Wood manager Garrard left with mixed emotions after Orient loss

Luke Garrard was content with the performance of his Boreham Wood team during Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Leyton Orient, but less happy with referee Christopher Pollard.

The National League contest was decided by a Macauley Bonne penalty in the 69th minute after Ricky Shakes had fouled Josh Koroma.

On second observation, it did seem the foul was outside the area, but O’s were not complaining and deserved the win after controlling more of the contest in E10.

Wood boss Garrard was left frustrated with the man in the middle, however, and fairly so after Pollard made a number of decisions which infuriated both managers.

He said: “I though it was a close game and we cancelled each other out. I didn’t think there were too many guilt-edged chances.

“There were times when we had the ball in their final third and they had it in our final third and in the second half it went like an NBA game – we attacked and then they attacked.

“But I have to look at the referee’s performance and if I am honest I thought he was poor for both sides. When you have both managers putting it on the fourth official you know he has not had the best of games.

“His starting position was poor, he let a few things slide and I am hearing the ball and player were outside the area for the penalty and I have to trust my players on that.

“But can I say my boys weren’t committed? No. Can I say they weren’t applied in their performance? No, because I thought they carried themselves in the right way with hard work, but we have lost the game.”

Orient went close early on when Bonne’s fierce drive was saved by Ellery Balacombe before Koroma and Charlie Lee saw efforts deflected over.

Wood had their moments too, with Shakes testing Dean Brill and Tom Champion heading wide, but O’s claimed the points thanks to a second-half penalty.

Jobi McAnuff could have made it 2-0 late on, but it didn’t matter in the end as Orient claimed a deserved victory after a professional display.