Luke Garrard hailed his Boreham Wood warriors on Sunday after the National League side dumped Bournemouth out of the FA Cup.
A first-half winner from captain Mark Ricketts sent the Hertfordshire club into the fifth round for the first time in their history, teeing up a trip to Everton.
Wood boss Garrard was in tears as he joined his players celebrating in front of 1400 ecstatic travelling fans after they bridged a 74-place gap to record a famous giantkilling.
Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard was in shock after his side reached the FA Cup fifth round
Fifth-tier Boreham Wood are 74 places below Bournemouth in the league pyramid
‘I am in tatters, I am on top of the world, the emotions at the minute are incredible,’ said Garrard.
‘It is just amazing. I thought they were going to hit us for eight. This hasn’t registered with me at all.
‘They are unbelievable, these boys. To a man, staff, people in the boardroom, that is for them.’
Captain Mark Ricketts’ first-half goal was enough to send the National League side through
Garrard said he was on top of the world after his side beat Bournemouth on Sunday
Garrard’s side are 17 matches undefeated as they chase promotion to the EFL for the first time and they have yet to concede a goal on their FA Cup run with a trip to Goodison Park to take on new Toffees boss Frank Lampard next.
Garrard added: ‘I love Frank and Everton coach Ashley Cole, he is the best left back Arsenal ever had.
‘To be able to pit my wits against them, it hasn’t sunk in yet.’
Boreham Wood pulled off a famous giantkilling as they dumped the Cherries out of the cup
Ricketts, 37, said: ‘This is huge for us. There was interest in the club coming into this game. To go away to Goodison Park, there will be even more. It is great for the community. We are such a small club but we have big hearts.’
Bournemouth manager Scott Parker, whose Championship side are contending for promotion back to the Premier League, said: ‘Full praise to Boreham Wood. Luke and the players were well worthy (of the win) and deserved the result tonight. I wish them all the best.
‘We know the magic the FA Cup brings and I didn’t want to be on the end of a giantkilling. But sometimes you have to take your medicine.’
