesamni, Thompson.   

HT 1-0 FT 1-0 

Attendance: 1,443

Ref: Mr Joe Hill