The Woods lived to fight another day in the high-profile FA Carlsberg Trophy with a predictable goalless draw against Southern Premier side Evesham United. The visitors had drawn their last four league matches 0-0 and only conceded the one goal in the past seven games while Northwood’s home record has seen them not concede more than one goal in any game since March.

Manager Dave Anderson had Anthony Page ruled out with injury while Captain Mark Burgess had ruled himself out for selection after being unable to win a place in the side in recent weeks. Brad Hewitt opted to play with a bandage covering his stitches in a head wound suffered on Tuesday night. Both recent signings, Ashley Harewood and Gilbert Nuako were cup-tied so had to sit the game out.

The Woods started confidently with Gary Burrell flashing a shot just wide from distance but Evesham showed their strength to battle back and went close through a Steve Luckett header from a Simon Fitter corner which was kept out by Mitch Swain in goal.

After 21 minutes, good work out wide by Jermaine Clark saw him get in a surprise cross from the by-line and Luckett again got his head to it but flicked the ball wide of the far post.

The Woods were gifted a golden opportunity to take the lead when Robins goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan kicked a clearance straight at Aaron Cato but the winger hit his first-time shot well over the gaping goal.

It was a let-off for Evesham and they were also hit by the loss of striker Justin Rowe through injury as the first-half drew to a close with the two sides still at stalemate.

The second-half once again saw Northwood start brightly with Burrell cutting in from the left and striking a shot which was comfortably taken by Vaughan. After 56 minutes a well-flighted Burrell free-kick found Eugene Ofori coming in at the far post and he should have scored but directed his header wide of the post.

The visitors reacted well and forced a succession of corners, set-pieces looking their most dangerous weapon against the Woods otherwise solid defence. Luckett again got his head to one of them only to see his effort headed off the line by Danny Power and then Clark’s good header was pushed out by Swain.

After 63 minutes the Woods showed that they were not yet finished with a Kyle Matthews free-kick being touched on by Ofori but Brad Hewitt could get no power behind his shot which was straight at the ‘keeper.

The game petered out a little from there, though the Woods finished strongly in the final five minutes. After 88 minutes a good cross from Matthews just eluded the oncoming Woods strikers and when the ball ran loose to John Christian he let fly from distance and Vaughan dived to push the ball round the post.

The Woods were dealt a final blow in stoppage-time as Matthews had to be carried off with ankle ligament damage but the two clubs will have to do it all again at Worcester City’s ground on Tuesday night.     

Report by ALAN EVANS

Photos by James Brown