Boreham Wood travel to Altrincham on Saturday for a relegation six-pointer against Altrincham, the side directly above them in 19th.

The two sides have been locked in their current positions in the National League since before they first met at the end of September, a game which ended 1-0 in the Robins’ favour at Meadow Park.

Just three points separate the two sides with Alty, managed by former Watford defender Lee Sinnott, having won 3-1 at Bromley last time out.

Looking ahead to the trip to Cheshire, Wood's second to the area after the draw at Northwich Victoria in the FA Cup, manager Luke Garrard said: “We need a massive reaction after the disappointment of going out of the FA Cup in poor fashion.

“We have gone from the heights of beating Bromley, to the accomplished performance against Chester, to a third rate showing.

“The beauty of football, however, is that with every game you have the opportunity to put things right over 90 minutes.”

A win on the road would see the sides switch places in the table. But in order to accomplish that Wood will have to find a way past in-form stand-in goalkeeper Tim Deasy.

Stalwart keeper Stuart Coburn, who has made 682 starts for the part timers, is injured meaning Deasy, coincidentally signed from Northwich Victoria, turned in a man-of-the-match performance in front of the television cameras on Saturday by thwarting Bromley on numerous occasions.

That was the Ravens’ second defeat in four days at home after Wood’s fine performance there four days earlier when a Luke Howell brace handed boss Garrard his first league win since succeeding Ian Allinson.

Alty’s performance was complimented by two goals from another club legend in Damien Reeves, who has been their top scorer in five of the last six seasons for a side that has spent longer than any other at this level, dating back to the original Alliance Premier League days.

Reeves has six goals to date this campaign, the same amount as Michael Rankine, a vastly experienced 30-year-old striker.

It was Rankine's tenth minute penalty that earned the Robins maximum points in the reverse fixture at Meadow Park on a day that the visitors got in front through a needless infringement before going on to stifle the Wood with a textbook away day win.

Since then a win against Barrow, draws with Kidderminster Harriers and Gateshead and losses to FC Halifax Town and Aldershot Town preceded a superb win at home to League One side Barnsley in the FA Cup first round.

Thereafter, a 3-0 loss at Moss Lane against Macclesfield Town and that great win on the road at Bromley mean Sinnott’s side have won just one of their last seven in the National League.

And Altrincham, who have a proud record of pulling off FA Cup shocks having claimed more Football League scalps than any other non-league club with 17, will look to add Colchester United to their list of success in the second round of the competition next month.

Wood, on the other hand, will be looking to consolidate an improved run of league form which has seen them lose just two of their last seven.