Shane Baptiste’s men comfortably progressed to the Second Round of the Errington Challenge Cup, courtesy of three second-half goals, with two scored by ex-Buckhurst Hill players.

The opening stages of the game were relative even, with the hosts creating a fair few half-chances, before Woodford Town really got into their rhythm. Towards the end of the first-half it was total domination from The Woods, with the visitors looking more likely to score as Max Harbrow, Josh Banfield and Marko Protic both struck efforts narrowly wide of the post.

Whatever Shane Baptiste said at half time clearly worked a treat, with his side taking control of the game in the second half, and taking it away from The Stags early on in the proceedings just after the break. Three minutes into the half, Sam Owusu caused chaos with a long throw which ended up falling for Protic, who pounced to give Woodford Town the lead in the Roding Valley Derby.

Their lightning quick start to the second half continued when Sonny Shilling added his name to the scoresheet with 55 minutes on the clock, meaning that two former Stags players had come back to haunt them. Woodford broke through the middle and the ball fell for Shilling, who fired a low effort past Muhammed Otuyo to double the lead!

Two goals in quick succession put Woodford in the clear and ultimately ended Buckhurst Hill’s chances of success in the Errington Challenge Cup, and salt was rubbed deep into the wound with one minute of the ninety remaining. David Gokou cut inside and unleashed a spectacular curling effort which catapulted past Otuyo, sealing a memorable cup victory for Woodford Town!

In the dying stages, Manny Agboola was forced into two simply incredible saves to preserve his clean sheet, capping off a classy and assured performance from Woodford’s number one, who secured his tenth clean sheet of the season.

Woodford advance into Round Two in style, whilst The Stags’ hunt for silverware ends as they exit a cup completion for the third time this season.

Woodford Town Starting XI: E. Agboola (GK); Owusu (Johnston - 56’), Kirwan-Meade, Mitchell-Nelson, Steele; Harbrow (S. Sollosi - 65’), Banfield, Kebi (Tyrell - 71’); N. Sollosi (C - Painter - 71’), Protic, Shilling (Gokou - 56’).

Unused substitutes: N/A