NORTHWICH Victoria’s FA Cup campaign will run to a ninth match after they could not be separated from Boreham Wood.  

Jim Gannon, their manager, warned beforehand that the visitors possessed pace and power - the most potent attributes of his own side – so it is no surprise the teams cancelled each other out.

Three divisions apart at kick off, they were equals in almost every way from the first whistle.

By the end a 1-1 draw was fair enough in a game illuminated before the break by Jordan Williams’ sweetly-struck free kick for the hosts.

They led for 11 minutes.

A leveller followed when Junior Morais punished goalkeeper Mason Springthorpe’s mistake from a kick, steering the ball into an empty net.

The hosts’ custodian redeemed himself with a stunning double save in the closing stages, using his instinct to parry Mustafa Tiryaki’s prod from Conor Clifford’s free kick.

Clovis Kamdjo was first to the rebound, only to be denied the same way.

Conforming to the theme, Springthorpe’s opposite number James Russell, had produced his own moment of brilliance on the hour.

After Williams had drifted away from full back Joe Devera on Vics’ left, he drilled a cross Iain Howard’s way.

The midfielder’s shot was steered goal-wards, but Wood’s number one stretched to flick it past an upright with his fingertips.

Neither side got as close again to a second-round spot.

Six years to the day since they triumphed against League One Charlton Athletic at the same stage of the competition, Vics started the contest as if spurred by the memory of Wayne Riley’s winner.

The crowd for this tie was less than a quarter in number of the one that watched then, but they played a part in rousing their favourites.

That early pressure yielded two corners and as many attempts at goal, though the momentum paused when Morais made Springthorpe work at the other end.

Vics went ahead on 12 minutes after James Ball was tripped on the edge of Boreham’s box.

Williams swerved the resulting free kick into the top corner out of Russell’s reach.

He made a simple stop from Ball’s effort shortly afterwards, then Morais shot wildly off-target after Mauro Vilhete clipped a pass into his path.

The Wood forward was more composed next time, receiving Tiryaki’s pass after Springthorpe scuffed clearance to his strike partner.

Vics started the second period as they did the first, on the front foot.

Brian Summerskill’s shot lacked the potency to alarm Russell, who followed that intervention with his best one on 60 minutes.

Clifford fizzed over a volley for the National League side after Kamdjo flicked the ball his way.

Defenders dominated though, and attackers got only glimpses of goal.

Northwich progressed last time around after a tie on home turf with higher-ranked opponents.

They will not be expected to repeat that trick on Monday week, but that’s just the way they like it.

Vics 4-1-3-2 | Springthorpe (GK), Byrne, Astles, Michael Clarke, Duxbury, Krou, Summerskill, Ball, Howard, Williams (Cook 86), Bennett (Amis 63) Subs not used Smith (GK), Ali, Roddy, Sanogo, Burnett Goal Williams 12

Wood 4-4-2 | Russell (GK), Devera, Doe, Stephens, Woodards, Vilhete, Kamdjo (Cox 86), Conor Clifford, Jeffrey, Morais, Tiryaki Subs not used Edwards (GK), Reynolds, Shakes, Howell, MacDonald Goal Morais 23 Booked Kamdjo (obstruction)

Referee Wayne Barratt

Attendance 502