Date   1 October 2007     Competition   FA Cup 2QR     Attendance   147     Referee   Adrian Gillett (Aylesbury)

Lineup   1 Gareth Williams     2 Asher Hudson     3 Alan Bray     4 John Scarborough     5 Lewis Gonsalves     6 Bashiru Alimi     7 Malik Buari     8 Paul Honey     44 Watkins 9 Warren McBean   10 Solomon Taiwo     11 Nicky Greene             12 Liam Pestle     14 Craig Watkins     15 Ross White     16 Zak Graham     17 Phil Wilson

After a nervous hour in which they were under threat of seeing Woodford complete the FA Cup shock that they hoped to have started with their late equaliser on Saturday, Sutton finally came through this awkward trip thanks to two late goals from Craig Watkins, who began the evening relegated to the substitutes’ bench but, given his chance by an injury to Paul Honey just before half time, ended it as the match winner. It was a huge relief for U’s, who had on several occasions come close to going behind, and they will hope that to come through marks the start of better fortunes. Having scored in the first minute on Saturday they almost conceded that early on Monday as Lewis Gonsalves, returning from suspension, saw his clearance charged down by Shaun Goodall who then volleyed wide. Dave Pearson, who had caused U’s problems after coming on as substitute on Saturday, was a nuisance from the start and it took some smart reactions from Gareth Williams to come out and block his shot after one right wing attack, while just before half time Pearson evaded John Scarborough’s challenge and fired across goal when he might have done better. U’s did have their moments, Warren McBean heading wide at full stretch from Malik Buari’s cross and Nicky Greene hitting the side netting after a corner was cleared to him on the edge of the penalty area. Chances also came early in the second half as Buari headed against the bar and McBean shot wildly over when Watkins was well placed, but the Northamptonshire side still looked capable of an upset and after Wiliams had back-pedalled to tip a cross over the bar, Pearson wasted another good opening when he shot in to the side netting as the keeper came out. With the goal not coming, though, the tide threatened to turn as McBean rolled a shot just wide from Asher Hudson’s pass, and then with fifteen minutes left Watkins achieved the breakthrough with a close range finish after Alan Bray had headed Greene’s free kick across goal.  With the home side increasingly committed to attack Watkins had another chance when Buari’s overhead kick put him through but he allowed Matt Finlay to save, but four minutes from time when another attack broke down Buari powered down the right and fired in a low cross which evaded McBean and Finlay and ran for Watkins to banish any lingering fears.

Woodford team:  M Finlay, N Lazarus, T James, K Ridley, J Burnham, C Pearman, R Harris, P Lamb, S Goodall(sub C Standen 62), G Hawkins, D Pearson(sub S Haynes 85). subs n/u T Fitton, I Waldock. Booked: Pearman(6-foul), Pearson(33-foul), Lazarus(82-dissent).