MATCH REPORTS 2005-06

Southern League Premier Division

Northwood 0  Grantham Town 2

Report by Robin Piper

Northwood’s winning run came to a disappointing end after they were undone by two goals inside two first half minutes. Wood’s were unable to find a way through a well organised Grantham rearguard, which was superbly marshalled by Lincoln City’s appearance record holder, Grant Brown.

Northwood were unchanged following Tuesday night’s success against Chippenham, but it was the visitors who made the early running, with Jason Turner and Michael Sneddon going close.

Woods’ first chance came on the fifteen minute mark as Dean Clark fed Gavin Hart in the box, but having beat the defender he dragged his shot wide of the far post.

However, Northwood were shocked after 21 minutes, as Chris Bacon latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the box before sending as looping effort in to the bottom corner of the goal to give Grantham the lead.

Woods looked for an immediate reply, Peter Dean testing visiting keeper Mario Ziccardi with  a low shot from the edge of the box.

But is was Grantham who extended their lead in the on 29 minutes, Brown giving Northwood ‘keeper Liam Watson no chance with a 25 yard swerving effort to leave the hosts with a mountain to climb.

Woods warmed to the task as they enjoyed a strong finish to the half. Clark saw a couple of efforts blocked, whilst Dean wasn’t too far away with a firm long range effort.

The second half was very much one-way traffic, as Grantham seemed content to consolidate what they had and soak up the Northwood pressure.

Woods could be forgiven for thinking that it wasn’t to be their day after the post came to Grantham’s rescue. Wayne Carter provided the perfect through ball for Hart, whose shot beat the advancing Ziccardi but rebounded off the upright. The sucker punch was almost delivered by Adam Sturgess who immediately broke away but saw his shot saved by Watson.

Alistair Heselton joined the attack after 65 minutes, replacing Darren Grieves who succumbed to an ankle injury.

Shayne Demetrious was the next Northwood substitute when he replaced Gary Meakin, but Woods were restricted to two long-range James Shipperley strikes which failed to trouble Ziccardi in the Grantham goal.

In fact, it was the visitors who enjoyed the better chances in the latter stages as Woods’ efforts continued to founder on the defiant Grantham defence. Watson had to be alert to deny Bacon a second of the afternoon but Adrian Speed should have added a third for Grantham but he directed his free header wide of the post.

But there was to be no further scoring, signalling an end to Northwood’s three match winning run, a defeat that drops them back two places and one spot off the relegation zone.