This clash of cultures was not what HG Wells envisaged when he penned his classic in Woking but two worlds collided in leafy Surrey and the “glittering titans” of the Premier League emerged as the victors.
Will Hughes and Troy Deeney scored the goals to ensure the visitors from another planet suffered no mishaps in unfamiliar territory with supporters standing on terracing on three sides of the cosy Laithwaite Community Stadium.
Adding a further element of surrealism was Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler, track-suited and leaning casually by the home dug-out in his unpaid role as assistant to manager Alan Dowson, and Woking’s long-serving kitman Malcolm Jobling, owner of non-league’s most famous mullet.
Only in the FA Cup. It probably wasn’t the scene pictured by Adaberto Penaranda when the highly-rated Venezuelan left home to seek his fortune in European football.
Penaranda, making his Watford debut after loan spells in Spain, was soon drawing the focus of the Woking fans with his dyed blond hair, short sleeves and gloves combination and fondness for an extravagant step-over.
His first effort, miscued from 25 yards, drew derisory cheers from behind the goal where Woking’s noisiest fans were gathered.
His second was treated with more respect, a gasp in recognition of a curling which flashed off the surface and narrowly wide of the far post.
By half-time, they were jeering his every touch and cheering his mistakes.
Although, by this stage of the game, Watford were comfortably in control and a goal up.
It was scored by Hughes who made a run to collect a corner from Adam Masina and swept it through a congested goal mouth from the edge of the penalty area.
“We’ve got the ball,” chorused home supporters when they finally enjoyed a short period of settled possession.
It didn’t last for long, however and, when the visitors won it back, they changed the song to: “We’ve lost the ball.”
A titter of amusement rippled around the ground.
A great roar went up when one of the assistant referees was toppled over the adverting boards by players in pursuit of a bouncing ball. “That’s Entertainment” as local music legend Paul Weller might have said.
Weller’s music crackled through the public address system before the game and during the interval.
On the pitch Dowson’s team chased hard to make blocks and smother Watford. Nathan Collier blocked from Domingos Quina and Jamar Loza anticipated a back-heel by Hughes.
Watford striker Isaac Success was booked for simulation early in the game. He disputed the decision by referee Graham Scott but the chances of anything coming from VAR were a million to one.
The Video Assistant Referee was in action at some third round ties, but not this one.
Miguel Britos went close with a header from a corner and goalkeeper Craig Rose saved at his near post to deny Success.
Tom Cleverley, whose father’s uncle Reg Stratton played for Woking when they won the Amateur Cup in 1958, rattled the bar with a free-kick from 25 yards out.
Woking’s moments of promise were fleeting. There was a ripple of excitement in the first half when Jake Hyde slipped a pass to release Greg Luer behind Masina but Watford’s left-back quickly recovered.
Jack Cook met a corner with a strong header midway through the first half but experienced ‘keeper Heurelho Gomes made a routine save, diving to his right.
They proved more threatening after the interval. Gomes made saves to deny Hyde and substitute Armani Little.
The best chance fell to Harvey Bradley in the closing minutes but he could not direct his header on target.
At times it all seemed a little too comfortable for Watford and they lost the sense of the urgency to make their possession count.
The introduction of Deeney and Ken Sema provided the jolt required to avoid an anxious final few minutes. Sema’s cross was converted by Deeney with almost his first touch.
Woking return to their quest for promotion from the National League (South) and Watford go into the hat for the Fourth Round draw.
