Last Thursday, 20th October 2011 ‘Wood’s’ Under 18’s hosted Billericay Town in the Third and Final Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup.

Billericay Town, who came into the game current Essex County Champions, as well as sitting pretty at the top of their division with four wins from four games, started the game brightly, but ‘Wood’ stood firm and the fixture remained goalless at the interval.

Boreham Wood started the second half much better than they did the first, and as their nerves started to settle down, the football started to flow more freely.

A huge turning point in the game was when Billericay central defender was shown a red card for an off the ball incident. This opened the game up and ‘Wood’ started to dominate in key areas of the pitch, resulting in the deadlock being broken by centre half Hadley McCarthy shortly after the sending off.

‘Wood’s’ youngsters continued to dominate the game, and the tie was put out of doubt when Steve O’Connor latched onto Pele Ruddock’s parried shot to make it 2-0.

‘Wood’ Under 18’s progressed to the First Round Proper of the FA Youth Cup for the first time since playing Swansea City and Leyton Orient in consecutive season three years ago. However ‘Wood’ avoided one of the big professional clubs that enter the competition at this stage in the First Round draw, and will travel to Essex outfit Thurrock in the First Round Proper next Wednesday night. An exciting tie in the Second Round awaits the victors, against the winners of League Two Gillingham or Conference National Hayes and Yeading, at home.

Thurrock progressed to this stage after easing past Hadleigh United 5-0 last Wednesday night. Thurrock, who are in the same league as Billericay, have also won all their four opening league games, so an extremely difficult game is in store when ‘Wood’ travel to Thurrock next Wednesday night.

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