U15 Boys were handed a very tough draw against Kings Langley in the Herts FA County Cup, a team that made both WFL cup finals in 22/23. Last week’s performance against similarly big hitters in the form of St Albans City was just not committed enough and the boys knew a repeat today would give them no chance of progressing to the next round. However, the boys this week turned up well prepared, really focused and determined to put in a display that they could be proud of. When their approach is like this, they can match anyone and did this tremendously well today.
The opposition started fast and were surging down the Woods’ right side from the kick off and would have taken the lead but for stout defending from Captain Boshjaku and Manning, both again enjoying quality matches. Changes were required and Reed and Hobbs came on to compete with far more commitment; Reed instantly engaging the talented winger with a strong challenge, showing everyone, not least his opponent, that he was up for the battle.
In midfield, Montgomery was lively, while Crucefix was enjoying an assured game as CDM, snuffing out trouble before it reached his defenders with sound positioning, while probing constantly with intelligent passing. Ahead of him Makamian was in a no-nonsense mood, flying into countless tackles and producing excellent link up play in a season’s best performance for him thus far. These Wood stalwarts shared the MoM award.
Meantime, Green, Pop and Song all came on to give considerable performances and keep the team’s momentum moving forward as the half ending in a stalemate.
As tiredness inevitably set in, the second half saw the game open up and chances appear both ends. Marshall produced many outstanding saves as his form continues to ascend. However, in necessarily coming for a cross through a ruck of players, the ball skimmed off his fist and landed at the feet of an opponent. He seemed sure to score but, Reed came flying out of nowhere to unleash a nuclear tackle bomb which somehow kept the ball out! That bit of luck required in a cup run just wasn’t there though as the rebound fell to a Kings Langley striker who popped it home.
With the clock ticking, the boys raced forward undeterred to score an equaliser, McGuinness and Silva giving everything with the latter first stinging the keeper’s hands with a fine shot before producing a wonderful header that was palmed out by the keeper; Boshjaku just firing over the rebound. However, the biggest opportunity never came to fruition when the Kings’ keeper pole-axed Fan in the box, only for the ref to blow the whistle in favour of the keeper. The massed ranks of Wood supporters rushed to retrieve their jaws from the ground as their mouths gaped open in astonishment!
Despite their huge efforts and with Hones and Ifeacho still pushing at the end, the boys couldn’t find the equaliser and bowed out of the competition for this season. However, that’s more than acceptable as they gave all they had against a top opponent and fully restored pride in themselves whilst doing so. With this same opponent next week, the boys will be straining at the leash to get it back on again and take 3 points in the league. Such ambitions would have been ludicrous to contemplate last season but, things have changed and the Wood are very much on the march!