o/t Well Done Boreham Wood

[P.W.]

Boreham Wood FC have been praised for their immaculate sportsmanship after allowing an opposing team to score against them during a league match.The Blue Square South team were playing away to Havant on Saturday when with nine minutes left the home side kicked the ball off the field so Boreham Wood's injured player Sam Pearce could receive treatment.

 

The Wood's Mario Noto received the ball from the resulting throw-in and kicked it back to the opposing goalkeeper from around the halfway line.

 

But there was a problem: Noto made contact a little too well, and his 'pass-back' flew straight into the goal.

 

The strike had levelled the scores, so Boreham Wood manager Ian Allinson - a former Arsenal star - decided that for justice to be done he must order his men to let the opposition score unopposed from the kick-off.

 

Wes Fogden was the lucky Havant player who was able to walk the ball upfield and kick it into the net as Boreham Wood's players stood by.

 

Havant finished 2-1 winners thanks to what their manager Shaun Gale called "a great gesture", and Boreham Wood's boss had no regrets about his decision.

 

"I'd rather lose the correct way," said Allinson, whose honourable actions have been hailed throughout the world of football.

 

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