Cup finals are so often decided by the finest of margins. Or, in the case of West Ham United’s National League defeat by Boreham Wood at Meadow Park, a costly error.
Had the game ended some two minutes earlier, the narrative would be so, so different.
Greg Lincoln’s West Ham United Under-21s would be National League Cup champions. And Finlay Herrick would be the toast of Rush Green. Instead, a 93rd minute spill, followed by penalty shoot-out heartbreak, means the Hammers will make the short trip back to East London empty handed.
And in the blinking of an eye, Herrick went from impending hero to cup final culprit.
Heartbreak for Herrick and West Ham! 😩
What did you make of that National League Cup final loss?
Finlay Herrick was brilliant until West Ham United error
Now, any criticism of his stoppage time error – Herrick allowed Aaron Henry’s speculative long-range effort to slip through his grasp and over the line – should be tempered by the fact that it was he who kept Boreham Wood at arms’ length throughout a one-sided second half.
Herrick made a flurry of terrific saves, including one quite outrageous reflex stop to tip a cheeky chip onto the crossbar.
Ian Waterhouse, on commentary duty for West Ham’s official YouTube channel, described that save as ‘absolutely world-class’ and Herrick ‘an absolute wall in the West Ham goal’.
Unfortunately that wall would have one missing brick.
“Finlay Herrick has been absolutely rock solid for West Ham but it just spilled through his legs,” a disbelieving Waterhouse said as Henry’s 25-yard hit and hope finally breached a resilient Hammers rearguard.
“He is an absolutely superb goalkeeper. In fact, the best goalkeeper I’ve seen this season – and I have covered 72 games!
“It’s just one of those. He’s been an absolute rock for West Ham. Cruel, cruel twist of fate indeed.”
Fin Herrick is certainly the best West Ham academy keeper we’ve seen in years. When wil Nuno give him his first-team debut?
Herrick must bounce back from National League Cup heartbreak
Herrick’s evening was summed up really when Boreham Wood’s fifth penalty rebounded back of the post. Rather than bouncing harmlessly to safety – and securing West Ham the trophy – the ball hit Herrick on the back and trickled over the line.
Who would be a goalkeeper, indeed?
At the age of 20, the England youth glovesman has just experienced the the sky-high highs and the devastating lows of life as a goalkeeper in the space of around, what, 20 minutes’ worth of action?
There can be no doubts at all about Herrick’s potential. Now, though, he will have to show the resilience and the character of a much more mature, experienced footballer.
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