Match Report

by Robin Piper

Northwood’s dreams of a lucrative home tie against Cambridge United were dashed as Conference South high-flyers Histon came from a goal behind to book their place in the first round proper.

After two postponements some sterling work enabled the game to go ahead, the pitch bearing up remarkably well in the circumstances.

Mark Nicholls returned to the side to partner Peter Dean in attack with Lee Tunnell reverting to the bench, whilst Dave Nolan and James Shipperley started in defence in place of Lee Holland and the suspended Mark Dennison.

Woods were quickly into their stride as Danny Julienne created an early opening for Elliott Buchanan, the youngster taking one touch too many when well placed.

After Histon’s Jamie Barker had headed wide from a near post corner the visitors tried their luck with several long-range efforts. Adrian Cambridge tested Rob Bullivant in the home goal, Drew Roberts saw his drive fly narrowly wide whilst Matthew Hanvier was unable to keep his shot down.

Northwood were more than holding their own and they went onto enjoy their best spell of the game. Nicholls combined well with Nolan before threading the ball through to Dean, who was denied by a brave block from Histon ‘keeper Lance Key.

Key was called into action once again as he palmed away Yiadom Yeboah’s stab at goal during a goalmouth melee following Nicholls’ corner.

Nicholls was involved again as he provided the perfect through-ball to Dean who, with Key committed, perhaps should have shot at goal instead of trying to square the ball to Wayne Carter.

Woods continued to press, Dwane Williams heading wide, whilst Buchanan had a free-kick charged down.

Histon came out for the second period with renewed vigour, Bullivant being called upon to deal with efforts from Adrian Cambridge and Jamie Barker.

But Northwood were inches from taking the lead as Dean’s header from Nicholls’ free-kick dropped agonisingly wide of the upright.

However, Dean got the chance to make amends and he made no mistake as he scored his first goal of the season to give Woods a 69th minute lead. Histon could only clear the ball as far as Julienne, who returned the ball beyond the visitors’ defence, Dean having time to control the ball before smashing the ball beyond Key.

Histon were immediately on the attack, Bullivant palming away Barker’s header. However, Northwood’s resistance was finally broken after 76 minutes, Erkan Okay giving Bullivant no chance with a firm header from a left wing cross.

David Warner was added to the attack at the expense of Julienne as Woods sought the decisive goal. But it was Histon who grabbed the vital strike four minutes from time, Matthew Langston heading home Roberts’ near post cross.

Tunnell was thrown on for the closing minutes in place of the impressive Danny Murphy but it wasn’t to be for brave Woods who had more than earned the right to a second bite at the cherry.