FA Cup: Woodford Town upset Bowers & Pitsea in replay

The Woods found themselves 2-0 down against Bowers after 20 minutes but a hat-trick from Luke Parrott and a header from Myles John secured a tie against Felixstowe & Walton in the first qualifying round for Shane Baptiste’s side.

The hosts found themselves under early pressure from Bowers, who play a step above Essex Senior League Woodford, with Henry Sinai forcing Edward Allen into an early save from a sharp free-kick.

Bowers kept the home side under pressure and forced their way through to open the scoring after just 17 minutes as Montrell Deslandes smashed his effort into the top left corner following a long goal kick from David Hughes.

The away side seems to be cruising after doubling their advantage just two minutes later, when Benas Vaivada emphatically struck home a half volley into the far right corner from outside of the box.

But Woodford rallied after going two goals down and fought their way back into the tie just before half time as John met a wicked cross into the box and sent alooping header into the far right corner to give his side hopes of another FA Cup comeback.

Woodford had left it late in the original meeting at Bowers on Saturday, scoring in the 88th and 95th minute to force the replay, and it took another 90th-minute goal for the Woods to pull themselves level for a second time.

Parrott was alert to tap a loose ball into an open net and force extra time and Woods then took the lead for the first time in the tie when Parrott sent a stunning volley into the top left corner from outside of the box after 108 minutes to send the home crowd wild.

However, those celebrations were cut short when Vaivada carved his way through Woodford’s defence and equalised straight from the restart.

The hosts refused to give up, though, and it was Parrott who completed the stunning comeback with header at the far post to secure himself a perfect hat-trick and his side a place in the next round of the FA Cup.

The Woods will welcome another step four side to Ashton Playing fields in Felixstowe & Walton for the first qualifying round next Saturday, but attention will turn to their FA Vase tie against Park View this Friday.