Felixstowe & Walton United FC

BOREHAM WOOD  1 - 1 FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED 

Boreham Wood win 5-4 on penalties

There was heartbreak in Hertfordshire for the Seasiders as they bowed out of the Isuzu FA Trophy at National South side Boreham Wood. A Josh Hitter goal saw Felixstowe lead for much of the game but a late penalty took the game to a shootout, with the home side emerging 5-4 winners.

Felixstowe had reached the second-round proper on two previous occasions, but this was a whole new ball game! Playing at the impressive Meadow Park, with its plush facilities and against a full-time side that had been pushing for promotion to the EFL in recent seasons before their surprise relegation to step 2 last season.

The Seasiders made three changes to the side that had thumped Redbridge 4-0 in midweek, Rob Harvey was cup-tied, Sam Ford had a slight groin issue and Jordan Matthews started on the bench. Josh Mayhew, Willie Clemons and the returning Cameron Forde-Brown (on loan) all started.

Boreham Wood showed their speed and strength straightaway, and debutant Jon Benton played in Jayden Richardson, who fired just wide on four minutes. A minute later, Cameron Forde-Brown raced down the left and crossed for Josh Mayhew whose shot deflected into the arms of the keeper. Willie Clemons shot straight at a defender whilst Charlie Warren’s clever play saw another dangerous ball threaten the home defence. Felixstowe were looking very confident and able to deal with the home threat whilst breaking regularly with crisp passing and forward running. A succession of corners led to Felixstowe’s goal on 17 minutes, the set-piece whipped across the box, taking a rebound or two before striking Josh Hitter and hitting the roof of the net, causing delirium amongst the away support. The home side were getting down the right flank regularly but finding their men in the middle was proving difficult, although one excellent Hare cross was volleyed just wide by Clayden on 23 minutes. Just before the half hour mark Josh Hitter saw his free kick on the edge of the box curl over the wall but comfortably gathered by the keeper. Hitter was then seemingly fouled in the box that looked like a clear penalty, but the referee showed little interest. For the remainder of the half, Boreham Wood started gained more possession and start to turn up the pressure. On 37 minutes, a cross was headed wide by Ndlovu. The Seasiders defence was holding out and defending well, with the nearest opportunity coming on the stroke of half-time, when both Ndlovu and Benton had shots cleared off the line.

The second half started where it left off, with Boreham Wood on top. Sagaf’s shot was deflected onto the crossbar on 48 minutes and Dixon wasted his effort shortly after, Harry Wright mopping up the ball before the follow up. With an hour played and numerous home substitutions ramping up the pressure, it did seem like a matter of time before the home side equalised. Felixstowe were penned back and only having brief opportunities to break forward, when they did, Josh Mayhew’s hold-up play was exceptional and the running of Charlie Warren was always a worry for the home side who had been caught out by his deft touches during the first half. Just after the hour, Clayden’s cross was nearly turned into his own goal by Hugh Cullum, and a minute later, Whelan fired just over. Substitute Tyrone Marsh fired his shot straight at Wrighty on 72 minutes and Ndlovu went close with a similar effort shortly after. With the clock ticking down and Felixstowe holding out, a poor decision by the referee to award a throw-in to the home side in error, led to the equaliser. The ball was launched into the box and a seemingly innocuous tackle near middle of the area saw the referee point to the spot, a very soft decision in my opinion. Marsh stepped up and made the scores level with just five minutes to play. Felixstowe, to their credit, could have put their heads down at that point and suffer ten minutes of pressure, including stoppage time, but instead they themselves went searching for a winner too, and a series of set-pieces caused a few worried looks in the home end as the game came to a close with the scores level at 1-1.

Boreham Wood won the toss and had the first penalty in front of the North Bank home end, Harry Wright got a hand to it but the power took it into the corner. Great penalties from Jack Ainsley and Cameron Forde-Brown made it 2-2 before Marsh sent his wide, causing some serious eyebrows to be raised in the press box (by me) as a win looked closer than ever. Josh Mayhew made it 3-2. The home side levelled it up and then the home keeper made a spectacular save from Josh Hitter. Both sides scored their fifth penalties, Callum Harrison tucking away the last of the regular pens to take it to sudden-death. Another impressive strike from Boreham Wood left Noel Aitkens needing to convert, his effort was again well-saved. The Seasiders came around the ground to take the applause of their proud supporters, with the team visibly gutted at coming so close to a major-upset.

Report by Stuart Daynes

Photos by Stefan Peck

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