Wednesday 18th November, 2024 | Buckhurst Hill 0-3 Woodford Town | Errington Challenge Cup | Attendance : 125
By Harry Biggs
The Stags are out of their last cup of the 24/25 season after a 3-0 defeat to local rivals Woodford Town in The Errington Challenge Cup on wednesday night.
Mark Williams named a strong side to take on rivals Woodford Town in a cup clash with a few changes made from our defeat to Canvey Island last time out, Muhammed Otuyo was the first change, replacing Toby Smith in goal. Jimi Feeley was unavailable, so he was replaced by Jonah Gregory at the back with Lucas Willison coming in for Ollie Willaims in the side, who was suspended. Suley Zuhdu replaced George Thompson who came off the bench for just 5 minutes and then came off injured to the horror of The Stags fans. Dan Jones was the last change, he replaced Alfie Padington.
Onto the action now and it was a classic football derby with The Stags & Woods Ultras singing loud and proud for both sets of players with The Stags fans out singing The Woods throughout the 90 minutes and were ‘drumming their hearts out’. The Stags started well and were definitely the better team for the first 45 minutes but would not be able to find a vital opener to separate the two teams. The first proper chance for The Stags was inside the first few minutes after Archie Hammond weaved through The Woodford eleven and would win a free kick just outside The Woods box, the set piece was brilliantly delivered but was caught well by the visitors goalkeeper, who was surely their man of the match.
A massive chance For The Stags arose at the 16th minute mark when a good attacking move really should’ve been put away but was somehow saved by The Woodford keeper who was on for the game of his life. Hammond would have another effort from a set piece a few minutes later but his effort was saved.
The half an hour mark was probably the best period for The Stags but still no chances could be scored. Zudhu would have a few chances in this period, firstly he went on a brilliant run through The Woodford team but his shot was just over. Robertson would have a brilliant chance one minute after he dribbled through The Woods defence but his shot was inches wide of the post.
The last chance of the half for The Stags was given to Suley Zuhdu who gilded through The Woods defence and tried to palace his shot in the bottom corner but his shot was brilliantly saved by The Woodford keeper, who got down low to save The Stags’ strikers shot.
The second half now and the visitors started really well and bounced back from a poor first half with a goal inside just two minutes with former Stags man Marko Protic scoring for Woodford Town with no celebration against his former club. Another former Buckhurst Hill player would make it 2-0 just a few minutes after with Sonny Shilling adding his name to the score sheet after slotting his effort home to double the visitors lead with again no cheer against his former side.
The Stags went on to make a few changes at the hour mark to try and change the outcome of the cup tie but unfortunately for Mark, it would not make a significant difference. The Woods would have a headed effort over the bar at the 70th minute before The Stags’ free kick was deflected by the wall into the arms of The Woodford keeper.
Woodford would make it 3-0 just before added time with an absolute belter with an effort from Gokou from outside of the penalty area which stunned The Stags crowd and definitely Otuyo in The Stags net. Robertson would have a brilliant chance for a consultation goal but his shot would go onto hit the side netting.
The last chance of the game would go to The Stags and somehow the ball didn’t go in after a brilliant double save from The Woodford keeper to deny Robertson from giving The Stags faithful something to cheer about.
The game would finish 3-0 to Woodford Town and The Stags would exit The Errington Cup with The Woods going on to play Little Oakley in the next round. A true non league derby and definitely a game of two halves.
TEAM :
Otuyo 🧤, Ismaili, Carolan, Warner, Harris ©️, Gregory, Willison, Hammond, Jones, Zuhdu, Robertson
SUBS :
Padington (69’ – Thompson), Pullen (46’ – Willison), Torsiello (60’ – Ismaili), Thompson (60’ – Thompson), Okuguni
UPCOMING GAMES :
Saturday 16th November 2024 – Frenford (A) – ESL Premier – Live Audio Commentary Available 🎙️
Saturday 23rd November 2024 – Stansted (H) – ESL Premier
Saturday 30th November 2024 – Halstead Town (A) – ESL Premier – Live Audio Commentary Available 🎙️
