Spurs set Wood alight

A first class young Spurs squad produced a scintillating display to test Steve Cook's Wood side.

The victory, courtesy of three wonderfully worked goals, was well-deserved, with Wood often chasing possession. Darrell Cox made it two goals in as many games for Wood to give the scoreline some respectability.

Unlike last season's very even affair between the two sides, Spurs were in control throughout on the back of a 7-1 drubbing of Enfield Town.

The fluidity of play from the North Londoners, under the guidance of Spurs legend Clive Allen, was evident from the kick-off with Wood struggling to clear their lines. Camped out on the edge of the Wood penalty area from the kick-off, the impressive Terry Dixon's bullet header at the far post from Jacques Maghoma's pin-point cross deservedly opened the Spurs account after 12 minutes.

Maghoma then went close with an angled shot after a penetrating run down the right from Jamie Davis set up a Dixon cross. Wood learned quickly that there was no room for error against full-time opposition, with Marvin Samuel running back to atone for his earlier moment of hesitancy to deny Maghoma further success. Paul Burrows and Michael Black combined to release Greg Morgan down the right only for the teenager to be rashly outmuscled by Maghoma, who went unpunished.

With the temperature still in the high 20s Tommy Williams tried a long-range effort that sailed off towards the blazing sun behind the Broughinge Road end.

Dixon helped himself to a second goal after 28 minutes. Busy centre-forward Simon Dawkins held possession on the edge of the area before finding the gap to allow Dixon an immaculate shimmy past Morgan that opened up Noel Imber's goal. His sublime finish delighted the visiting supporters.

Wood managed a rare attempt on goal when Black forced a save from David Button with his low driven effort from 25 yards. Spurs should have increased their lead on the stroke of half-time when Dawkins skipped past Samuel to set up Maghoma who blasted over from just eight yards.

The Wood goal came from a move started in midfield by Moran. He fed Chris Bangura who turned magnificently to release Cox. He took the ball down the left, wide of keeper Button and finished superbly with a rising drive from a very tight angle to make it 2-1.

Imber then saved well to deny Dawkins before the introduction of Danny Hart and Joe O'Brien. Their impact was immediate with O'Brien finding space to shoot from the edge of the area, before Williams' telling ball into danger was a hair's breadth away from Bangura applying the finishing touch at the near post.

Hart shot just wide after cutting in from the right, before Spurs again went on the offensive. Dawkins drove forward into the penalty area to supply Maghoma who fortuitously grabbed Spurs' third with his low shot bobbling under the body of Imber.

Moran almost grabbed a second for Wood ghosting in to apply a header to Williams' free-kick which went just wide. Wood needed to rely on a goal-line clearance from Chris Watters late on when substitute David Hutton was graciously allowed a run and shot on goal by the overworked Wood defence.

For Wood it was an invaluable work out against high-quality opposition, while for the spectator it was an evening of memorable skills from the visitors who look set to be strong this season.

BOREHAM WOOD: Imber, Samuel, Moran, Williams, Smith, Black (O'Brien 67), Morgan (Watters 45), Gregson (Delisser 45), Bangura, Cox (Hazell 79), Burrows (Hart 67) Goals: Boreham Wood: Cox 61 Tottenham Hotspur: Dixon 12, 28. Maghoma 77