Wednesday 25th September, 2024 | Buckhurst Hill 2(5) – (4)2 Ilford | Errington Challenge Cup | Attendance : 32
By Harry Biggs
The Stags are back to winning ways after a penalty shootout victory vs Ilford at Myrak Park in the Errington Challenge Cup. Buckhurst Hill looked to return to the victorious side of things after an exit from the Isuzu FA Vase last time out.
Mark named a changed side to our 2-0 defeat to Newbury Forest as Smith was preferred between the sticks, coming back into the side for the first time since the 7th September. There was no George Thompson or Zuhdu available for this cup tie so up stepped Dan Jones & Archie Hammond who would take their places up front. Quincy Warner was available for selection after serving a 3 match ban due to a straight red card picked up at Benfleet away from home. Alfie Paddington and Victor Umer were available to make the bench from our reserve side.
Onto the action now and inside the first minute Toby Smith was forced to make a save for The Stags after a shot was fired at the Buckhurst Hill goalkeeper. The Stags would be the next team to have a massive chance 10 minutes later after Hammond drove through the Ilford defense only for his effort to strike the post and go out for a goal kick.
Ilford would go ahead after 18 minutes as The Stags failed to clear a corner and the visitors’ Greg Akpele was able to swing a leg at the ball just inside the 18 yard box which would trickle into Smith’s net.
Jones would have a promising chance for The Stags just after the opener as he spotted the visitors’ keeper off his line and would take a shot from range but his shot went just over.
Robertson would level things for Buckhurst Hill after 41 minutes as he picked up the ball brilliantly inside the penalty area and volleyed the bouncing ball into the Ilford net. The lead wouldn’t last long though as Ilford would regain the lead after only 4 minutes as Greg Akpele was on the scoresheet again for the visitors after a dangerous counter troubled The Stags defense who were too bothered about appealing for a foul and Ilford would have the advantage going into the break.
The second half now and there were not too many decisive moments for both teams as The Stags would have the line share of possession. Buckhurst Hill would equalize just after the hour mark as Dan Jones would return from injury with a spot kick goal which was brilliantly taken to level things for the second time in the match. The visitors looked repeatedly dangerous on the counter attack after Akpele was released through on goal in a dangerous attack but Smith was off his line quickly to claim the loose ball.
Not many chances were left in the game and Ilford looked like they had won it with 4 minutes to go but Toby Smith would pull off an unbelievable save for Buckhurst Hill to keep them in the cup tie. Smith was fully stretched to make the save as he pulled off a fingertip save to pull the ball onto the post of his net after a powerful shot was sent his way by a Ilford attacker.
The Stags would have the last chance of the 90 but the effort was somehow saved by the Ilford keeper, and so this cup tie would have to settle on penalties on a rainy night at Myrak Park.
The Stags would go on to win on penalties 5-4 after Toby Smith is the hero saving the winning penalty to send The Stags through to the next round of the Errington Cup. Buckhurst Hill will face Woodford Town in the next round at Myrak Park for a Roding Valley Derby Cup Clash !
TEAM :
Smith (GK), Feeley, Carolan, Okuguni, Harris ©️, Ogunsanya, Warner, Markatis, Jones, Hammond, Robertson
SUBS :
Long (22’ – Feeley), Campbell (66’ – Campbell), Paddington (66’ – Robertson), Umer (79’ – Harris), Frempong (79’ – Hammond)
