Everton host National League side Boreham Wood in the FA Cup
On Thursday night a non-league team will play in the fifth round of the FA Cup, Boreham Wood of the National League will be the visitors to Everton and Goodison Park.
Not that this is a first for Everton, in 1985 on their way to the final they played Conference side, Telford, in the same round. A bruising battle ensued but in the end, the Toffees ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.
Boreham Wood is a small London commuter town more memorable for its television studios and is in what is classed as the commuter belt where people get more living space within a decent journey to Central London of 12 miles.
Having entered in the First Round of this season’s competition Boreham Wood have beaten two other non-league sides and two football league side to get to the fifth round. Eastleigh and St Albans City were the two non league sides dispatched with fairly no fuss in the first two rounds.
A much tougher challenge looked to be on the cards in the third round in the shape of AFC Wimbledon, of course, FA Cup winners back in 1988 under their previous disguise when they shocked Liverpool at Wembley. However, they won pretty comfortably 2-0 at home to go into the fourth round.
They may have been a bit lucky to not draw a big Premier League club in the fourth round considering most were still in the draw, however a trip to Bournemouth would be another step up in quality to test themselves.
A brilliant first half display was capped off with a goal from Mark Ricketts in the 38th minute to send the sold out away end into dreamland.
As expected Boreham Wood tired as the game went on, but a mix of poor Bournemouth finishing and dogged and stout defending meant the National League side held on to take their place in the fifth round.
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