Boreham Wood 2, Tranmere Rovers 1

TRANMERE were caught cold at Boreham Wood as they suffered a narrow defeat that drops them down to fourth in the National League.

Angelo Balanta's late first half strike was cancelled out by James Norwood in the second half but despite piling on the pressure Bruno Andrade struck 12 minutes from time and it was enough to ensure that Rovers left empty-handed.

Earlier on, conditions more in keeping with January produced a blanket of snow and a pitch inspection was required before the match could be given the go ahead.

Micky Mellon named an unchanged side from the one that comprehensively dismantled Dagenham & Redbridge a week earlier.

Wood had the first chance of the match when Scott Davies spilt a harmless looking shot from Bruno Andrade in the icy conditions, but he was able the smother the ball at the second attempt.

Norwood responded with 18-yard right-footed effort but it was pulled well wide.

With the unwise deployment of a white ball on a snow-covered pitch, Balanta blazed one over the bar when Rovers failed to properly deal with a corner.

Andy Cook expertly took a deep cross from Connor Jennings on the chest, but his shot was straight at Grant Smith.

Good work from Kane Smith down the right saw Adam Buxton cut out a low cross that Balanta was waiting to turn into the net, as the hosts enjoyed the better earlier chances.

Ten minutes before the break, Boreham Wood almost took the lead when Andrade nodded a cross from Smith against the crossbar, but not before Davies saved low from the same player moments earlier.

Then, on 40 minutes, Balanta saw a sliced cross wrong-foot Davies, but his swirling effort crashed off the post and was cleared to safety.

Jennings sliced a 20-yard shot wide just before break, but Rovers could not make it to half time without conceding.

With pressure mounting, Jay Harris was unable to clear a bouncing ball, which broke for Balanta and the Wood striker was able to control the ball before smashing it home on the half volley from 12 yards out.

In truth it was no more than they deserved from the opening 45 minutes.

Tranmere returned for the second half with more purpose but when Jamie Turley turned the ball home from close range after only two minutes he thought he had doubled the Wood's lead, only to see it chalked off for offside.

On 49 minutes, Mellon played he first card by introducing winger Ben Tollitt for Ginnelly.

The change saw Tranmere finally start to keep the ball on the floor more and take control of the match.

Tollitt collected a return pass from Buxton and cut inside before blazing one over the bar.

At the other end Jamie Turley had a free header from a corner but could only stick it wide – a bad miss.

When Buxton was beaten in the air from another long ball Balanta's cross skipped across the goal line untouched.

But Rovers were growing in confidence and on 65 minutes they equalised.

A cross from Buxton reached Cook with his back to goal.

The striker attempted to back heel it with pace into the net but although Smith saved that effort Norwood was on hand to blast home from six yards out.

With Buxton and Tollitt the catalyst Tranmere pushed on for winner.

Grant Smith had to be at his best to tip a superb overhead kick from Norwood – now bursting with confidence – over the bar.

A counter-attack from the visitors saw Tollitt glide past two defenders before his shot was blocked when he looked certain to score.

Back came Wood on the break but Andrade could only fire over the bar when the least he should have done is find the target.

In stark contrast to the first half, the second period had turned into a shoot-out, but twelve minutes from time, the hosts retook the lead.

A misjudgement from Steve McNulty allowed Morgan Ferrier to fire a shot on goal in the box.

His effort was saved but Andrade was lurking and pounced, putting Tranmere behind again with time running out.

Norwood looked like he had equalised again when his looping header beat Smith, but it crashed off the crossbar and somehow stayed out.

Despite some concerted late pressure however, Rovers could not force an equaliser and were made to pay a heavy price for a sub-standard first half.

Micky Mellon said afterwards: "I thought first half we were off the pace.

"Our enthusiasm to play in the conditions that we had to play in – which we spoke about before the game – weren't what we'd expect for a game of this magnitude.

"The goals that we gave away – it’s a ball into the box and a knock down and the lad’s got a free volley on the edge of the box.

"That's five minutes before half time. That pretty much breaks every rule in football if you’re going to be successful.

"But we came out for the second half and we got Tol (Ben Tollitt) on and change things to try and get at them a wee bit and we looked like a team majorly in the ascendancy.

"We get ourselves back into the game and from there on, there only looks like one winner.

"But then, a straight ball into our 18 yards box – the guy gets four or five touches. The detail of it all is shocking.

"I'm so disappointed and angry, in a game like this to give away a goal like that.

"The reason I'm so frustrated is because there was nothing in it but with the goal we've given away we’ve shot ourselves in the head.

"We've blown our footballing heads off."

Match stats:

Boreham Wood 2 (Balanta 45, Andrade 78)

Tranmere Rovers 1 (Norwood 65)

Half time: 1-0

Referee: A Young 7/10

Attendance: 801 (392)

Match rating: 3/5

Star man: Adam Buxton (Tranmere right back) Boreham Wood: (4-4-2): G Smith, K Smith, Woodards (Doe 90), Ricketts, Stephens, Champion, Murtagh, Andrade, Turley, Balanta (Shakes 72), Ferrier Subs not used: Quigley, Folivi, Davey

Tranmere: (4-4-2): Davies; Buxton, McNulty, Monthe, Ridehlagh, Ginnelly (Tollitt 49), Harris, Traore, Jennings, Norwood, Cook Subs not used: Taylor, Sutton, Mangan, Wallace