There was something of a role reversal at Meadow Park as Boreham Wood – for the second time this season – almost snuck a win over high-flying FA Cup giant killers Eastleigh.

Instead they settled for a 1-1 draw after Andy Drury struck in the 90th minute for the Spitfires. In August Wood were denied a point via James Constable's last-gasp winner.

Chris Todd’s side have been used to the role of minnows lately after being League One side Crewe Alexandra in the FA Cup before taking Championship strugglers Bolton Wanderers to a replay, only to lose 3-2 after going in front.

Reflecting on the draw, Wood’s seventh in their last 12 National League fixtures, Luke Garrard said: “In hindsight this was two points dropped. Then again we are now unbeaten in our last three matches against three top six sides.

“The late equaliser was a double blow in the respect that it was never a corner. However, we failed to deal with the ball in and I have learnt from that.”

Injuries to Jordan Chiedozie, Callum Reynolds, Anthony Jeffrey and Sam Cox forced Garrard to shuffle his pack and he was encouraged by the performances of those who came into the side.

“On the positive side I was forced into making changes and it gave the boys coming in a chance to show me what they are about,” he explained. “Billy Clifford I thought showed a tremendous attitude today.

“It is a real shame that Jamie Lucas has not been given game time prior to us re-engaging him. He was our main target in the transfer window and showed again today why he is important for us.

“By his own admission he was spent after an hour. That gave Delano (Sam-Yorke) the chance and he showed that he is a real handful for any defence with some incredible pace. I firmly believe we have enough about us to survive in this league.”

Constable, Eastleigh’s leading scorer with 12 goals this season, was named in the visitors’ starting XI but was withdrawn late giving Wood hope prior to kick-off.

Billy Clifford took the game to the visitors from kick off and his superb run into the penalty area after Howell's assist led to a low drive that Ross Flitney palmed to safety at the expense of a corner.

The former Chelsea youngster then hit a rising drive from 25 yards that left Flitney flat footed, the effort dipping just over the bar.

Jack Midson, who replaced Constable, could well have had a hat-trick before the interval but some fine defending put paid to that in what was a weary Eastleigh performance.

With Jeffrey's absence contributing to Wood's inability to get beyond the Spitfires defence, manager Todd's unbeaten away record looked safe.

He should have added to his nine wins when, on the half-hour mark, Drury's lobbed ball forward was deemed onside but Jack Midson's finish was tame and James Russell easily gathered. A minute later Midson was inches away from converting a fine Joe Partington cross but misread to bounce of the ball.

Billy Clifford then sent Ricky Shakes through on goal down the inside right channel but there was no finish before Clovis Kamdjo went close with a rifled shot that Flitney was happy to put behind for a corner.

Wood were again suffering from a lack of penetration in front of goal but with Lucas on the field of play there was always hope and he duly delivered with his first chance of the game.

A ball played inside by Shakes fell at the feet of the teenage striker and he rifled an unstoppable shot beyond Flitney into the bottom right hand corner of the net two minutes before half.

It was only the third goal Wood had scored in 763 minutes of league football.

Wood survived an early scare after the break as Russell got his angles spot on to deny Kaid Mohamed, who found himself through on goal courtesy of Jai Reason's through ball.

Forest Green Rovers loanee Delano Sam-Yorke made his Wood debut after 65 minutes, replacing Lucas. And he immediately won a free kick from which he rifled Conor Clifford's delivery over the bar.

Drury then forced a fine block by Dan Woodards at the other end, as the Wood lead began to look increasingly fragile.

Eastleigh don’t know when they are beaten. Four minutes of stoppage time arrived and they stepped up the pace.

A corner was won on the right after a spell of pressure and Reason's delivery took a deflection en-route to the boot of Drury whose close-range finish in a crowded penalty area broke Wood hearts.

Boreham Wood: Russell, Nunn, Stephens, Doe, Woodards; Shakes, Kamdjo, C.Clifford, Howell, B.Clifford; Lucas (Sam-Yorke 65).

Subs: Edwards (GK), Whichelow, Morias, Devera.