Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard praised the versatility and strength in depth of his squad after this afternoon's 3-0 win over a youthful Arsenal side.

Garrard was already without right-back Ben Nunn, a precautionary measure, when left-back Danny Woodards was forced to withdraw from the starting XI after the warm-up. He rolled his ankle on Thursday but felt discomfort in his foot prior to the game. 

That meant Ricky Shakes, usually a winger, coming into the side at right-back with Joe Devera moving across the back four to play on the left.

But Wood's far-from-ideal preparations mattered little as goals from Devera, trialist Shaun Jeffers and Kenny Davis sealed a comfortable win against the Gunners.

"It was a good win," Garrard said afterwards. "It's always tough against Arsenal because they're young, athletic and they move the ball well.

"We lost Nunny (Ben Nunn) prior to the game, Woody (Dan Woodards) during the warm-up and we had AJ (Anthony Jeffrey) who is in the care of Megan (Reid) the physio.

"You look at that in terms of the strength in depth, the versatility - with Shakesy (Ricky Shakes) dropping back Joe Devera going to left-back, Painey (Matt Paine) going from centre-half to central midfield - and it was pleasing."

Wood largely managed to restrict the Gunners, who play their Under-21, Under-18 and Ladies fixtures at Mead Park, to a handful of chances. And on more than one occasion trialist keeper Sam Beasant pulled off a spectacular stop to deny them a route back into the game.

"I felt Sam Beasant pulled off two really good saves," said Garrard. "The one in the first half where he went down low to his right-hand side was really good.

"I felt defensively we looked OK. We looked better when we started to move and create space for each other and we looked threatening." 

You can read the match report from today's win by clicking here.