A murky Tuesday night in Northwood Park reunited the Woods with one-time Middlesex League rivals Bedfont FC for the first time in competition in fourteen years.

It was a low-profile game against a side now run by a high-profile manager in former Chelsea striker Neil Shipperley, who works alongside ex-Northwood Assistant Manager and coach Gary Farrell plus another former Chelsea and Woods star in Mark Nicholls, currently coaching from the sidelines with an injury.
Manager Dave Anderson rested key central defenders Brad Hewitt and Michael Peacock as well as Gary Burrell, Hugo Figueiredo, Sam Sharples, Mitch Swain, Scott Orphanou and John Christian. It gave plenty of opportunities to the squad players to have ninety minutes, alongside a clutch of promising reserve players.

One shining light was the late appointment of Referee Jarnail Singh to the game, an official who has been a great success having risen from the Marathon Sunday League to the Football League over the years, but still keeps a refreshing attitude towards turning out in County Cup ties. He is in his last year this season, forced to retire due to age, and he will be missed in the middle as he turns to assessing work.
It took a while for the Woods to get into gear but after dominating possession, they finally got an effort in on goal when Anton Lewis cut in and let fly, with goalkeeper Ryan Preedy tipping the ball over the bar. From the resulting corner, the ball ran loose around the six-yard box and Lewis had another chance, this time touching it wide.

Two minutes later, the returning Anthony Page headed a Harry Smart corner over the bar and soon after Ashley Harewood saw his shot pushed over the bar by the agile young ‘keeper.
It was after 28 minutes that Bedfont recorded their first shot on goal through Stefan O’Brian who wasn’t far away from distance, but the Woods continued to dominate and Aaron Cato tested Preedy from distance with the ‘keeper looking less comfortable as he saved low down.

The half came to a close with Page flicking on a corner to Lewis, whose further flick dropped onto the crossbar and away, while Chris Seeby then had a header cleared off the line. Young midfielder Will Hudson was given his chance for the second-half, replacing Page in the centre of the park, and he was first to go close when latching onto a loose ball with a low drive that flashed just wide of the post.

Danny Jones was getting more into the game and set up Lewis for a shot which was well saved, before then supplying the cross which gave Aaron Cato the opportunity to head home on 64 minutes and put the Woods in front. It was Cato’s first goal for the club and not many would have predicted that it would be with his head!

A minute later Preedy was on hand to deny Harewood with a diving save after the big striker latched onto a Lewis cross, and then Harewood got up well to meet a cross from Gilbert Nuako but he flicked his header wide.

The second goal came after 70 minutes as some excellent passing led to another cross from Nuako, and this time it was Jones who headed back across the ‘keeper and in off the post.

Substitutions were made by Bedfont as they looked to battle back and Awoala Kpunpamo made some impression with his pace as he set up O’Brian but his first-time volley drifted wide of the post.
In the end the Woods were happy with the solid victory and a place in the next round where they will travel to Hampton & Richmond Borough, the side that ended their interest in the competition last season.

Report by ALAN EVANS