By Jon Couch at Goodison Park
Boreham Wood‘s FA Cup fairytale is finally over – but only after giving Frank Lampard’s Everton an almighty scare at Goodison Park.
The National League promotion chasers – looking to become only the second Non-League club to reach the quarter-final stages – forced the Toffees chief into a half-time re-think after frustrating their illustrious hosts in the first half.
But a change of formation in the second half ensured a huge cup shock was always beyond them as two goals from Venezuelan striker Salomon Rondon saw the home side through to a last-eight tie at Crystal Palace.
Buoyed by a 2,000-strong support, Wood hustled and harried the five-time cup winners in a stoic opening 45 minutes which brought just chances from Everton winger Anthony Gordon, both kept out by keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond.
Lampard replaced Nathan Patterson with Brazilian international Richarlison at half time, reverting to a 4-2-3-1, and Everton posed a much bigger threat thereafter.
The resistance was finally broken on 54 minutes when Jonjo Kenny centred low towards the near post and Rondon stole a yard on David Stephens to slot home. It was the first goal Boreham Wood had conceded in the FA Cup this season – a run spanning 501 minutes.
Richarlison had an effort ruled out for handball by VAR as Everton looked to put the tie to bed and on 84 minutes the game was finally safe when a fine tackle from Frankie Raymond led to an Everton corner, Andros Townsend swung the ball in high towards the back post and Rondon’s powerful downward header, kept out it initially seemed by Ashby-Hammond, was adjudged to have crossed the line.
Wood battled admirably throughout without really testing Everton keeper Asmir Begovic. The closest they came was a 20-yard effort from Tyrone Marsh which flew over the bar.
But the standing ovation they got from the entire 38,836 crowd was testament to their efforts and they can take great heart from a record-breaking run which will surely lift confidence for their promotion bid.
EVERTON (3-4-3): Begovic; Kenny, Keane (Price 89), Branthwaite; Patterson (Richarlison 46); Allan (Welch 89), Doucoure, Mykolenko (Coleman 60); Townsend, Rondon, Gordon 7 (Dobbin 86). Subs not used: Lonergan, Holgate, Iwobi, Astley
BOREHAM WOOD (3-5-2): Ashby-Hammond; Evans, Stephens, Stevens; K Smith (C Smith 73), Raymond, Ricketts (Comley 69), Rees, Mendy, Boden (Ranger 89), Marsh (Clifton 89). Subs not used: Ashmore; Fyfield
Ref: Tony Harrington
Ent rating: 3/5
Att: 38,836
