Wroxham 1-3 Boro
FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round, 21/09/24
Boro are through to the 3rd qualifying round of the FA Trophy after a come from behind victory in Norfolk. Following a lacklustre first half, after which Wroxham deservedly led, Boro had equalised within a minute of the restart and won the game with two late goals. The margin of victory was a little harsh on the hosts as they continued to create danger, but Boro were able to convert their chances and progress.
Boro made two changes from Tuesday’s FA Cup win at Witham. Scott returned after suspension, replacing Ebz, and Matty started in place of Derek after his midweek signing.
It was Wroxham out of the traps first. Michael was called into action early as the hosts enjoyed the majority of possession. And they should have been ahead on 7 minutes. A parried cross fell kindly to an unmarked striker near the penalty spot. The stab towards goal avoided the Boro defenders in the six yard box, hit the inside of the post, rolled across the area a yard out to the other post, where Tommy was on hand to hack clear.
Michael was certainly the busier of the keepers. He effectively dealt with everything Wroxham tried, mostly shots from just outside the area, while Boro attacks at the other end were fleeting and missing a decent final ball.
The hosts eventually did get their noses in front ten minutes before half time. A good move down the right created space for a cross and Forbes was in space 8 yards out to head in.
The goal did briefly spur Boro into action. Joe had our best chance of the half but couldn’t keep his effort under the bat after good build up play from Scott and Caleb.
That was as good as it got for the first half and we went in behind at the break.
Within a minute of the restart Boro had changed the whole feeling of the game. Matty’s cross was cleared to Manny on the edge of the area. Faced by a defender he turned to go outside, dragged the ball back on to his left foot and, in the half yard of space created smashed a shot inside the near post.
Manny also had the next chance. Caleb, who would be a constant threat in the second half, picked him out, but under pressure and off balance Manny’s shot was high and wide.
meanwhil, Dan had replaced Tommy, and before the hour George and Ruben came on for Demmy and Alaa.
Borohad needed to defend one Wroxham attack after a couple of missed tackles saw the ball bouncing around the penalty area, albeit without a clear cut chance materialising.
Within a few minutes of those changes Boro could, maybe should, have been ahead. Two chances fell to Joe, both after some enterprising full back play from Caleb. His first effort was spilled by the keeper and he was too much off balance to get a good connection on the follow up. The second was from closer range and the keeper did well to first smother the initial effort, then reach back and claim on the line as a prostrate Joe couldn’t get any power on the rebound.
As Boro’s threat increased Wroxham also made changes, and the momentum looked like it was swinging back in their favour. They forced a number of corners, which Boro defended well. J’Ardell noticeably in the right place on several occasions. From one of these corners they were so close to getting the lead back. A header was hacked away off the line and the follow up shot, well hit, was headed away by. Alab from under the bar with Michael beaten. Joe was working tirelessly up front but we needed to get the ball up the pitch and relieve the pressure. So, on 78 minutes Fred was introduced for Manny. Within two minutes the change had worked.
Fred made a run inside to out that created space for George to run into. Joe made a second run in behind and George’s pass was accurate. Joe still had a lot to do but wriggled some room near the corner of the six yard box and placed a left footed curler behind the keeper inside the far post.
Five minutes later and it seemed Boro had made the game safe. A poor clearance fell straight to Matty thirty yards out centrally. With the keeper out of position he controlled and drilled a shot low into the centre of an unguarded net.
So,all Boro needed to do was see out the last five minutes and added time.
They did but not without a couple of moments of anxiety. Michael made a decent save to his right and in the final minute of added time a Wroxham one on one was steered wide.
Boro’s great improvement in the second half had been rewarded and we go into Monday’s draw.
Boro line up: Acquah; Dennis; Oujdi; Djassi-Sambu; Mitchell; Stirling; Nicolaou; Waight; Young: Yeboah; Boxer
Subs; Tavares-Baptista; Agyemang; Aresti; Carey-Evans; Sankanu
Att 164
Jim Shepherd
