MATCH REPORTS 2005-06

Southern League Premier Division

 Team Bath 2  Northwood 3

Report by Alan Evans

The Woods survived a late comeback from the student side to notch another three valuable points – their third away win from their last five games on their travels.

With Dave Nolan suspended, Gary Meakin came in to the right-back spot for his first start since rejoining the club, while Alistair Heselton replaced the unavailable Darren Grieves. With Billy Matthews and Aaron Ferdinand also ruled out with suspension and injury respectively, there was a call up for youth teamer Daniel Hawes, who took a place on the subs bench.

The team were late in arriving at the ground due to a transport problem but adapted well to the shorter preparation time and began the game brightly. After just six minutes Luke Garrard combined with Frazer Toms on the left and knocked in a cross which was just out of the reach of the unmarked Peter Dean and goalkeeper Darren Chitty collected.

Three minutes later it was Team Bath’s turn to create a chance, but good work from Scott Canham led to Luke Jones missing the target.

The Woods hit back and almost went ahead after 20 minutes. A clever, quick free-kick from Dean Clark saw Dean set up Toms and his left-foot strike was pushed round the post by Chitty.

Liam Watson made a good save low down to deny Matt Townley three minutes later, but as the half progressed it was Northwood who took control. The opening goal came on 36 minutes when a shot from Toms was too hot for Chitty to hold and, as the ball squirmed free, it was Clark the predator to take the ball away from the prostrate ‘keeper and knock it into the empty net.

There was a surreal start to the second-half. After two minutes of action, the assistant referee flagged and informed the man in the middle that Team Bath had made a half-time substitution without informing him.

The usual punishment is a caution to the player, who had actually had an early chance, but on this occasion the referee decreed the first two minutes null and void and kicked-off the second-half again!!

After 51 minutes that substitute, Jake Reid was denied a possible goal when Meakin dived in with a superb block-tackle in the box and a minute later the Woods went further ahead. Some excellent football got the effervescent Dean into the box where he was felled by former Hendon defender Dean Coppard for a clear penalty. Clark tucked it away neatly to make it 2-0 and within a minute that lead was extended further.

More good football saw Wayne Carter, probably the man of the match for his domination of the midfield area, slip a great ball through to Alistair Heselton who steered it past Chitty for number three.

The Woods were cruising for the next twenty minutes, Clark just missing out on a hat-trick when Chitty saved at his near-post but then Team Bath suddenly found some form and scored two stylish goals inside a minute. Firstly, Reid headed home a near-post corner and then Paul Tisdale powered in another header after Scott Canham had knocked back a long-ball in from Danny Maye.

With thirteen minutes to go it could have been a nervous time for the Woods but three minutes later, the home side had substitute Tomas Jaukovic red-carded for a combination of a stamp and a couple of punches and it was relatively easy to hold on against ten men.