Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard hailed his “incredible” non-league minnows on Sunday after they shocked Championship side AFC Bournemouth with a 1-0 win in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Mark Ricketts’ first-half goal at the Vitality Stadium sent Boreham Wood into the fifth round for the first time as they demonstrated the FA Cup’s renowned knack for producing stunning upsets.
Boreham Wood, currently in fifth place in the fifth-tier National League, are the lowest ranked team left in the competition, but Bournemouth, third in the Championship, paid the price for a lethargic display that suggested they were prioritizing their push for promotion back to the English Premier League.
Photo: Reuters
Boreham Wood, yet to concede a goal in this season’s FA Cup, next face Frank Lampard’s Everton in the last 16 at Goodison Park.
Boreham Wood chairman Danny Hunter had to remortgage his house to help the club keep going during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Their emotional journey from the brink of financial ruin to FA Cup glory reduced Garrard to tears of joy during the post-match celebrations.
“I’m on top of the world, the emotions at the minute are incredible. I’m going to get emotional, they are unbelievable these boys,” Garrard said. “I was buzzing we scored the goal and I was quite content if we lost 4-1 or 5-1, just because I saw our crowd go mental.”
“We rode our luck. To go and finish that and have the scenes we did towards the end was incredible,” he said. “I love Frank Lampard. To be able to pit my wits against him, it hasn’t sunk in yet.”
After sixth-tier Kidderminster Harriers came within seconds of knocking out West Ham United before eventually losing in extra-time on Saturday, Boreham Wood proved FA Cup underdogs can still have their moment in the spotlight.
Despite their lowly status, Boreham Wood were by far the more threatening team in the first half and they drew first blood in the 38th minute.
Ricketts slotted his low shot in off the post after Bournemouth could only clear a cross to the edge of the penalty area.
It was only the 37-year-old’s second goal in more than 200 appearances, with the Boreham Wood captain needing injections just to play in the game after an injury.
“It’s huge, absolutely massive,” Ricketts said. “I knew the adrenaline would help and drive me through the game, and it definitely did. Coming into this game there was a lot of interest in the club and the community, and now to go away to Goodison Park there will be even more interest drummed up in the club and I think it’s fantastic.”
Philip Billing should have equalized in the second half when he burst through on goal, only to lob his shot onto the roof of the net.
Bournemouth left their top scorer Dominic Solanke on the bench until the final 14 minutes and his belated arrival came too late to rescue the Cherries.
Boreham Wood goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond made a superb double save to preserve the lead as he kept out Ryan Christie’s shot and Billing’s follow-up header.
There was almost last-second drama, but Solanke turned to fire centimeters wide.
Moments later, the final whistle sparked wild celebrations from Boreham Wood’s disbelieving players and fans.
Elsewhere, FA Cup holders Leicester City were knocked out after losing 4-1 at Nottingham Forest, while Liverpool advanced after beating Cardiff City 3-1.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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