Hitchin Town of the Southern League Premier Division provide the opposition this coming Tuesday night, in a rerun of the 1996-97 Final. On that occasion the Canaries ran out convincing 4-1 winners, the last time they lifted the Trophy.
Since then Wood have gone on to win the Cup on four occasions, finishing runners up in a further four seasons. This will be the first time the high flying Southern League Premier side have reached the final since their victory over Wood some nineteen years ago.
This years Final has been shipped out to Theobalds Lane, the home of Cheshunt FC, owing to a lack of sufficient infrastructure available at the Herts FA’s own County Ground.
Town are currently second in the Evo Stick Southern Premier Division, after a 5-1 victory at home to Chesham United last Monday. Although the Canaries cannot catch League leaders Poole Town, barring a miracle they will take their place in the Play Off Finals to hopefully achieve a place in either the Conference South or North next season.
The last time the two sides met was in this competition two seasons ago, when a narrow 1-0 victory at Top Field was enough to cement a place in the Final for Wood, who went on to eventually win in an unforgettable night against Bishops Stortford via a penalty shoot out. The season before Town dumped Wood out of the Cup with a comprehensive 3-0 victory. Two of those goals were spectacular long range efforts from Callum Donnelly, a player whom Wood will need to be very wary of on the night.
The current top scorer for the Canaries is Jonny McNamara, a 21 year old who has seventeen goals to his name this campaign,
Canaries Manager Mark Burke is looking forward to the game, given that he was amongst the goal scorers nineteen years ago, when his side last lifted the Trophy. “I will relish the moment, it is a big game and it has been nineteen years! A Cup Final is always a great thing to be involved in and we will enjoy the experience, especially as we will be the underdogs.”
For Wood Boss Luke Garrard, it presents an opportunity for both himself and the Club: “We have taken this competition seriously and have not turned up in the Final by luck. The Club wants it, the Chairman wants it and in my first season in charge I want it even more!”
Hertfordshire Senior Challenge Cup Final.
Boreham Wood v Hitchin Town.
Tuesday April 19th, kick off 7.45pm taking place at
Cheshunt FC
The Stadium,
Theobalds Lane.
Cheshunt.
EN8 8RU.
