Non-league teams deliver FA Cup drama and upsets
Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard hailed his “incredible” nonleague minnows after they shocked Championship side Bournemouth with a 1-0 win in the FA Cup fourth round last Sunday (Feb 5).
Mark Ricketts’ first half goal at Dean Court sent Boreham
Wood into the fifth round for the first time as they dem
onstrated the FA Cup’s renowned knack for producing stunning upsets.
Boreham Wood, currently
in fifth place in the fifth tier National League, are the lowest ranked team left in the competition. Their chairman Danny Hunter had to remortgage his house to help the club keep going during the coronavirus lockdown.
But Bournemouth, third in the Championship, paid the
price for a lethargic display that suggested they were prioritising their push for promotion back to the Premier
League.
Boreham Wood, yet to concede a goal in this season’s FA Cup, will face Frank
Lampard’s Everton in the last 16 at Goodison Park after the Toffees beat Brentford 4-1 in Lampard’s debut game.
Boreham Wood’s emotional journey from the brink of financial ruin to FA Cup glory reduced Garrard to tears
of joy during the post-match celebrations.
“I’m on top of the world, the emotions at the minute are
incredible. I’m going to get emotional, they are unbelievable these boys,” Garrard said.
“We rode our luck. To go and finish that and have the scenes we did towards the end was incredible.
“I love Frank Lampard. To
be able to pit my wits against him, it hasn’t sunk in yet.”
On Saturday non-league Kidderminster Harriers came
within seconds of knocking out West Ham before eventually losing in extra-time.
Sixth-tier Kidderminster sit 113 places below West Ham, who are pushing for a place in next season’s Champions League.
But the minnows defied that vast gap with a heroic display that underlined why the FA Cup remains so enthralling
for football romantics.
Kidderminster were good value for Alex Penny’s early goal at Aggborough, the defender smashing home after West Ham failed to deal with Omari Sterling’s free-kick.
Moments away from a stunning exit, David Moyes’ men were saved by Declan Rice as the England midfielder
charged forward in the first minute of stoppage time, cut inside and fired into the roof of the net.
A penalty shootout was looming in extra time until Jarrod Bowen tapped home from close range with virtually the last kick to finally end Kidderminster’s brave challenge.
Chelsea also needed extra time to see off lower league opposition after Plymouth missed a late penalty in the Blues’ 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge.
Holders Leicester City were thrashed 4-1 by Championship side Nottingham Forest and Manchester United
lost in a penalty shoot-out to Middlesborough.