Report by ALAN EVANS

Northwood slipped to their third successive league defeat without scoring a goal as this away trip to Thatcham Town on a wet and windy day provided no joy for the small band of Woods travellers. There were a few changes made following the midweek loss to Penn & Tylers Green with young defender Lewis Buamah returning after injury, Jonathan Moura moving into midfield and Under 18s’ James King also given a start. Mehdi Yone returned to the left-back spot for the first time since August. 

The home pitch had stood up well to the constant downpour that had started a couple of hours before kick-off while the brisk wind was scheduled to pick up further as the game progressed. Neither side managed to get to grips with the conditions in the early stages of the game but it was the home side, with the wind behind them, that looked most likely to threaten and that first chance came after 13 minutes when a simple ball put Shaquille Johnson into the box but he delayed his shot just long enough for Johnny Wilson to get across and put in a late block tackle.

However, Thatcham didn’t have to wait long to get in front as just two minutes later, Wilson came out of defence on a charge down the centre but a heavy touch saw Callum Winchcombe get to the loose ball just before him to poke it forward. That released Kye Williams who shrugged off the challenge from Yone and slotted home with a cool finish.

The Woods were struggling to make much impact in the final third but did finally manage to create a chance of their own on 26 minutes when Mark Osei managed to get the better of his marker on the right and knock in an inviting cross which found the head of Guiseppe Delgaudio but the Woods striker steered it wide of the post.

Thatcham continued to press and six minutes later Williams went close to netting second when picking up a half-cleared corner but his volley flew just wide of the target. Then a low, long-range strike from Elliot Emm forced Woods goalkeeper Finn Rushton into his first save of the game.

Northwood began to threaten towards the end of a difficult half though. Osei raced onto a good ball from Wilson but then crossed too close to goalkeeper James Sharlott and then, in stoppage-time, the same player found space to cut in and shoot but his effort was inches too high.

Having got through to half-time just one goal behind, hopes were high that having the wind behind them after the break would assist a Northwood comeback and they also made a change with midfielder Arnold Mengi replacing a rusty Yone, with Josh Havard dropping back into an unfamiliar left-back position.

That plan was put to more of a test though just nine minutes after the restart. From a corner on the right, Winchcombe knocked the ball in and Archie Denton climbed above Delgaudio at the far post to float a header back across goal and into a huge empty area.

The Woods looked for a way back into the game. Havard curled a free-kick from just outside the box but only made the side-netting and then Osei did well again, beating his marker and cutting a ball back to Kayne Connor but he saw his effort blocked.

It was time for more changes with Khader on for King and Delgaudio replaced by Amara Fofana and on 72 minutes Osei’s endeavour set up Khader for an early shot which was well tipped over by Sharlott. The Kingfishers’ keeper was on action again six minutes later when a good run from Connor again picked out Khader and this time his shot was low but again saved by Sharlott.

But that was as close as Northwood got to making a mark on the game as it petered out a little in the final ten minutes or so with Thatcham holding on comfortably to their third win in four games to pull further away of the foot of the table. Meanwhile, the Woods are getting a little detached in the bottom four. Next league game is in two weeks away at Amersham Town but before that they have a big FA Vase game this Saturday.