After Saturday’s last gasp equaliser that sent this tie to a replay it was little surprise that this went the distance.
Whether you were there or following from afar you’ll have been through every emotion before Boro sealed a place in the next round when Witham’s fifth penalty was skied over the bar.
The way the night meandered to get there was largely forgettable.
On a slightly sloping, dry and dusty pitch neither side managed to exert control for any sustained period.
Boro edged ahead with 20 minutes of normal time remaining. Then, in added time at the end of the 90, having been reduced to 10 men, Witham conjured up an equaliser of quality that had largely deserted both teams to that point. A further 30 minutes of frantic but unrewarding fare followed before Boro finally prevailed.
Tom made two changes to the starting line up. Out went Scott, serving a one match ban after being sent off at Redbridge, and George. In came Ebz and Demmy.
As suggested, there was little to show from either side for even if the home side shaded whatever was there. They forced a number of corners that Boro dealt with relatively easily, and Michael was only called upon to make routine saves and interventions. Boro did get a bit sloppy at times, and invited pressure by conceding attacking set pieces a little too often for comfort, but calm defending, notably from the back 3 of Ebz, Tommy and J’Ardell, saw any danger snuffed out.
Despite Witham marginally having the better of the half Boro did come closest to scoring. Demmy swung in a free kick from an almost identical position that had brought Boro the equaliser on Saturday. As the keeper advanced to try and claim the ball dropped onto a defender’s head who awkwardly nodded goalwards. The keeper did brilliantly to react and push the ball away from a lurking Joe.
The second half largely followed the pattern of the first, but with Boro the more threatening. After Osude, Witham’s scorer on Saturday, had flashed a ball across goal we started to get further up the pitch.
Manny mishit a volley when well placed on the edge of the area, and Joe couldn’t quite stretch to get the right direction on a far post header. It was then Witham’s turn to defend a few more set pieces. They did well to prevent Joe getting a shot away from one, looked dangerous when they broke but there was little to suggest either side would get any lead, let alone a comfortable one.
Then Boro got the breakthrough with 20 minutes to go. Richard, who had replaced Derek minutes earlier, linked up well with Manny to win a corner. Demmy flicked on Alaa’s inswinger towards the far post and Richard was on hand amongst a crowd of players six yards out to force the ball home.
Boro continued to press, with Caleb showing great energy to get up and down the wing. A move involving him, Joe and Richard came back to Joe but he couldn’t take the shot in his stride and fired wide when off balance.
As expected, Witham made a couple of attacking substitutions to try and rescue the game. A headed chance, similar to Joe’s earlier in the half, looped onto the top of the bar and Ebz was booked after being beaten to a bouncing ball and catching the striker.
But Boro were still not giving up a clear chance, and suddenly looked like they would wrap the game up.
As Witham piled more players forward a long ball released Joe down the centre. As he went to meet the ball, with the keeper rushing out of his area he was unceremoniously dragged back by the scruff of the neck. No qualms from the Witham skipper, a straight red card.
Louis replaced Manny before Demmy fired the free kick high and wide.
Four minutes of normal time remained and as they expired, and 5 additional minutes signalled, Witham equalised. It was probably the best move of the match, but one Boro will be disappointed they didn’t stop. Working from their own right back area Witham played through Boro’s press and suddenly the ball was at Osude’s feet on halfway. He turned, drove at the Boro backline, got to the byline and pulled back for the ball to be swept in from 10 yards.
And so Extra Time ensued.
Boro weren’t able to make the man advantage count. Witham were pressing more for the first period and it wasn’t until the second that the first chances came our way.
Joe caught a shot sweetly but couldn’t shape it to curl inside the post. Moments later, in a carbion copy of the move that led to the red card, the Witham keeper got the run of the ball and eventually hacked clear from outside his area.
Ruben replaced a cramped up Caleb with a few minutes to go and the last action saw a Witham free kick, after another surging Osude run, float harmlessly behind.
Boro were first up with the penalties and Demmy saw his saved. Witham edged ahead before J’Ardell calmly slotted in. It was even after two as Michael dived to his right to save Witham’s second kick.
Joe, Jorge and Richard each converted either side of 2 successful efforts from Witham. And finally, with the 10th spot kick, and Witham having to score the ball sailed over the bar to confirm Boro’s place in the 3rd qualifying round.
Boro: Acquah; Dennis; Oujdi; Djassi-Sambu; Addo-Kuffour; Stirling; Yeboah; Nicolaou; Waight; Asamoah; Boxer
Subs: Rabstein (GK); Agyemang; Tavares-Baptista; Sankanu; Maffia; Ennin Mgbada
Att: 262
