Match Report
by Robin Piper
Northwood made hay in the spring sunshine as they hit five goals without out reply past lowly Witham to gain revenge for the defeat at Spa Road back in November. There was only one change to the Woods’ team which drew at Brentwood the previous week, goalkeeper Warren Carter being drafted in from Maidenhead United to replace the suspended Mitch Swain.
The match took a while to warm up with Robert King’s long range attempt for the visitors and Bradley Hewitt’s gentle header the only attempts at goal in the opening ten minutes.
However, proceedings livened up on 14 minutes as Northwood opened the scoring through Eugene Ofori when he latched onto the loose ball after Gary Senior’s shot was charged down.
Witham almost posted a reply through Stefan Falla but his overhead attempt was wide of the mark.
Although in the lead, Northwood were struggling to exert a firm grip on the game with no clear chances being created at either end.
But things looked brighter for Woods on 38 minutes when Senior registered his first goal for the club to extend the lead as he volleyed the ball home following Ofori’s headed lay-off from Rob Ursell’s cross.
Woods proceeded to pin Witham back for the remainder of the half, Senior and Chris Seeby having their close-range shots blocked, Ursell curling a shot narrowly wide before John Christian’s long range shot flew the wrong side of the upright.
Northwood were immediately on the offensive at the start of the second-half with Ofori heading narrowly over the crossbar after he latched onto substitute Gary Burrell’s cross, the latter a half-time replacement for Danny Brown.
Woods confirmed their superiority and effectively put the game beyond Witham on 49 minutes as the unfortunate Bradley Stopher headed Danny Power’s cross into his own net.
Things got worse for the visitors as Ofori scored his second goal of the afternoon on the hour-mark as he coolly swept the ball home following Burrell’s delightful far-post cross.
Kyle Matthews was introduced for Christian and took up position on the right flank, whilst Hugo Figueiredo replaced Ofori in attack.
Northwood continued to threaten more goals, with Figueiredo and Senior trying their luck from distance.
And the fifth Woods’ goal duly arrived from the penalty-spot after Senior fell under a clumsy challenge from Stopher as they competed for a bouncing ball, Burrell sending Moore the wrong way as he converted with five minutes remaining.
Northwood went close to adding more goals before the end, with Moore managing to claw Ursell’s shot away to safety, and then Matthews’ near-post header from Figueiredo’s corner flew narrowly over the bar.
But there were no further additions to the scoreline, and Northwood were delighted with the win which puts them four points ahead of play-off rivals Concord, who conceded a late goal to share the spoils at league leaders East Thurrock.
Photos: James Brown & James Solomon |
