Boreham Wood manager Ian Allinson can take many positives from his side’s 3-1 defeat to a QPR XI as he looks to hone the squad to an affordable size.

The score was harsh on Wood who dominated the second half against an accomplished and youthful Rangers side.

For the spectator, it was a real value for money evening with both sides contributing to a match of high quality.

Wood went behind after nine minutes to a spectacular finish from Brad Simmons – the ball falling to him 30 yards from goal and his screamer of a volley was never going anywhere other than the top corner.

The Hoops did well in closing Wood down but in defence the home side relied on a fine challenge from James Smith to rob Antonio German of a fine scoring opportunity.

However Wood never totally cleared and when Bruno Andrade was tripped by Luke Garrard, German made no mistake from the spot, sending Michael Jordan the wrong way after 22 minutes.

German nearly increased the lead with a brilliant first touch and follow up shot that drew a fine stop from Jordan.

Orchestrated throughout by the impressive Daryl McMahon, Wood finished the half the stronger.

Stringing together eight one-touch passes, McMahon supplied the cross for trialist Evandro Delgado who tested Gaz Deane in the Rangers goal.

Wood got their reward when Elliott Godfrey combined with Ali Chaaban in a well-worked move as Godfrey’s neat back-heeled finish reduced the deficit after 41 minutes.

Allinson made four half time substitutions which resulted in his side dominating proceedings with a renewed solidity to Wood's shape as they held possession for long periods.

Chaaban showed his quality to feed McMahon who, wide on the right, hit a blistering rising drive that was only repelled by a fingertip save from Deane.

After 73 minutes Simeon Akinola and Laurence Yaku entered the fray. McMahon’s corner picked out Akinola, whose downward header looked like a well-deserved equaliser, only for a defender to somehow deflect the effort onto a post.

Two minutes later, Akinola rose again with his header falling to Yaku who miss-hit wide of the target.

Against the run of play, Rangers broke down the right and a fine cross saw Connor Hubble beat keeper Cameron Baker-Owers with a diving header.

Wood can reflect on a positive performance with the final score in no way reflecting the overall game.

Team: Jordan (Baker-Owers 81), Sankofa, Kamara (Hunter 45), Garrard, Smith, E Brathwaite (D Brathwaite 45), Matthews (Ademola 45), McMahon, Chaaban (Yaku 73), Godfrey (Akinola 73), Delgado (Lawal 45).