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 giantkillings 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.
Salomon Rondon celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal against Boreham Wood
Rondon broke the deadlock with a smart finish at the near post during the second half
Boreham Wood defended well but Rondon was ultimately able to make the pressure pay
The striker wheels away in celebration after opening the scoring in the 57th minute
ELampard, whose team moved into the last eight and a date with Crystal Palace thanks to a double from Salomon Rondon, was distinctly unimpressed with how Everton had laboured to dispatch opponents from another parish. He never celebrated either of his team’s goals which says a lot.
Garrard, by contrast, was exultant. It was no mean feat restricting their Premier League opponents to just two goals and the £400,000 Boreham Wood received for their appearance in the fifth round will be put to good use – there may be a winter break in Dubai soon – as they aim to win promotion.
‘The fans were amazing and didn’t stop singing,’ said Garrard. ‘It’s a shame we didn’t give them their moment but they were class and they gave us everything. What this group has done is fantastic and we have been in the last 16 of a national cup competition. I am so proud.’
Football, as we know, is the most important of the least important things and the scenes before kick-off were a salutary reminder of what is happening in the world. The two teams came onto the pitch, with Ukraine flags draped over their shoulders, and stood side-by-side.
As they did so, Imagine was played at full volume and the crowd responded, singing it word for word. Imagine all the people, living life in peace… it was John Lennon’s wish 51 years ago but things in the world seems even worse at present. How bleak mankind can be.
In these moments, you need diversions to occupy your mind but what promised to be a compelling and entertaining contest, for 45 minutes, was a challenging watch. Credit to Boreham Wood for stifling Everton but Lampard knew things should have been so much better.
Rondon rose highest to meet Andros Townsend’s cross from the left and double the lead
Goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond almost clawed the ball off the line but just failed to do so
Rondon wheels away in celebration after putting the game to bed in the 84th minute
Nathan Patterson, starting for the first time since his £12million move from Rangers, tried too hard to impress; Andros Townsend couldn’t get his deliveries right, Abdoulaye Doucoure didn’t dominate midfield. Everton attacked with speed of a malfunctioning steam train, chugging along the tracks.
The only men to get near the expected standards were Anthony Gordon – who had been described as ‘incredible’ by Boreham Wood manager Garrard – and Vitaliy Mykolenko, who had been given the captain’s armband.
Both Gordon and Mykolenko had shots before half-time but neither had the precision to cause panic for Taye Ashby-Hammond, who would have had busier afternoons in the National League. There was never a point when it looked like Boreham Wood’s defence would be breached.
It was also startling to see how Everton’s players lacked the gumption to not fall into the trap that Boreham Wood set for them. The visitors came with a game plan to frustrate, they took their time with goal kicks and set pieces and generally made nuisances of themselves.
Lampard knew this only too well but, even still, he must have be alarmed by what he saw. One of his biggest challenges is getting consistent performances from a group that has been horribly inconsistent and, as determined as he may be, that is not going to change inside five weeks.
As it was, Everton improved significantly in the second period. The crowd found their voice, belatedly, and there was a better pace to the build-up play, as the superior fitness began to tell. The breakthrough arrived in the 56th minute, when Rondon pounced in front of the Gwladys Street.
Frank Lampard acknowledges the crowd following his side’s FA Cup fifth round victory
It has been a challenging season for Rondon, whom former manager Rafa Benitez had signed to provide back-up only for injuries to Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison to catapult the Venezuelan into the firing line.
‘Every day he has trained with us, he has trained really well,’ said Lampard. ‘He has been an ideal squad member with his attitude and his work. He is a different style of striker and we needed him. This game was never going to be easy, particularly after we didn’t score early on.’
So he enjoyed his moment, sliding in to apply the finish to Jonjoe Kenny’s zipping cross at the front post. You would have expected, perhaps, the breaking of the seal to open the floodgates but that wasn’t the case, as Boreham Wood kept their shape and remained in with a chance.
Richarlison thought he had finished things only for VAR to rule out his effort for handball but, eventually, a second goal arrived in the 84th minute.
Rondon was again the man, his header having too much power for Ashby-Hammond, but again Lampard was unmoved. There will be more enjoyable days and if Palace are beaten in two weeks and Everton find themselves on the way back to Wembley, none of this will matter.
‘It is what we are here for,’ said Lampard. ‘This is a magical competition that Everton have a great history in. We have to keep going and use the feeling of the fans and the togetherness. Crystal Palace will be a huge game.’
It will. If there are to be more huge games, however, the improvement must continue.
Scroll down to see how it all unfolded with Sportsmail’s live runner…
Three minutes of added time.
Two changes for Everton with Keane and Allan replaced by Welch and Price.
Boreham Wood also make a couple of late substitutions.
Gordon’s good showing comes to an end.
Lewis Dobbin comes on.
Breathing space for the Toffees!
It’s Rondon again, rising highest to meet Townsend’s cross from the left.
Ashby-Hammond had seemed to have saved it on the line but goal technology confirms the goal.
Great challenge from Reeds to deny Richarlison a clear sight of goal in the box.
Everton continuing to probe.
10 minutes to go. Boreham Wood with just the one attempt so far.
Save!
