Non-League Boreham Wood caused the shock of the FA Cup fourth round with a stunning away victory over Championship outfit Bournemouth. The Hertfordshire based side are in the Conference Premier – the fifth tier of English football.
But you wouldn’t have known it judging from their performance on Sunday, in which a first-half Mark Ricketts strike did the damage against the Cherries.
They had to cling on at times in the second-half, with Bournemouth having a goal disallowed.
Eventually, however, they did enough to get the job done, leading to scenes of wild celebrations from the travelling fans.
Boreham Wood will now take on Premier League big boys Everton at Goodison Park in the fifth round as their remarkable journey continues.
Their success comes after fellow non-leaguers Kidderminster came agonisingly close to beating West Ham before a last-second equaliser and eventual defeat.
The result certainly shows that the magic of the cup is alive and very much kicking.
And Everton will have to be careful to avoid what would be arguably the biggest upset in the competition’s history.
Speaking to ITV Sport after the game Joe Cole said: “I said I loved the FA Cup and this is amazing.
“The players were colossal. Absolutely this is what it’s all about. It’s a fairytale.
“I want to be on the night out with those Boreham Wood players. It’s fantastic.
“There’s very few moments in your career when you get choked up with tears coming, but this is one of them.
“It’s a community club, and those players have to soak it all in now, because that’s why you pick up a ball as a kid, for moments like that.”
Boreham Wood will be back down to earth when they face Wrexham in the FA Trophy next weekend.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, turn attentions back to the Championship when they play Birmingham on Wednesday.
