Hemel Hempstead Town 2-5 Waltham Forest

Waltham Forest defied the odds and turned out a five star performance against Southern League Premier Division side Hemel Hempstead Town, booking their place in the next round of this season’s FA Cup in the process.

In an enthralling encounter, played out in the blazing September sunshine, both sides took defence as the best form as attack, creating a frantic, end-to-end match.

Forest came straight out of the blocks, and signalled their intent within the first few minutes, with Corey Whitely forcing a good near-post save from Mark Osborn in the Hemel goal.

Forest then had a penalty turned down as Joel Palmer appeared to be challenged unfairly in the box, but the referee waved away Forest’s protests.

The home side lost their captain Jack Nelly through injury before carving out their first clear chance of the match. Charlie Mpi was put through on goal, but with Omand rushing out, he could only lift the ball over the frame of the goal.

The home side deservedly took the lead on the half-hour, as Charlie Mpi made up for his earlier miss, heading in unmarked at the back-post.

Forest responded well, and Dagher almost converted a Whitely cross, hitting the base of the post from a yard out. In any case, Dagher was adjudged to have been off-side.

The equalizer came shortly after for Forest. An excellent through pass from midfield set Whitely on his way down the wing, who in turn delivered an inch-perfect cross for Joel Palmer to fire in from close range.

Forest then hit the woodwork for a second time. Skipper Adrian Clifton was unlucky to see his header clip the post and rebound to safety, with the ‘keeper beaten.

Just before half-time, the home side lost their centre back, the fifth they have lost through injury in two games.

Hemel did not even get a touch of the ball before Forest took the lead at the start of the second half.

Manu Dagher, a threat all afternoon beat his man on the left wing, before cutting inside. Dagher’s shot was some way off-target, but fortunately for Forest, it fell straight into the path of Corey Whitely who lashed the ball home.

As with Hemel’s lead in the first half, Forest’s advantage did not last long. Poor marking from Forest again allowed Sakho Barare to fire in after Hemel’s first chance clipped the outside of the post.

Hemel then had two chances to take the lead. They began by skimming the crossbar with a piledriver from just outside the box, followed by Dave Pearce missing from just inside the box when unmarked.

On 72, Forest took the game by the scruff of the neck and began to dominate. Luke Stanley’s perfect ball into the path of Whitely allowed the winger to run from deep inside his own half. Whitely beat one marker for pace, before knocking the ball to one side of another and running around the other way to collect it. Such was the pace of Whitely’s break that there was no one in the box to support him. No matter, Whitely smashed the ball past the ‘keeper at his front post.

A fourth came shortly later. Adrian Clifton’s through pass was just short for Manu Dagher, but the home defender was lackadaisical in his play, allowing Dagher to nick the ball, round the keeper and finish into an empty net from a tight angle.

Second half substitute Chris Taylor then sealed the victory with a long-range effort which took a slight deflection on its way over Osborn.

There was still time for Clifton to snuff a few chances, before the referee blew his whistle for full-time.

For the second time in as many seasons Forest will be in the hat for the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, and they once again did it the hard way, beating step 3 opposition.