Boreham Wood bounced back from FA Cup heartbreak at Notts County with a third home league win on the spin as they saw off Southport 2-0 at Meadow Park.

Goals in either half from Kenny Davis and Jamie Lucas lifted the Wood to their highest position since August, to put them eighth in the table with 20 games gone.

Southport had been on a fine run of form themselves, and came into the game unbeaten in their last seven, and started the brighter in Hertfordshire, forcing a number of early corners.

The Wood produced their first opportunity when Ben Nunn's foray forward found Angelo Balanta, whose cushioned header reached Bruno Andrade, but he could only volley wide.

Balanta was again at the heart of the early action when he played in Morgan Ferrier, who in turn found Anthony Jeffrey, before his cross was diverted behind when crying out to be turned home.

The move of the game then led to the opener, and again saw Balanta involved in the build-up. Jeffrey won the ball deep inside the Wood half and following a darting run found Davis, who slotted home after a one-two with the former QPR man.

Ferrier was forced off just before half-time in an injury concern Luke Garrard could have done without, and was replaced by Lucas.

Jeffrey's strong performance continued after half-time and he again crossed for Andrade – but again the Portuguese midfielder volleyed wide. 

Lucas missed the target from another fine Jeffrey delivery before Southport finally gave themselves a chance to level; but Josh Thompson spurned the opportunity from a corner, and the Wood cleared.

McKenna's cross then looked certain to find Andrai Jones and get the visitors back into the game, but a superb last-ditch block from Nunn kept him at bay.

The game was becoming increasingly end-to-end and Balanta just skimmed the bar with a fine effort following a long throw, but it would follow soon enough, when Lucas finished off a chance after Jeffrey had picked up a poor ball across the Southport defence and played him in.

Lucas and Andrade forced saves in the closing stages and Southport almost grabbed a consolation when McKenna's half-volley from the edge of the box forced a smart save from Grant Smith, but the Wood hung on for a well-deserved win.

Boreham Wood: Smith, Nunn, Ilesanmi, Devera, Stephens, Ricketts, Davis, Balanta, Jeffrey (Woodards), Andrade, Ferrier (Lucas).

Not used: Paine, Clifford, Uchechi.