Boreham Wood 1 Maidstone United 0 match report: Stones edged in National League South play-off final

Maidstone missed out on promotion after losing to Boreham Wood in the National League South play-off final.

United were looking to return to the National League - the top flight of non-league football - after a two-year absence.

But they were edged in a tight final that saw Charles Clayden score the only goal for the hosts shortly after half-time.

Wood fans jumped the gun in pouring on to the pitch before the full-time whistle but didn’t have long to wait before resuming the celebrations after seven minutes of added time.

Tom Leahy returned from injury in place of the suspended Charlie Seaman as Maidstone made one enforced change to the side who won 2-1 at Eastbourne in the semi-finals a fortnight ago.

The Wood, who included Stones old boys Jon Benton and Matt Rush, forced two corners in the opening minute but the match quickly settled down into the cagey affair that finals so often are.

Maidstone, with Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong going on a couple of strong runs, were at times given more time to play in the hosts’ half than you might have expected.

That led to a couple of half-openings for Riley Court, the first a deflected effort saved by Nathan Ashmore after Bivesh Gurung, Jordan Higgs, George Fowler, Leahy and Ben Brookes combined.

Court then saw a header go out for a corner after Higgs and Aaron Blair teed up Brookes for a cross from the left.

Gurung saw a 25-yard drive well held by Ashmore before the chance of the half fell to Wood and Rush in the 26th minute.

The lively Abdul Abdulmalik, a bright spark for the home side, was involved in the build-up before Jayden Richardson squared to the back post where Rush somehow failed to score.

Ashmore, who was in goal for Ebbsfleet when Maidstone won the 2016 National League