REPORT: Boreham Wood 1 Stanley 1

Accrington Stanley and National League side Boreham Wood will have it all to do again after a 1-1 draw in the Emirates FA Cup Third Round at Meadow Park.

Boreham Wood, the lowest placed side in the competition, levelled 12 minutes from time to force a replay at the Wham Stadium.

Luke Garrard’s side have a reputation in the competition after reaching the Fifth Round last season and knocking out Bristol Rovers in the last round and they provided tough opposition for the Reds.

Stanley’s new loan signing Aaron Pressley got the nod to start up front for his Stanley debut with Harry Perritt and Sean McConville also coming into the starting line-up

The Reds started well and raced ahead on six minutes when a long throw from Tommy Leigh was not cleared by the Wood defence and Ryan Astley was there to stroke the ball into the bottom corner of the net. It was the Everton loan defender’s third goal of the campaign.

Chances were limited in the first half with Pressley doing well on his debut while the Reds defence limited Boreham Wood and Stanley’s goal was the only shot on target in the first 45 minutes.

The National League side were more of a threat after the break with their top scorer Lee Ndlovu firing just wide via a deflection and Danny Newton’s scrambled effort from the corner cleared away.

Wood manager Garrard made a triple substitution on the hour mark which included former Reds player Erico Sousa.

Stanley were on the hunt for a second though with Tommy Leigh’s free kick swerling into the arms of Wood keeper Nathan Ashmore.

Boreham Wood equalised on 78 minutes when a teasing ball from Femi Ilesanmi’s found Ndlovu in the area and he headed home his ninth goal of the campaign.

The non-league side almost won it six minutes from time but Jack Payne couldn’t connect properly with a cross.

The two sides, with 41 places separating them, will battle it out again for a place in the Fourth Round.

Stanley: Savin, Astley, Conneely, Rodgers, Perritt, Coyle, McConville (Longelo), Leigh, Hamilton, Whalley, Pressley (Adekoya)

Subs: Jensen, Longelo, Martin, Woods, Pickles, Poilly, Fernandes, Harper

Yellow: Whalley