Risborough Rangers 3 v 2 Wodson Park (aet)

Wodson Park were dumped out of the Challenge Trophy following this extra time defeat at second division Risborough Rangers. The hosts came close to taking an early advantage when Martin Griggs attemped an audacious lob over Dan Aldous in the Wodson goal clearing the keeper but not the pitch as the ball bounced high and came back off the bar with some of the hosts supporters already celebrating. Robbie Green had had a shot from the edge of the box deflected wide before a controversial decision saw Risborough's Joel Read sent off for a late challenge on Glen Holman on the half way line. With the home side still reeling from the sending off Tyler Hatherly set about a jinking run into the box before he was felled and referee Chris Turner gave the hosts further consternation when he pointed to the spot. The recently prolific Ashley Wackers stepped up to take the spot kick but smashed the effort against the crossbar. The missed penalty galvanised the home side who saw Griggs volley over from the edge of the box, before Lewis Dean gave them the lead when he latched onto a ball over the top to lob Aldous and give Risborough a deserved lead. Wodson came out stronger in the second period and Anthony Anstead's header from a Hatherly corner was cleared off the line. The ball was cleared off the line for a second time minutes later when the same two players combined with Anstead feeding Hatherly, whose initial shot was saved by James Tovey and his follow up hacked off the line. A third Wodson effort was cleared off the line when Hatherly spread the ball for Wackers, his effort beating Tovey but again not the defender on the line. Two minutes late the scores were level when Anstead played in Hatherly who this time made no mistake firing past Tovey. Dean should have added to his tally with Risborough making a rare break, the forward rounded Aldous but was driven too wide and could only hit the post with his eventual shot. Wodson scored what they thought was to be the winner when Hatherly's corner was headed back into the box by Kieron King finding Louis Rose who shot whilst swivelling and finding the bottom corner of the net. Having thought they had won it Wodson were frustrated to concede a soft equaliser when Griggs shot from distance evaded Aldous who was caught on his heels and left able only to watch the ball sail over his head. The game entered into extra time with Curtis Woodruffe hitting the post early on for the home side. Griggs bending free kick ended up just over the Wodson bar before the visitors wasted a golden opportunity to retake the lead with Hatherly's deep cross being headed back across goal by Anstead for Wackers who blazed over from close range. With both sides tiring chances were few and far between but following a misplaced clearance from Aldous led to a foul being given away on the edge of the box. The free kick was swung in by Griggs for Andy Hird to head home the winner and send the 2nd Division side into the Quarter Finals.

Wodson Park: Dan Aldous, Glen Holman (George Friend 86), Ross Clemo (Jack Friend 68), Louis Rose, Kieron King, Matthew Taylor, Robbie Green, Jason Coughlan (Peter Sawyer 79), Anthony Anstead, Ashley Wackers, Tyler Hatherly. Not Used: Ally Waldron, Daniel Burke.