Boreham Wood manager Ian Allinson believes his team have nothing to fear this season after pushing Woking all the way in their narrow FA Cup defeat.

Wood produced a strong performance at the third-placed Conference side on Saturday but bowed out of the competition in the fourth qualifying round after a 2-1 defeat.

But Allinson took plenty of positives from the game and thinks his side can hold their own as they look to push for promotion in the Conference South.

He told the club website: “I’m immensely proud of our performance. I felt the referee could have offered a little more protection to some of our players, but we had a real go.

“If there is to be any criticism it was that we sat back immediately after scoring and that led to conceding a second goal inside ten minutes.

“We turn our attention back to the league now, where this has shown me we do not have to fear anybody.

“The chairman has backed me to assemble a fine squad and we are set up to have a real go at it this year.”

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors, but Graeme Montgomery’s shot floated wide of the target.

Wood should have opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Junior Morias set up Lee Angol, but his effort was straight at home keeper Jake Cole.

Visiting shot-stopper James Russell was then called into action as he saved Kevin Betsy’s cross shot.

Wood were more than holding their own and went close again through Angol, but the striker fired his effort past the post.

Allinson’s side threatened once more when Matty Whichelow set up Angol, but he blasted his shot over the bar.

An entertaining match was swinging from side to side and the hosts went close, with Russell saving from John Goddard and Betsy.

The Wood keeper was forced to tip Goddard’s shot round the post after the break.

But the opening goal went to the Cards after 56 minutes. Jake Newton sent in a cross which was headed home by Guiseppe Sole.

Wood produced a rousing response and were level within 60 seconds. Montgomery sent in a delivery from the left and Ricky Shakes tucked the ball home at the far post.

Sadly for the visitors, they were only level for four minutes as Woking regained the lead.

Chris Arthur attacked down the wing and he set up Sole for his second of the match.

The home striker almost completed his hat-trick, but Russell managed to turn over his free-kick.

There was still late drama as Wood thought they had earned a replay but substitute David Moli’s close-range finish was ruled out for offside.

Allinson said: “We have now lost four games 2-1 this season away from home and in all of them we have created enough chances to have comfortably run out winners.

“I felt there was little to choose between the two sides overall except the standard of finishing.

“That we created the more clear cut chances shows how good their two goals were.”

Wood’s ambition this season was underlined after the side signed Stevenage defender Ryan Johnson on a one-month loan.

The 18-year-old is the youngest player to make a first-team debut for the League Two side after he played against Brentford in May.

Allinson said: “I’m delighted to bring Ryan to the club, as he’s been on our radar for a while.

“We have been a little bit light on defensive cover since we lost Ben Nunn and I want Ryan to go and challenge for a starting position.

“We need competition for places in all positions if we want to succeed and having worked really hard across the board at the club over the last three or four seasons, this squad is the best I’ve ever worked with.”

He added: “Our ambition was to get ourselves into a position where we can sustain a possible promotion challenge.

“We now sit second in the Conference South but as we found out two seasons ago when our challenge fell away, it fell away through a lack of quality and squad strength.”