KIERAN Murtagh has hailed a massive three points after Boreham Wood overcame National League play-off rivals Tranmere Rovers 2-1 at Meadow Park.

Fresh from signing a new contract on Friday, Angelo Balanta opened the scoring with a well-taken effort just before half-time.

Rovers were not about to take defeat lying down and levelled the scores with 66 minutes on the clock thanks to a James Norwood strike.

Wood had been the better side throughout the encounter and got the reward their overall dominance deserved when Bruno Andrade netted the winner with 11 minutes to play.

For Murtagh, the manner in which Wood kept their composure to claim a vital win is an indication of the quality they possess.

“We’re massively pleased. They are one of our big play-off rivals and to get the three points is massive for us,” he told the club website.

“I think everyone personally has their own character. We have some big players in the team and it comes down to just grinding it out sometimes.

“When they got the goal back, it is about making sure you stay in the game for the next 10 minutes and then push on and try and retake the lead, which we did.”

Saturday’s win saw Wood leapfrog Tranmere and climb to third in the table with eight games to play this season.

They are in a prime position to secure a play-off berth and will take great confidence from a professional display against their high-flying rivals.

Murtagh says Wood boss Luke Garrard had to do precious little to get his players up for a game against a side of Rovers’ quality.

“He didn’t say much and we had done our work on them before the game,” he said.

“These games are massive anyway and the players are really up for them and everybody in the changing room knows that.”

Wood face another test tomorrow when they take on an Aldershot Town side also in the play-off shake up for promotion.

Town currently sit sixth, but are only a point behind Wood, such is the tightness at the top of the table.

Victory could see Wood move to within a point of second-placed Sutton United, depending on their result against Chester.