Alfie Stronge saved the deciding penalty against his former side Dagenham & Redbridge to send Woodbridge Town into The FA Youth Cup second round proper for the first time in the club’s history following a remarkable tie.
The teams could not be separated after an incredible 120 minutes at Notcutts Park which finished 4-4 and included a hat-trick for Woodpeckers’ striker George Mrozek.
Stronge was released by Dagenham in the summer and he came back to haunt his old club as he saved their fifth spot kick to make it 4-3 in the shoot-out.
Woodbridge Town 4-4 (aet) Dagenham & Redbridge
(Woodbridge Town win 4-3 on penalties)
The FA Youth Cup
First Round Proper
Thursday 5 November
Notcutts Park, Woodbridge Town FC
Woodbridge have yet to taste defeat this season and you could see why as they went ahead against the higher league opposition when Mrozek slotted under the goalkeeper.
But Daggers replied immediately; a theme which was to be repeated on several occasions.
Ten minutes into the second half, Mrozek collected the ball and cut back to the corner of the penalty area before curling the ball into the far, bottom corner.
Yet again the visitors replied just a minute later when they tapped in at the far post to send the game to extra-time.
Dagenham had the hosts pinned back early into the additional time and deservedly went ahead from a shot which went in off the post.
But from the restart, Mrozek beat several defenders and smashed a 25-yard drive into the bottom corner for 3-3.
A fine strike from Dan Harrison put Woodbridge back in front in the second half of extra-time before another equaliser within a minute, as Daggers slotted the ball underneath Stronge.
The Woodpeckers will now travel to Millwall in their historic second round tie.
The FA Youth Cup was full of goals on Thursday night as the four matches produced 23 goals between them, excluding the spot-kicks at Woodbridge.
Chelsea are the FA Youth Cup holders
Bristol Rovers put four past hosts Gloucester City and will now welcome Portsmouth in the next round.
Elliot Green’s pass allowed Olly Mehew to open the scoring for the visitors and it was then 2-0 when Lewis Ellington played a one-two with Tyrone Tucker-Dixon before being left with a tap-in.
Gloucester captain Max Gourley made it 2-1 from close range midway through the first half following Ashley Bird’s deflected strike, as the City goalkeeper Nathan Charnock helped keep them in the contest.
But another Mehew finish on the hour and Green’s fine strike from all of 40 yards five minutes later, which caught Charnock off his line, helped Rovers to a 4-1 win.
Nothing could separate Biggleswade Town and Enfield Town in the first half of their match, but then an incredible four goals in five minutes opened the floodgates.
A George Riley penalty six minutes after the interval was swiftly followed by a goal from Keinan Davis to put Biggleswade 2-0 ahead.
Lewis Wilson pulled one back for Enfield before Davis completed a remarkable passage of football to make it 3-1.
Biggleswade went on to win 6-1 as Lee Northfield and Matt Moore also got on the scoresheet and Davis completed his hat-trick.
Dereham Town versus Peterborough United was another contest which ended in dramatic fashion as the lead changed twice in the final minutes.
A stunning free-kick from James Cooper gave Dereham the lead just before the break.
Posh’s hopes of victory suffered a blow when Ethan Lee was sent off for two quick-fire yellow cards.
However, moments after Dereham’s Ryan Fuller had hit the bar and Cooper fired the rebound over from six yards, Peterborough equalised on 88 minutes when Cameron Gow headed in Joe Hood’s free-kick.
But just minutes later, a ball into the box was headed home by Cooper to make it 2-1 and book a trip to Mansfield Town.
