ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
4 min read
A sensational five-goal salvo from Mitch Hahn plus three from Elliot Gold earned second division Woodford Wanderers a stunning 7-4 victory over Division One favourites FC Team after extra time.
Sunday was a clash of two footballing sides separated by one division. FC Team A, second of the first division, up against Division Two title contenders Woodford Wanderers.
The game kicked off at a back up location with a heavy pitch at Ashton Playing Fields that favoured neither side. Prior to today's game, FC Team A where predicted to march on in there quest for cup glory with a routine win over Woodford.
The game kicked off in a predictable manner with FC Team A on top early on really pushing for a goal. FC Team broke through the Woodford's defence numerous times with only themselves and Jay Jaffa to blame after Woodford's No. 1 kept them at bay.
It wasn't long though until FC Team broke the deadlock with a great corner from the right which was met by the head of the FC Team striker as he leaped above Paul Shone and David Green to head the ball past Jaffa to put FC Team ahead.
Shortly after, things got physical as striker Darryl Green and FC's left back kicked off. Green was replaced shortly after due to an injury and on came Adam Poole to partner Hahn up top.
Woodford kicked off but were quickly on the back foot again, 20 minutes gone and FC Team quickly doubled their lead after Levy was beaten trying to the play the offside trap leaving FC Team through 1 on 1 to slot home the second.
This time Woodford restarted but something was different. Woodford seemed to be awake playing with a real desire to get themselves back in the game and on 30 minutes they got their reward when Elliott Gold played a Gerrard-esque ball from inside his own half over the top to a chasing Hahn who beat the defender and keeper with with a great dink over their heads as he ran past them to meet the ball before smashing home to make it 2-1.
Before the end of the half, Poole played a low through ball into the path of Hahn who took the ball in his stride taking it round the keeper and cooly slotting home to tie the game up as the ref blew for half time.
The second half kicked off with both teams looking to take control but found themselves cancelling each other out. Then a chance fell for FC Team after a bit of trickery down the left to get into the box allowing the winger to drive in a low shot which saved brilliantly by Jaffa but he could only push it out to the FC Team striker who pounced on it an smashed it in to make the score 3-2.
The game had hardly been short of goals with five in 50 minutes and it didn't look like the goals were going to stop when Woodford pulled the game back to 3-3.
Hahn played a quick and clever one-two on the edge of box with Alex Aviram and found him inside the box before he picked his spot and drives the ball in to the top corner to tie the game and complete his hat-trick.
FC Team found themselves on top once again creating chances and coming close from a free kick, then with two minutes till the end of normal time, Hahn committed a foul giving FC Team a free kick on the edge of the box. FC Team to a quick free kick catching Woodford off guard with a quick pass in the box leaving FC Team an open goal for them to slot home.
With the score at 4-3 and two minutes left FC Team thought they had done enough to secure a win.
With 30 seconds to go, Woodford had thrown everything forward, player-manager Aviram played a long ball over the top into the box which was cleared poorly by the FC Team defence with the ball being met on the just inside the box by the right foot of David Green who volleyed it straight into the corner with the keeper only able to get a weak hand to it. Woodford couldn't believe they had managed to come back for the third time to make it 4-4 and take the game to extra time.
What a fantatic game of football.
With extra time underway, Woodford seemed to keep the momentum following their equaliser, they were looking fitter and more determined and this showed to be true when Samm Pearey played the ball across goal accidentally following his mis-hit shot, Jerome Marks sent a low cross back in with Elliot Gold sliding in hitting the bar which was then cleared but only to the feet of Hahn, he took one touch before smashing it in past the keeper giving Woodford the lead for the first time in the game.
In the second half of extra time, Woodford was looking stronger. Jaffa took a goal kick sending the ball up the field which was misjudged by the FC Team defence leaving Hahn with it all to do. Hahn pushed forward 20 yards getting into the box with only the keeper to beat when he slotted it home for Woodford to further cement their lead making it 6-4, and meaning Hahn had now scored his fifth of the game.
With 10 minutes left Woodford were firmly in control and then extra time substitute Daryl Kay, who hasn't scored in 10 years, latched onto a through ball from Gold. Kay brilliantly found space to run into to get on to Gold's through ball, Kay pushed forward curving his run to leave him one on one as he calmly slotted it in at the far post. Kay was instantly crowded by his teammates in celebration.
Woodford had done it, they had come back three times to force extra time and then pushed on to seal a deserved and well fought victory.
Woodford player-manager Alex Aviram told JC Sport: "Well today really was cup football at its best; two teams going all out to put there name in the hat for the next round.
"Credit to FC Team. They put in a great performance today. We just wanted it more in the end.
"The momentum stays in Essex for the moment. It also helped to have Hahn back in the team. He was on fire, scoring five goals. He was a different class today. We showed character to come from behind three times. Elliot Gold constantly harassed them and David Green was like a brick wall.
"I have to praise all my players today. Everyone battled and we deserved our reward. Now we can look forward to next round and hope to push on in the cup."