Middlesex edge out Essex in FA Trophy!

Northwood FC will progress to the next round of the FA Trophy after a tense but lively encounter with Essex side Basildon United FC.

Perched halfway between Wembley and Watford, the ‘Woods’ welcomed 111 spectators to their Acre Tweed ground, nestled off the Pinner Road at the end of Chestnut Avenue.

The Middlesex side trailed most of the match after Basildon’s Ruben Martins Carvalho was the grateful recipient when an unpredictable bounce in the penalty area foxed Ryan Phillips on the half-hour mark.

That was against the run of play in an eventful first half in which Marcelo Graca thumped the post from 25 yards and Devonte Totesaut rattled the Basildon crossbar.

Totesaut blasted another chance over after good work by George Isaac to rob Basildon captain Ben Steward.

However, the visitors could have buried the match just before half time with a purple patch.

Northwood keeper Hafed El-Droubi denied Ben Brookes using his body, and Tyrone Baker with a flying save in the closing minutes of the first half before rising to punch the ball off the head of the gigantic Jack Grosvenor, who would surely have headed Basildon’s second.

That wasn’t all.

Just ten minutes in, referee Stuart Kyle who had awarded three penalties in nine minutes on Tuesday at Aylesbury United awarded another for a foul inside the Basildon box. Continuing where Aylesbury left off, Denerson Moreira was denied by Basildon keeper George Marsh.

Stuart Kyle resisted the temptation to award his fifth penalty of the week after the interval. Ryan Phillips sprawled into the Basildon box but Kyle’s exaggerated cancelation gesture left the players in no doubt that play was to continue.

His farside assistant Stewart Beekman was involved in one of the more comedic moments of the game. This was an easy match to officiate with both sides showing commendable sportsmanship.

At one point during a stoppage, there was a heated exchange between Basildon right-back Nathan Putt, who had an excellent game, and Jaden Sharman, Woods’ left-back.

Keen to avoid it boiling over, Beekman raised his voice from the line to instruct both players to walk away and calm down.

However, the combination of the distance, the wind rustling through the trees, and most of all, Mr.Beekman’s very strong Scottish accent left poor Putt and Sharman quite nonplussed as to the exact wording.

Both players however correctly guessed that the sound of a large somewhat aggravated Scotsman is a very good reason to leave the scene quickly!

When play restarted, Northwood received the reward they deserved five minutes from time.

Substitute Richard Ward became the third Northwood player to hit the woodwork but Sharman reacted first to grab the equaliser and send the game to penalties, although Basildon’s Jay Nash will regret the late miss from just a yard that could have secured an away win.

El-Droubi was the home hero with two fine saves to deny Basildon, the final of which is in the video above.

Northwood have another home tie hosting Heybridge Swifts on October 17th.

Here are the other results in the FA Trophy first round from the Football Association site.

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