A good stop as Richarlison lets fly from 20 yards and the Boreham Wood keeper gets down low with a strong hand to palm wide.
Gordon continuing to cause problems as he cuts in from the left and draws a comfortable save.
Everton have the ball in the net but it won’t count.
It would have been a very fortunate one as a headed clearance hit Richarlison and bounced off him into the net.
Replays show it came off his hand and VAR rules it out.
Ricketts is replaced by Comley.
Gordon twists and turns his way past a challenge on the left hand side of the box before blazing over.
He’s been bright since the break.
Save!
Gordon plays a lovely one-two with Richarlison on his way into the box but sees his effort closed down by Ashby-Hammond.
Gordon tests the keeper at his near post but this time he’s up to it.
The Ukrainian’s night ends early. He receives a standing ovation as he’s replaced by Seamus Coleman.
Mykolenko is down with a bit of a knock…
Breathrough!
It’s Kenny with another lovely ball from the right and this time Rondon manages to turn it turn at the near post.
You can feel the relief.
Brathwaite gives the ball straight to Marsh in the Everton half but he proceeds to blast it high and wide.
Waste.
Chance!
Rondon should score!
Kenny whips in a lovely cross from the right and the striker manages to power a clear header over from eight yards.
Massive let off for the visitors.
Close!
Mykolenko receives the ball in space on the left hand side of the box and fires it across goal.
Richarlison can’t quite manage to meet it at close range.
We’re back underway.
Richarlison has replaced Patterson.
Everton on top but Boreham Wood relatively comfortable at the back.
The home crowd aren’t too impressed.
Two minutes of added time.
Good news.
It looks as if the person has been stabilised. Commentator Clive Tyldesley says he can them on their feet being helped out of the stands.
Relief at Goodison.
Oh no.
Play is stopped due to a health emergency in the crowd.
The players look very worried as they watch on.
More groans as another Everton cross is easily dealt with.
They’ve had no success at all with those.
Save.
Gordon cuts in from the left and tests the keeper with an awkward bouncing strike.
He does well to push it to safety.
Allan tries to loop the ball over the top for Doucoure but it just runs away from him.
Signs of frustration from the hosts.
The visitors are starting to see more of the ball here but a lack of quality in the final third is evident.
Reminder: Boreham Wood are the only side that are yet to concede in this year’s tournament.
For all their possession Everton have only had a couple of real chances.
The crowd is getting quieter at Goodison…
A rare foray forward from Boreham Wood but Smith can’t beat the first man with his cross.
A whopping 86% possesion for Everton so far and all five shots.
Chance!
Gordon cuts the ball back for Brathwaite but he can’t turn it on target at the near post.
This could be a long night for the visiting defence.
Offside.
Allan slides Rondon through and he forces a good save. Was about a yard off anyway.
Gordon hits it straight into the wall.
Gordon draws a foul 25 yards from goal, slightly left of center.
Really promising position for a free-kick…
Doucoure with a sight of goal now but the angle is tight and he lashes into the side netting.
Everton in firm control already.
Save!
Almost the dream start for Everton as Ukraine’s Mykolenko is teed up in the box by Doucoure.
His first time finish is well saved by Ashby-Hammond down to his left.
Everton work the ball forward nicely but Patterson’s low ball from the right doesn’t beat the first man.
50 times in the Premier League era have top flight sides played non-league ones in the FA Cup.
Only on two occasions has the underdog triumphed.
First attack comes from the visitors as Marsh tries to dink a cross to the back post but gets too much on it.
Boreham Wood get us underway.
Moving scenes at Goodison.
Tears from a fan in the stands as Imagine plays on the speakers.
Mykolenko leads the team out.
Both sets of players enter the pitch with Ukraine flags as the national anthem plays.
Nice touch.
The Toffees haven’t won a trophy since 1995.
They hope to take a step towards one tonight.
The big sides avoid each other…
Middlesbrough vs Chelsea
Nottingham Forest / Huddersfield Town vs Liverpool
Southampton vs Manchester City
Crystal Palace vs Everton / Boreham Wood
Time for the draw…
England manager Gareth Southgate will be drawing the balls.
The club have moved quickly to remove boards for companies with ties to Usmanov following the decision to suspend commercial ties with the Russian billionaire due to his ties to Putin.
The redecorating finished at 3.30am.
The draw for the quarter-finals is due to take place before this game gets underway.
The Ukrainian comes into the XI and will wear the armband in a show of support for his nation.
Starting XI: Ashby-Hammond, Stevens, Stephens, Evans, Raymond, Ricketts, Kane Smith, Mendy, Rees, Marsh, Boden
Subs: Ashmore, Fyfield, Clifton, Comley, Connor Smith, Ranger
The Toffees make six changes from the weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Man City.
Starting XI: Begovic, Patterson, Branthwaite, Keane, Kenny, Doucoure, Allan, Mykolenko, Townsend, Rondon, Gordon
Subs: Holgate, Richarlison, Iwobi, Coleman, Lonergan, Dobbin, Welch,
Astley, Price
And welcome to Sportsmail’s live coverage of Everton vs Boreham Wood in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Team news to follow with kick-off at 8.15pm.
Spencer Morgan
Host commentator