Gordon Bartlett claimed poor decision making cost Wealdstone anything in a 1-0 home defeat to Conference South title hopefuls Boreham Wood on Saturday.

Stones were sunk by a Ricky Shakes header deep into first-half stoppage time in a game low on clear-cut chances.

The goal arrived when Bartlett's men surrendered possession deep in opposition territory and compounded the error by conceding the needless free-kick which yielded the winner.

Speaking afterwards, Stones boss Bartlett said: “I am disappointed with this defeat but Boreham Wood are a strong side and are where they are on merit.

“Our game management cost us dearly at a crucial time with a minute remaining at the end of the first half. We worked hard and battled away though and on another day we would have got a result.”

Kicking up the slope in the first half, Wealdstone were soon on the back foot as Junior Morias' overhead kick just cleared the crossbar inside the first ten minutes.

And the visitors soon threatened again when Daryl McMahon's free-kick to the right of the ‘D’ forced Jonathan North to tip over.

Stones eventually escaped their own box long enough to create what turned out to be their best chance of the game midway through the half. Matty Ball, playing out on the left, hit a sweetly-struck volley which produced a flying save from James Russell.

Veteran striker Scott McGleish then failed to get sufficient power into an overhead attempt of his own and the home side were soon on the back foot once more.

Another excellent set piece by the visitors almost broke the deadlock just before the half hour.

An inswinging corner from the right saw Callum Reynolds rise highest and head towards the far post but Watford loanee Luke O'Nien was in the right place to head off the line and the hosts scrambled the ball clear.

Wood’s Lee Angol was close with another header but just as it seemed Stones would get to the break on level terms, Wood went in front.

The wounds were self inflicted as Daniel Brown hesitated in possession rather than feeding the ball back into the visitors’ box.

Even then there seemed little danger until Elliott Godfrey committed an unnecessary foul near the left touchline, almost level with the penalty area.

The delivery was excellent once more and after Wood won the first header, Shakes arrived to nod home from inside the six-yard box.

Despite playing down the slope and with the wind behind them in the second period, Stones struggled to pass the ball in the blustery conditions, failing to exert any pressure on Ian Allison’s side, who were largely content to preserve their narrow lead.

And it was not until after the hour mark when Wealdstone truly threatened Russell’s goal; Ball’s free-kick going narrowly wide with the Wood gloveman stuck fast.

Godfrey would warm Russell's hands with another effort from long range before Richard Jolly and Shaun Lucien were unleashed from the bench in place of Brown and McGleish for the last 15 minutes.

Lucien produced a couple of trademark bursts but his final delivery did not match the speed and so an equaliser never arrived, meaning Stones drop two places to 13th in the Conference South table.

Wealdstone: North; Martin (Hammond 66), Parker, Hamblin, Watts; Brown (Lucien 74), Godfrey, O'Nien, Ball; McGleish (Jolly 74), Louis.

Subs not used: Wright, Cronin.

Attendance 711