MATCH REPORTS 2005-06

Middlesex Charity Cup First Round

 Uxbridge 1  Northwood 0

 Report by Robin Piper

 On a rain-soaked evening at Honeycroft, these two Borough rivals produced a game to match the miserable weather, as the hosts edged into the next round by the solitary goal.

Northwood manager Colin Payne handed debuts to defender Jason O’Connor and midfielder David Shaw, while there was a return to the starting line up for Alistair Heselton and the Howell brothers.

Woods began brightly, Heselton squandering a wonderful opportunity to open the scoring in the opening minute, miscuing from 6 yards following Leigh Harrington’s low cross.

However, it proved to be a false dawn as the game quickly degenerated. Both sides were sadly lacking in cohesion, with the quality of passing below the required standard.

Despite the scrappy nature of the half, Uxbridge created a handful of chances. Firstly Stuart Lake fired a couple of long range efforts into the arms of Adam Federici  while Stuart Bamford failed to make the most of a free header from a corner.

In a rare moment of Northwood pressure, Heselton almost pounced on a rebound from Dean’s initial shot, Uxbridge keeper Ray Francis smothering the danger.

However, the deadlock was finally broken in the final minute of the half, John Swift giving Federici no chance, following up after a shot had been blocked .

Gavin Hart replaced the injured Harrington at the break, and the replacement wing-back seemed to have a positive effect on Woods. Uxbridge defender Kevin Swift was on hand to head Hart’s dangerous cross away to safety before another cross was taken at the second attempt by Francis.

Dean Clark was the next to threaten as Northwood began to enjoy their best spell, his low shot from the edge of the box going just  the wrong side of the upright.

Darren Grieves was introduced for the ineffective Heselton with twenty minutes, remaining but the substitute striker had little effect on the proceedings.

In fact it was Uxbridge who almost extended their lead, Federici denying John Swift, Mark Nicholls almost feeding off the rebound.

But with time running out and Northwood lacking the guile and quality to unlock the Uxbridge rearguard, Woods introduced old head Dave Nolan for the final quarter of an hour. He immediately provided a perfect through ball for Peter Dean who was forced wide by Francis before shooting into the side-netting.

Federici was called upon to save from Kevin Swift’s header but as the tie moved into stoppage time Woods spurned a gilt-edged chance to force extra-time. Dean was twice the provider for Clark, whose initial shot was cleared off the line by John Swift before Francis pulled off a fine reflex save to deny the Northwood midfielder a  second time.

That proved to be the last act as the curtain came down on another Northwood defeat, Uxbridge claiming the right to play Feltham in the next round.