Boreham Wood are through to the Third Round of the FA Trophy following a dramatic penalty shootout win against high-flying Isthmian Division One North side Felixstowe and Walton United, who led for most of the game through a first-half Joshua Hitter goal. Tyrone Marsh equalised from the spot with five minutes left on the clock to take the game to penalties.

Luke Garrard made three changes to his starting line-up following Tuesday night’s narrow win against Truro City. New signing Jon Benton came into the midfield alongside Gus Mafuta, replacing Jack Payne and Tom Whelan. Junior Dixon replaced Kwesi Appiah up front.

Wood came straight out of the blocks, and new boy Jon Benton played in Jayden Richardson, who fired just wide on four minutes. A minute later, Seasiders forward Joshua Mayhew had a shot deflected into the arms of Nathan Ashmore in the Wood goal. Shortly afterwards, Willie Clemons shot straight at Josh Hare for the visitors. Felixstowe were able to nullify Boreham Wood’s attacks and started to threaten the Wood goal. The Seasiders took the lead on 16 minutes when a corner was put in at the far post by Joshua Hitter, with the Wood defence ball-watching.

Seven minutes later, an excellent Hare cross was volleyed just wide by Charles Clayden. On 29 minutes, Cameron Forde-Brown shot straight at Ashmore from a free kick. At this point, Wood started to gain more possession without really creating anything of note. On 37 minutes, a Hare cross was headed well wide by Lee Ndlovu. As we approached the interval, Wood turned the screw, and most of the play was around the Seasiders’ penalty area. However, the visitors defended well in numbers. On the stroke of half-time, Wood had their best two chances of the half when both Ndlovu and Benton had shots cleared off the line. The visitors went into the break with a deserved lead.

HT: Boreham Wood 0-1 Felixstowe & Walton United

The second half started in the same vein as the first half ended, with Boreham Wood on top. Mo Sagaf’s shot was deflected onto the crossbar three minutes after the restart. Two minutes later, Junior Dixon fluffed his lines when it looked easier to score, and Seasiders keeper Harry Wright was able to gather the ball before he could follow it up. The game really started to turn in Boreham Wood’s favour following the introduction of Jack Payne, Tom Whelan, and Kwesi Appiah off the bench on 53 minutes. Jack Payne blocked the supply line from the visitors, which was so successful in the first half, while Whelan was always at the centre of Boreham Wood’s best work.

It looked a matter of time before Wood would got the equaliser. On 61 minutes, Clayden’s cross was nearly turned into his own goal by Seasiders defender Hugh Cullum, and a minute later, Whelan fired just over following some good approach play by Richardson. Tyrone Marsh nearly made an instant impact when he came on but fired his shot straight at Wright on 72 minutes. Ndlovu went close with a similar effort two minutes later. Just when it looked like the visitors had weathered the storm, Boreham Wood got a penalty with five minutes to go when Ndlovu was fouled in the area. Marsh stepped up and made no mistake from twelve yards, sending the game to penalties.

FT: Boreham Wood 1-1 Felixstowe & Walton United

The first two penalties were converted for each side, with Whelan and Appiah scoring for Wood and Jack Ainsley and Cameron Forde-Brown converting for the visitors. Marsh then put his penalty wide before Joshua Mayhew scored for the Seasiders, giving the visitors the advantage after three kicks each. Josh Hare then scored for Wood before Hitter forced an excellent save from Ashmore. Charlie O’Connell then converted for Wood before Callum Harrison took the shootout to sudden death. Ndlovu then scored, and Noel Aitkens forced another save from Ashmore, which put Boreham Wood in the third round.

Penalties: Boreham Wood 5-4 Felixstowe & Walton United

It was a welcome victory for Boreham Wood against an excellent Felixstowe and Walton United side, but it could have been so different as the visitors led for most of the game. Luke Garrard will just be happy that his side are in the hat for the next round, but many aspects of the team’s play need to improve for Boreham Wood to maintain a promotion push.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Richardson, Clayden (Ilesanmi 89), Hare, Bush, O’Connell, Sagaf (Marsh 71), Mafuta (Whelan 53), Benton (Payne 53), Dixon (Appiah 53), Ndlovu.

Subs not used:

Felixstowe & Walton United: Wright, Caley-Brown, Warren, Aitkens, Cullum, J. Ainsley, Clemons (Harrison 60), Hitter, Mayhew, Forde-Brown, Warren.

Subs not used: S. Ainsley, Ford, Matthews, Akhuseyin.

Man of the Match: Jayden Richardson.

Match report written by Brett Lewis.