Boreham Wood were brought back down to earth following their 7-0 drubbing of Tonbridge Angels after they were beaten 2-0 at home to Havant & Waterlooville on Wednesday night.

Ian Allinson’s side went into the contest againt this season’s FA Trophy semi-finalists full of confidence after their magnficent seven-goal thrashing of Tonbridge.

But Wood were punished against their clinical Conference South opponents as they fell to a 12th league defeat of the campaign.

Perry Ryan fired the visitors in front before a late Daniel Blanchett lob ensured victory for Havant.

Manager Allinson told the club website: “I actually thought we played better tonight, the difference being if you do not take your chances against the top sides you will get punished.

“They have scored twice from distance and other than that James [Russell] had little to do in our goal.

“They did a job on us and it was very effective, given that we wasted our opportunities in front of goal. We started very brightly before the goal took the stuffing out of us.”

He added: “Bringing Lee Angol on changed that as we failed to give our front boys any service at all in the second half prior to his contribution.

“We will keep on believing in ourselves and fight on. If we play that way every game until the end of the season I cannot see us losing too many more games.”

It was a different story to Saturday when they brushed aside Tonbridge with ease in Allinson’s biggest win as Wood manager.

The opener arrived after just six minutes when Luke Garrard sent in a ball which Callum Reynolds bundled into the net.

A poor clearance from David Ijaha handed the second on a plate for Junior Morais as the Wycombe Wanderers loanee raced through to score.

It got even worse for Tonbridge when Graeme Montgomery’s volley was tipped onto the bar and Morais followed up to head home.

Any hope of a comeback from the visitors was wiped out when Chris Piper took out Morais by the corner flag and was shown a straight red card.

Kudos Oyenuga grabbed the fourth goal shortly after the restart when the excellent Morais delivered a pass which he finished off.

The hosts made it 5-0 after 54 minutes when Oyenuga and Matty Whichelow combined before releasing Morais to complete his hat-trick.

Tonbridge were reduced to nine men when Ijaha received two quick bookings.

Wood should have punished them from the penalty spot but a weak effort from Oyenuga was saved.

But the sixth duly arrived when Montgomery fired home and the final goal of the rout came as Angol struck a shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Allinson said: “It’s one of six or seven victories we need to remain in the division. At 1-0 we looked nervous and it could have gone away from us.

“However their ill discipline let us command proceedings and it is just as important to gain confidence as it is denting the belief of those around us in the bottom half of the table.”

Wood strengthened their attack this week after signing Loick Pires until the end of the season.

Pires enjoyed two loan spells at the club last season when he scored three goals in nine appearances.

He has been released from his contract at Welling United where he scored 27 goals in 93 games.

Allinson said: “Loick is a player with bundles of ability and its now down to me and himself, to sharpen him up and make the most of his talent.

“I expect a player of his quality to simply work hard and if he does that everything else will fit into place.”

Wood have also sent two young players out on loan to Billericay Town for a month.

Striker Billy Lobjoit and England College international defender Sam Doolan will both look to get some experience under their belt at the Ryman Premier Division club.

Allinson’s side travel to Dorchester Town in the league tomorrow afternoon.