Northwood secured a tie with AFC Wimbledon, courtesy of their win over AFC Hornchurch.
By David Barber. Wednesday, 07 November 2007.
Northwood 2-1 AFC Hornchurch
FA Carlsberg Trophy
Second Round Qualifying Replay
7.45pm, Tuesday 6 November 2007
Northwood Park, Northwood FC
Winning clubs receive £2000
Click here for the results
Colin Payne's Woods beat a team from a higher division at Northwood Park last night to earn an exciting tie at AFC Wimbledon in the next round. After dominating the game in the first half and missing a penalty, Hornchurch were shell-shocked to concede two goals in eight minutes early in the second half.
The Essex visitors pinned Woods in their own half for large chunks of the first period but found the home defence in resolute mood. Centre-back and skipper Adam Theo, who had missed the original tie through suspension, was a tower of strength. He was ably assisted by Bradley Hewitt in the centre and Jazz Rose and Ryan Tackley at full-back.
Woods 'keeper Mitch Swain also showed a high level of competence throughout and had no problem diving amongst the flying boots in the goalmouth. The Urchins could have been three or four goals up by the time Kris Lee was tripped in the box for a 29th minute penalty. Swain had saved a spot-kick a few days earlier in a Ryman Division One North fixture against Maldon Town and he repeated the feat by plunging to his left to palm Joe Keith's firmly-struck left-footer to safety.
Northwood had barely threatened the Hornchurch goal before half-time but they began to move forward purposefully after the break. Danny Hart and Abdulai Yoki were showing good pace down the flanks and Elliott Buchanan, scorer of both goals in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Bridge Avenue, could finally sniff some openings. Simieon Howell side-stepped two defenders in a surging run from midfield and his shot that was tipped round the post by Dale Brightley seemed to inspire the home side.
Moments later, on 57 minutes, the corner was half-cleared and Yoki shot low into the far corner for the equaliser. Eight minutes later the ball was crossed low into the six-yard box from the byeline and Buchanan snapped up the chance.
There was the inevitable onslaught as Urchins threw players forward to try and get back into the match, one they were expected to win. Danny Glozier's long pass along the ground played Kris Lee in for a simple left-footed strike that made it 2-1 with 13 minutes left on the clock. Then there was a series of Hornchurch corners, nearly all from the left, and an almighty scramble near the goal-line in the 90th minute - but Woods clung on for the win.
Attendance: 110