Posted: 21st ~ February ~ 2009

Wood Dump Benfleet out of the Cup

Date : Saturday 28th Feb 2009
Fixture : Cup : 2nd Round - Home
Result : Harold Wood 4 - 0 Springfield Rouge

A second round cup tie brought division two leaders Benfleet to Harold Wood. A changed Wood side saw the versatile Stamp line up in midfield along side Munday, Gibson return for the re-promoted Todd and Manzi lead the line with Wettner, while perma-tan Duckworth and Huckstepp took mid season holidays to Miami and a local Wetherspoons pub respectively.
A scrappy half saw Wood struggle to get out of first gear but they took the lead after 20 minutes when a long throw from Smy was fumbled under pressure from Wettner, allowing Sawyer to tap in. Wood continued to capitalise on the Benfleet keepers handling with Wettner causing all sorts of problems but Wood failed to convert a string of half chances with the ball bouncing around Fleets goal line. Angry full back Fletcher then started to see more of the ball and began to kick start Wood. One telling drive found Wettner whose cross shot was drilled back across the face by Sawyer and converted by Manzi. Benfleet rarely threatened to get out of their half with Munday and Stamp combining well to stop Fleets evergreen playmaker having any time on the ball. More huffing and puffing from Wood saw the half come to a close with a 2-0 advantage. Hammond sent his team back out asking for the quality to match the workrate.
A much brighter start saw Wood create some good chances with Sawyer and Smy combining well down the right. Hammond again made 3 quick changes Walsh replacing a vacant Holliday who has yet to learn his left from his right. Stamp, who had ran out of juice, gave Atkinson a run and Wettner made way for debutant Deer. Wood continued to press and looked more balanced with the introduction of Walsh allowing a flurry of attacks now from both flanks. The game was put beyond Benfleet when a cross field pass from Walsh found Manzi whose lightning pace eluded the offside trap. Manzi finished well to make it 3. Wood finally started to enjoy the 3 goal advantage and moved the ball well all over the park with Benfleet only hitting hopeful balls at the defensive wall. Benfleets best chance of the game came when Gibson rolled an innocuous pass back to Worsdell who looked to have an eternity to pick a pass, read hero Matt Le Tissiers autobiography or take the huskies for a walk. Worsdell instead chose to chip a ball straight to the surprised Fleet forward who headed weakly back into his hands. Worsdell instantly apologised and laughed off the error. On a bumpy pitch lesser goalkeepers may have blamed a bobble...... The rest of the game was all Wood and Manzi completed his hatrick after turning Fleets last man inside out following good work from Atkinson to make it 4. Smy came close late on when a mazy run finished with his left foot drive hitting an upright when it really deserved more.
Surprise of the day was Munday completing his first ever 90 for the club although surely it was the wrath of Fletcher mid way through the second half that maybe made him think twice about looking to the bench.
A happy Hammond praised his team for endeavour although stressed “we must be more clinical in the final third“. A tough call for his man of the match with Sawyer continuing to impress and a Manzi hatrick hard to ignore but Smy gets the nod and on this display there won't be too many arguments.
Two out of two in front of the home fans but a trip to May and Baker next week will surely prove a tougher test.

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