Northwood ended a run of seven consecutive defeats to deservedly overcome a battling Ware outfit and secure a rare win at Wodson Park. There was one change to the Northwood line-up, with Michael Peacock returning to the defence and Anton Robinson reverting to the substitutes’ bench, whilst Scott Purdue and Ryan Tackley occupied the wing back positions in a 3-5-2 formation.

The visitors looked the more dangerous proposition in the early stages with a series of sweeping moves, and Kyle Matthews twice went close. Woods maintained their bright start, and they deservedly took the lead on 18 minutes as Scott Orphanou displayed his goal poaching instinct to intercept an attempted back-pass before rolling the ball into an empty net.

Northwood continued to pin Ware back in their own half with the advantage of the slope, Matthews creating an opening for Peacock with the latter stabbing his shot narrowly wide before Matthews combined with Hudson and sent an enticing ball across the face of goal which just evaded Orphanou.

Matthews was at the centre of most of Northwood’s positive play and he was involved again as he sent over a corner which was met by the head of Sam Phillips, whose header bounced off the Ware crossbar.
Woods were forced into a change before the half-time break with Tackley feeling a twinge in his recently injured right knee and he was replaced by Hugo Figueiredo as a precautionary measure.

Northwood almost capped an impressive first half showing with a second goal, but Orphanou was denied by ‘keeper Ricky Wiseman after a slick move involving Matthews and Page.

Woods had to contend with the slope in the second period but they continued in a similar vein, with Hudson drawing a save from Hudson before Matthews was narrowly wide with an audacious half-volley. However, that was the last of the Northwood attacks for a while as Ware finally began to find some attacking momentum and put the visitors under a sustained spell of pressure.

Northwood managed to deal with the danger with some brave defending, but were forced into another change as Purdue succumbed to injury, with Aaron Cato his replacement on the right flank. And Northwood delivered a classic counter-attack as they increased their lead on 74 minutes as Matthews supplied the through-ball for Orphanou, who turned inside the last defender before finishing with aplomb for his second goal of the afternoon.

Ware were soon back on the attack as they looked to get back in the game, and the hosts threw themselves a lifeline as they reduced the arrears on 81 minutes when defender Matt Turpin scored from close range.

Northwood were firmly ensconced in their own half for the remainder of the game as Ware became increasingly desperate and the atmosphere became more tense with bookings on both sides. And things boiled over in the final minute as Ware’s Danny Swift and Northwood’s Phillips received their marching orders after a flare up in the Northwood six-yard box.

Woods still had some defending to do with Mitch Swain turning a Ryan Wade free-kick around the post deep into stoppage time, but the relief was palpable for the Northwood players and supporters as the final whistle sounded on a hard fought victory.

Report by ROBIN PIPER

Photos by James Brown