Boreham Wood not banning the 'P' word as they look to continue their bid for National League glory

The fight at the top of the National League has become a fascinating watch, with the lead changing hands on a weekly basis. 

Only two points separate the top five going into the weekend, with Rochdale leading the way, and Carlisle, York and Forest Green not far behind. 

However, among the pre-season favourites for promotion, there's also Boreham Wood, who have been this campaign's surprise package in the fifth tier. 

The Wood were a National League South team last year, but after going up through the play-offs, they have carried that momentum into 2025-26 and are right in the mix at the top of the table. 

In fact, if results go their way on Saturday, they could go into their game with Halifax, live on DAZN, looking to reach the summit. 



With that start Luke Garrard's team have made, you'd expect an air of caution from his playing staff as they roll out the cliched line of 'taking each game as it comes', but that couldn't be further from the truth. 

"The message from the start of the season was we're here to go win a league," midfielder Jon Benton states in an exclusive interview with DAZN News. 

"That's always been on our minds, you know, we don't really want to settle for play-offs. 

"It's a good thing we got promoted last year, but our goal has to be getting promoted again, and we've got enough in the building to do that. 

"We've got a good squad, and we showed in performances against the top sides in the league that we've got more than enough to do that. So, the P-word has definitely been promoted, and I think that's what we want to go and achieve this season." 

Boreham Wood

That confident approach has served Garrard's side well this season, who have shown they're here to compete with the best and are so far keeping up with the leading lights of the division, most of which are former EFL clubs. 

The Hertfordshire side have shown no fear during the opening months of the season, despite making the step up a league and facing new teams and styles, and Benton is pleased with how he and his teammates have adapted. 

"It is a big step up from the National League South to the National League. It is a big difference. It's a lot more tactical, physical," he admitted.

"But I feel like we've done really, really well. We've gone and beaten some really, really good teams, and not just by one or two goals, but comfortably. 

"The way we want to play and everything that's been given to us, you know, the lads are really taking it on board.

"It's a lot of information as well, you know, to go from teams in the National League South, to then go to a whole different league with 19 new teams that you're going to play against. It's not like familiar faces;  it's a whole different realm. 

"So, yeah, it's been a good start. Hopefully, we can keep it going, and we've got to stay with the people at the top, and go win the league, hopefully."

 

How to watch the National League exclusively on DAZN

You can watch the whole of the 2025-26 season with a National League TV DAZN subscription - and sign up now for a special offer price of £79.99! 

Every game in the National League, and selected matches in National League North and National League South, is available on DAZN, either live and/or on-demand*. That's over 600 games all in one place.

NLTV on DAZN is available on any device, including Smart TVs, mobile devices, tablets, streaming devices, games consoles, and, for viewers in the UK, your Sky box.

If you do not have the App already then just follow these instructions....

• Download the free DAZN App from your normal App store on your TV, phone, tablet, or streaming device
• On a laptop or PC   visit www.DAZN.com/home
• Select 'Get started' or 'log in'
• Enter your email address, or sign up via the Apple, Google or Facebook options
• You then have access to all of DAZN's free content, including the Matchroom boxing channel, LIV Golf and FIFA+
• Then find the National League page and click 'buy now'

For more information and to sign up, head here now.

*3pm Saturday kick-offs subject to TV blackout restrictions, but available to watch later on Saturday on-demand