A brace from Luke Howell saw Luke Garrard pick up his first National League win as Boreham Wood upset the form book with a 2-1 win at fourth-placed Bromley on Tuesday.

Howell, recalled to the side after sitting out the last seven games, scored twice in the opening 12 minutes to seal Wood’s first victory since beating Welling United in Ian Allinson’s final league game in charge.

Garrard had demanded a response from his players following Saturday's lacklustre FA Cup draw at Northwich Victoria and rang the changes in both personnel and formation.

Out went the injured Anthony Jeffrey, along with Junior Morias and Mustafa Tiryaki, replaced by Howell, Ricky Shakes and Charlie MacDonald in a 4-5-1 system.

Bromley's ten-day break clearly had a negative effect and the hosts were sluggish from the outset. On the contrary, Wood’s display in the first 25 minutes was describe by Garrard afterwards as phenomenal.

With just two minutes gone Clovis Kamdjo muscled his way into the penalty area, sending a pass out to the right which MacDonald dummied, allowing Shakes to drive inches wide.

The pressure on the Bromley goal continued and after four minutes the visitors went in front. Mauro Vilhete directed a low shot against the base of a post and Howell was on hand to slam home the opener.

Borehamwood Times:

The Ravens were stunned and after 12 minutes Wood doubled their lead.

Shakes was too quick for the Bromley defence, who lost possession to the midfielder, and he played Howell in to shoot low beyond Chris Kettings and enhance the visitors’ advantage.

Borehamwood Times:

Wood were enjoying space in the final third with the home defence dropping deep. The home side conjured up some half chances but found the Wood defence in a mean mood.

Chances continued to flow for Wood, who saw Conor Clifford sting the hands of Kettings from 30 yards out with a free-kick. Kamdjo seized upon the loose ball, feeding Vilhete who shot the wrong side of the post.

The league’s leading scorer Moses Emmanuel slowly came into the game, but found David Stephens in his best form since making the short switch across Hertfordshire from Barnet.

Emmanuel finally got the better of him when he was hauled down on the edge of the area but Wood keeper James Russell was equal to Joe Anderson’s free-kick.

But Emmanuel showed exactly why he is one of the best striker’s in the National League when he grabbed his 15th of the season after 39 minutes.

A slip in the Wood defence gave him the half a yard of space required and he cut inside to rifle home a precise shot beyond Russell.

It changed the game with the hosts now confident, causing Wood to defend with their lives until the half time whistle.

The goal spurred on the home side, who won a string of early second half corners; Emmanuel going close when he lobbed just over the bar.

Centre-back Rob Swaine then came forward to head just over, but try as they might the Ravens could not find a route beyond the towering Stephens.

By the time Howell was replaced by Sam Cox with 20 minutes remaining Wood had weathered the storm.

Borehamwood Times:

Vilhete saw his shot rise just over the bar before Shakes hit a rising effort which Kettings did well to hold after the shot deflected off a defender.

Scott Doe then hit a superb ball down the right for MacDonald to chase. The forward, who had worked tirelessly all night against a giant back-line, saw the ball bounce kindly for him, lofting it over the head of Kettings only for Swaine to get back and make a goal line clearance.

Wood finished the stronger side with a superb exhibition of one-touch keep ball leading to a corner. Bromley were now spent, with one final effort from Conor Clifford failing to add to the scoreline.

Borehamwood Times:

Reflecting on a win which sees Wood put three points between themselves and the relegation zone, Garrard said: We were phenomenal tonight. I deliberated long and hard over my squad selection.

“I found it hard to tell Junior after he had proved himself with a goal at Northwich that he would have to sit this one out. I bought back Luke Howell and he gave me two goals.

“Across the board tonight we were superb. Even when they had their spell either side of half time, because we were defending so well I thought we were the likelier to score from the counter attack.

“You bring back the likes of Shakesy and that heart is beating again. You introduce Sam Cox and he is on fire.

“You look at the contributions from the new signings with a pedigree and then glance up to the stands and see AJ (Anthony Jeffrey) sitting there, with the captain Callum Reynolds sitting with me on the bench and you know realise what a squad we have at our disposal.”

Boreham Wood: Russell; Devera, Doe, Stephens, Woodards; Shakes, Kamdjo, C.Clifford, Howell (Cox 70), Vilhete; MacDonald.

Subs: Edwards (GK), Reynolds, Morias, Tiryaki.