Boreham Wood emerged as the stars of this thrilling cup show before the BBC cameras.

The pre-match atmosphere in the bumper crowd was of tense optimism. Programmes sold out and the match was delayed due to crowd congestion.

Maidstone came out hell bent on attack, but the Wood contained them well in the early exchanges and opened the scoring on nine minutes.

Wood long throw specialist Lee Harvey projected the ball into the crowded goalmouth, only to receive it straight back. His rifled return took a touch from Forrester before Jeran Meah slammed the ball home.

Three frenetic minutes later, Maidstone goal machine Steve Butler fed Ribbens on the right. He cut into the Wood penalty area sending a dangerous curling cross which was heading wide of the goal, only for Wood defender Gary Wotton to steer it into the back of his own net for the equaliser.

The home side were preoccupied with attack and became prone to losing possession in midfield, where Marvin Walker dominated proceedings. The goal of the game came on 18 minutes.

Gary Dixon intercepted a poor pass and fed Scott Forester, whose neat flick return pass set Dixon speeding off towards goal and he exquisitely chipped keeper Hudson for Wood's second goal.

Wood produced some wonderful passing football in this period, and yet another Forrester enhanced move ended with Corey Browne bringing out the best in Hudson.

Maidstone had chances too, a great covering tackle from Lee Harvey prevented Marshall firing at goal, and a Butler header from a corner tested Noel Imber's reflexes.

On 34 minutes Wood eased into a two goal lead. Another priceless Lee Harvey throw was flicked on by the head of Gary Wotton, and Dixon on the far post steered the ball safely over the goal line.

With the second half just two minutes old, Webster cut into the Wood penalty area and was tackled by Brian Jones.

The referee judged the tackle to be worthy of a penalty, which Butler squeezed low and left of the diving Imber. This inspired belief in the home side, winning five corners in as many minutes.

Wood soaked up the pressure and on 62 minutes Dixon fed Jones who jinked past the Maidstone defence, his shot forcing a corner.

Jones himself sent the resulting dead ball to the far post, where Jeran Meah unchallenged, coolly clipped home Wood's fourth.

At this point effectively the contest ended, with Wood producing a masterclass lesson in cup-tie football.

On 87 minutes the influential Scott Forester finished off a classy move, to coolly slot the ball past Hudson for number five.

Manager Micky Engwell said: "I am absolutely overjoyed with my team's great professional all round performance", and like the travelling Wood fans, glad to have won a F A Cup tie after four years of waiting.

WOOD: Imber, Grime, Kodra, Wotton, Harvey, Walker, Meah, Browne (Akinsanya 90), Dixon (Boyle-Renner 90), Forrester, Jones. Subs not used: Addai, Whittington, Engwell.

Maidstone United 2

Boreham Wood 5

FA Cup second

qualifying round

October 1, 2002 17:00