For a second successive campaign, Shane Baptiste’s Woodford Town side have landed themselves a place in the Second Qualifying Round of the world’s greatest domestic cup competition! Come Monday at 1pm, The Woods will be hoping that an exciting tie in QR2 awaits them, once the FA release the draw and teams from the National League North and South (Step Two) enter the fray.

Looking to bounce back after a heavy defeat at Frenford on Bank Holiday Monday, the visitors knew they needed to start fast, and they did just that. A dominant opening phase of the game led to Normand Kebi rising highest from a set-piece to head home, and that set the tone for the remainder of the afternoon!

What was left of the first half ended up turning into a typical scrappy, cagey cup tie, but it was after the break that Woodford stepped it up a notch and turned on the style. Despite having chances, there was no second goal, and it looked like a case of more missed opportunities in the final third may end up costing Baptiste’s men once again. That, however, was until Jibran Ahmed fired home a second with a quarter of an hour remaining. The two-goal lead acted as a comfortable bumper for The Woods, and just four minutes later, Mo Lawal, making his senior debut in yellow and blue, put the tie to bed with his first goal for the Club!

Safe and sound, and surely through to the next round, there was one final cause for concern, although it was nothing more than a mere consolation as Daniel Forde put Dunstable on the scoresheet as the clock struck ninety.

In front of a small, but noisy travelling contingent, those wearing yellow and blue shirts celebrated, knowing that there may still be the possibility of a special night under the Ashton’s lights in the FA Cup.

Starting XI: Jones (GK); Owusu (C), Agboola, Hastings, Martins; Jewers, Kebi, Protic; Ahmed, Sotoyinbo, Ofori.