Boreham Wood came up short in their bid to retain the Herts Senior Cup, Ian Allinson’s team going down 1-0 to Hemel Hempstead Town in the final at the County Ground in Letchworth.

It was Jordan Parkes’ superb 67th-minute free-kick which decided the game, after Wood had been unable to take advantage of their first-half superiority.

Holders Boreham Wood were up against 2012/13 winners Hemel, as both teams looked to lift the trophy for the sixth time in their history.

On a warm and sunny evening, both teams were presented to Eddie King, President of the Hertfordshire Football Association, as they lined-up in front of the main stand before kick-off.

Wood made the brighter start to the game. In the fourth minute, Junior Morias was forced wide when rounding Hemel keeper Jamie Head and his square ball was comfortably cleared.

Callum Reynolds then headed a deep free-kick from Daryl McMahon wide.

Wood forced two corners in succession on the quarter-hour mark. For the second, McMahon played the ball short to Ben Herd whose cross was cleared to safety.

At the other end, Dan Martin headed out for a corner after Jordan Parkes and James Simmons had combined on the Hemel right.

As Wood broke swiftly, Morias outpaced Jorell Johnson, as he had done when scoring the only goal against Hemel at Meadow Park three weeks ago. This time Wood’s number 10 was caught narrowly offside, although he still found the net with a lob over the advancing Head.

Morias was the danger man again just before the half-hour mark, accelerating down the right before sending a cross just beyond the reach of Charlie Walker.

Reynolds, coming forward for the set-pieces, sent another header wide from Ben Herd’s free-kick.

Hemel found an opening in the 37th minute, with Herd getting in a vital tackle as James Potten was about to shoot.

Breaking swiftly from the resulting corner, Walker produced a perfect first touch to collect a long ball from Ricky Shakes. Racing through one-on-one with Head, Wood’s number 9 saw his first effort blocked by the Hemel keeper, before diverting the rebound past the post.

McMahon then sent a half-volley high and wide as Wood continued to look the most likely side to open the scoring.

There was another chance for Hemel in stoppage time, but Ed Asafu-Adjaye slipped on the ball just as he was about to square the ball across Wood’s penalty area.

Having had few opportunities in the opening 45 minutes, Hemel stepped up a gear after the break.

Wood keeper James Russell punched Parkes’ fiercely driven free-kick clear on 49 minutes. Russell then produced the save of the night, diving low to his right to push away Simmons’ low drive.

Hemel broke the deadlock in the 67th minute. Top scorer Jordan Parkes curled a 30-yard free-kick up and over the wall, beating the outstretched right hand of Russell and finding the bottom corner.

Ian Allinson responded with a double-substitution, sending on Graeme Montgomery and leading scorer Lee Angol in place of Scott Thomas and Charlie Walker.

In the 79th minute Montgomery’s deep free-kick deflected up and into the hands of keeper Head.

With less than a minute of the 90 remaining, Matty Wichelow, on in place of McMahon, floated a corner from the left over everyone and out for a goal-kick.

In stoppage time, Montgomery sent a snap shot over the bar under pressure from two Hemel defenders.

The final whistle confirmed that Boreham Wood had surrendered the trophy won 12 months ago, with Hemel crowned as Senior Cup winners for the second time in three seasons.

Disappointed Wood now have a ten-day break to re-group before their final Conference South fixture at Chelmsford City on 25th April.

Depending on Bromley’s result this Saturday, Ian Allinson’s team may still have a chance of winning the league title on the last day of the regular season. At the very least, they will be aiming to secure runners-up spot and go into the play-offs with a winning momentum.

Boreham Wood: Russell, Nunn, Herd, Cox, Martin, Reynolds, Thomas (Montgomery 75), Shakes, Walker (Angol 75), Morias, McMahon (Whichelow 63).

Subs not used: Hill, Garrard.

Hemel Hempstead Town: Head, Asafu-Adjaye, Connolly, Parkes, Hyam, Johnson, Simmons (Oshodi 82), Harriot, Kabamba (Oli 59), Potton, Gibson (Allen 70).

Subs not used: Banton, Walker.

Refere: Keith Hill.

Attendance: 382.