Saffron Walden 1 – 2 Buckhurst Hill
Tue 6th December 2022 | Catons Lane | Attendance 110
Scorers: Ezekiel Bademosi 39′, Conor Tyrrell 90′
Report by Anthony Mercer
Buckhurst Hill scored a late winner to progress in the Peter Butcher Cup tie at a chilly Catons Lane.
Manager Mark Williams saw the return of Keaton Moore Jonah Gregory, Sonny Shilling and Bradleigh Rowland.
The home side started strongly with Scott Piggott seeing his shot go close.
In a fast and furious opening, Ezekiel Bademosi fired over. Buckhurst Hill took the lead on 39 when Hassan Nalbant played a good ball through to Bademosi to fire home.
The Stags started the second half well and saw Hassan Nalbant go close, but was denied by a good save by keeper James Young. A goalmouth scramble on 56 saw the home side go close.
On the hour the home side drew level when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Keaton Moore. Scott Piggott scored from the spot. For a long period, Saffron Walden dictated the game and should have gone in front a little while after when the dangerous Piggott hit just wide of the post when played in.
On 77′ Buckhurst Hill introduced 16-year-old youngster Jack Ferris who replaced another substitute Fehinti Falola who had only been on the pitch for 19 minutes.
On 84 Buckhurst Hill had a great chance to win the tie when Bademosi took a touch and struck the post and seconds later the same player saw his effort well blocked. On 87 Jake Moss saw his 25-yard free-kick saved as Buckhurst Hill pushed hard for the winner.
In injury time Bademosi found space on the right and crossed into the box and only Jack Ferris and Conor Tyrrell were there unmarked and it was Tyrrell who took the mantle and slotted into an empty net.
In the final seconds, Saffron Walden had a succession of corners, but Buckhurst Hill held firm and made it through to the quarter-finals where they will play Halstead Town or Romford.
THE STAGS: Blockley, Rowland, Moore, Harris, Gregory (Halford 58), Williams (Tyrrell 67), Moss, Markatis, Nalbant, Badamosi and Shilling (Falola 58, Ferris 77)
Buckhurst Hill’s next game sees them make a trip to Romford on Saturday.
