Everton booked their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with an ultimately comfortable 2-0 win over National League side Boreham Wood at Goodison Park on Thursday night.
Salomon Rondon scored both goals for the Premier League outfit, who will now travel to top-flight rivals Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals.
And here's what the national media had to say about the Blues' performance in their round-five win.
Andy Hunter of the Guardian wrote:
There was no seismic upset at Goodison Park but no FA Cup rout or humiliation either. Boreham Wood, bidding to become only the second non-league club to reach the quarter-finals, made life extremely difficult for Everton before Premier League superiority told.
Salomon Rondon struck twice in the second half to take Frank Lampard ’s team into a last-eight meeting away at Crystal Palace. They will need to improve significantly on this display to reach the semi-finals at Wembley but the night belonged to Luke Garrard and his accomplished side. The Hertfordshire club defended expertly throughout and underlined why they are firmly in pursuit of promotion to the Football League this season.
Everton have been a class act since drawing the non-league side, Garrard had said, with the Premier League club paying for their visitors’ specially commissioned fifth-round kit, taking care of travel arrangements and sorting their accommodation. The same was true of Everton’s moving anti-war statement prior to kick off too.
Richard Jolly of the Independent wrote:
The half-time whistle was greeted with cheers. In the corner of Goodison Park that housed the Boreham Wood fans, anyway. The last non-league side standing, only the 10th to reach the fifth round since World War II, were bridging a gap of 78 places. Comfortably, too.
The reaction of a caustic Evertonian told another tale. “Boreham Senseless 0 Boreham Wood 0,” was one verdict. An hour later and the serial FA Cup winner Frank Lampard had booked a quarter-final date with Crystal Palace. But while there may be less impressive ways to reach the last eight, there probably aren’t too many.
Salomon Rondon, whose unpopularity at Goodison has stemmed in part from his performances and in part from his indelible association with Rafa Benitez, spared his successor embarrassment as he tripled his Everton goal tally in one night. But Everton limped on. Boreham Wood exited valiantly. It was the biggest game in their history and the glory went to the losers. They made £400,000 and the right impression.
Dominic King for the Daily Mail wrote:
The game had just drawn to a close when Frank Lampard meandered onto the pitch, slowly turning to clap Everton’s fans and gently wave.
A few yards away, Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard began wrapping his arms around his players before marching over to the side of the stadium that housed the visiting fans; here he quickly turned from manager to cheerleader, whipping up a noisy ovation for his team.
Had you not known the result, you might have assumed you were witnessing the aftermath of one of the greatest FA Cup giant killings in history. That story never threatened to unfold – Boreham Wood needed to have a shot if they wanted to win – but, still, the scene summed up the night.
Chris Bascombe for the Telegraph wrote:
For 57 minutes, the Boreham Wood dream lived at Goodison Park. The National League defenders were resolute, midfielders courageous, and attackers prepared to make every touch count. Boreham Wood looked like they would leave Merseyside with considerably more than a £400,000 windfall, pride and the 'few beers' their coach promised them.
Everton were overhitting passes and crosses, Kane Smith, the visitors’ Evertonian right-wing back, was delivering pirouettes in the centre-circle, and Luke Garrard’s players were winning mini battles all over the pitch.
Then Frank Lampard had seen enough. At half-time he ditched a defender, called upon his Brazil forward Richarlison and instructed him to impose some much needed Premier League class. Richarlison obliged, and although he deserved a goal - he thought had one only for the video assistant to adjudge a handball - Salomon Rondon’s double secured a quarter-final with Crystal Palace.
