Saturday 27th March 1971
TITLE HOPES FADE FOR FLU-HIT WOODS
NORTHWOOD 0 HAREFIELD UNITED 2
Northwood said goodbye to any real chance of gaining Middlesex League honours this season when they were beaten by local rivals and league leaders Harefield United on Saturday.
Woods had decided on a 4-4-2 formation in order to strangle Harefield’s midfield while leaving front-runners Byrne and Horsford to poach goals.
However, all the Woods’ tactical planning was smashed when Byrne went down with flu and was unable to play. Pearce and Wickison played although also suffering from the effects of flu.
The game became a real struggle in mid-field but it was Woods who had the first and easiest chance to go ahead. Harefield’s keeper Jee couldn’t hold a cross and the ball ran across the face of the goal. Horsford, who had made up his mind to head the ball, couldn’t adjust to the deflected line of flight and while deciding to head or kick it in, he missed it.
Harefield press forward after this escape and after 25 minutes Gill gave them the lead.
Harvey tried to instil new life into the Woods, but he found little help from his mid-field partners, although bailey in his new role gave an encouraging display.
Just before half-time Baker scored Harefield’s second goal from a header which bobbled over the line
The second half continued in mid-field and the woods rarely troubled the Harefield defence, although in their defence Dibbens played a similarly strong role to keep out the United forwards.
Northwood: R. Byrne, Harding, Madigan, Dibbens, Wickison, Gould, Harvey, Pearce, Bailey, Taylor, Horsford.
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