Match Report
by Robin Piper
Northwood’s long unbeaten run finally came to end in a tale of two penalties at Rookery Hill. The game was decided by East Thurrock making the most of a fortuitous first half penalty award, whilst Rob Ursell was unable to do the same when his second-half spot-kick was saved by Rocks’ keeper Richard Wray.
Woods had to make a late change as Ryan Tackley suffered a calf injury in the warm-up, Lee Holland stepping into the breach at right-back, with Danny Power switching to left full-back.
Fluent football was at a premium in the early stages of a game not helped by the over-use of the referee’s whistle.
Northwood had to do most of the defending in the opening period as they were tested by a series of set pieces, Max Cornhill being afforded a couple of free headers but was unable to beat Woods’ custodian Mitch Swain.
Northwood were struggling to make much of an attacking impact, although Anthony Page wasn’t far away with a header when he latched onto Power’s long throw into the danger area.
But the pivotal moment of the game arrived in the second minute of first half stoppage time, and after Michael Peacock was adjudged to have tripped Martin Tuohy, Kris Newby stepping up to make no mistake from the penalty spot.
Woods hoped for better things after the break but they continued to struggle against their physically stronger opponents, and Swain was quickly off his line to smother Kurt Smith’s effort, whilst the striker also shot wide after getting beyond the Northwood defence.
Hugo Figueiredo was introduced to the Woods’ attack in place of Solomon Henry on the hour mark, and the substitute drew a save out of Wray in the home goal as Northwood began to threaten.
Woods were thrown a lifeline after Eliott Gresham handled in the box but Wray guessed right as he dived to his left to save Ursell’s 74th minute penalty attempt.
The returning Dwain Williams replaced Holland on 78 minutes as Woods continued to look for a way back into the game, but they never really looked like breaking down the Rocks’ rearguard. APage header which failed to trouble Wray was the nearest they came to doing so.
East Thurrock almost added a second in added time but the back-tracking Peacock made a excellent acrobatic goal-line clearance after Tuohy had lifted the ball beyond Swain.
Photos: James Brown |
