Ten-man Woking slipped to a narrow 2-1 defeat at home to National League leaders Boreham Wood.

Josh Kelly gave the Cards the lead, but goals from Tylor Golden and Regan Booty gave the visitors all three points in front of a crowd of 2,439 at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.

The visitors had the first effort at goal of the evening in the eighth minute, when Zak Brunt’s low shot was well held by Cards keeper Vicente Reyes.

The Cards took the lead on 23 minutes when Harrison Sohna’s inviting cross into the box picked out Kelly, who expertly guided his header into the bottom right-hand corner of the net past Boreham Wood keeper Ted Curd.

The Wood got back on level terms in the 31st minute when Tarryn Allarakhia’s cross was flicked on by Ben Whitfield to Golden, who fired his first-time left-footed volley into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Woking nearly regained the lead a minute later when Liam Dulson’s low cross found Kelly, who flicked his effort just over the bar.

The visitors had a golden opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty early in the second half, but Reyes went the right way and parried Brunt’s 49th-minute spot kick away to safety to keep the Cards on level terms.

Woking nearly went ahead on 57 minutes when Steven Turner played a one-two with Kelly before curling his left-footed effort from the edge of the box just wide of the left-hand post.

The Wood went straight down the other end of the pitch and went close when Allarakhia's effort from a tight angle was beaten away by Reyes at his near post.

Cards boss Craig Ross made a double change in the 62nd minute, with John Marquis and Aiden O’Brien replacing Dulson and Nathan Paul-Lavaly.

The visitors almost went ahead on 67 minutes when Brunt spun sharply in the box and fired an effort goalwards that forced an excellent save from Reyes.

Brunt spun sharply again in the box five minutes later and hit a low right-footed shot which was well held by Reyes.

The Wood went ahead on 79 minutes when Oliver Bainbridge picked out Booty on the edge of the box, who fired a superb left-footed effort into the right-hand corner of the net.

The Cards were reduced to ten men in the 83rd minute when Turner received a straight red card from referee Alex Chilowicz for a late tackle.

Ross made his third change substitution of the evening on 87 minutes, with Zico Asare replacing Josh Grant. Ross made a double change three minutes later, with Sean Adarkwa and Tom Dryer replacing Kelly and Timmy Akinola.

Woking looked for a late leveller in stoppage time and went close when Jaiden Putman’s free-kick found Charlie McArthur, whose header went just wide of the right-hand post.

Next up for the Cards is a trip to Tamworth in the National League on Saturday, October 31 (3pm kick-off).

Woking: Vicente Reyes, Jaiden Putman, Josh Grant (Zico Asare 87), Charlie McArthur, Timmy Akinola (Tom Dryer 90), Steven Turner, Roy Syla, Harrison Sohna, Liam Dulson (John Marquis 62), Josh Kelly (Sean Adarkwa 90), Nathan Paul-Lavaly (Aiden O’Brien 62).

Unused substitute: Craig Ross.

Boreham Wood: Ted Curd, Tyler Golden, Charlie O’Connell, Chris Bush, Oliver Bainbridge, Tom White, Regan Booty (Marley Marshall-Miranda 90), Tarryn Allarakhia (James Clarke 86), Ben Whitfield (Danny Cashman 73), Zak Brunt (Will Wright 90), Jay Bird (Matt Rush 73).

Unused substitutes: Conor Wilkinson, Ollie Kensdale.

Attendance: 2,439 (214 away).

Referee: Alex Chilowicz. Assistant referees: Peter Lowe, Damith Bandara. Fourth official: Chay Hathway.