Saturday 29th January 1977
WOODS HIT FIVE
NORTHWOOD 5 CAV ATHLETIC 3
Northwood progressed to the quarter-finals of the Middlesex League Cup when they beat a spirited CAV side in a high-scoring tie on Saturday.
The Woods almost took the lead in the 15th minute when Ellis latched onto a loose ball but his first time shot beat the keeper and struck the post.
The first half was drawing to a close and the ideal time to grab the lead emerged. To the relief of the large crowd it was the hosts who grabbed the opportunity the 43rd minute. A poor goal kick by the visitors keeper was well headed down by King into the path of Livingstone, and the tall striker strode on to beat the advancing keeper.
The single goal in the first half was eclipsed by a fusillade of action after the break and it resulted in a seven-goal spree. The Woods made it 2-0 within 10 minutes of the restart. Quick reaction by Cooper led to his goal after a shot by King was parried out by the keeper.
The two-goal gap gave the Woods a breathing space as the visitors lost their early enthusiasm and when it went to 3-0 most sides would have given up the ghost. The Woods’ third came from a fine King header after a run and cross by Cooper had set up the chance.
But the visitors weren't finished and by courtesy of the referee they were kept in the game by two penalties. The first was after a collision between Heslop and an attacker on a 50-50 ball that saw the score pulled back to 3-1 and then after a well taken goal by Ellis following some fine work by Heslop had made it 4-1, a second penalty when Merison was adjudged to have pushed kept CAV in the match.
The game swung from end to end and a magnificent move between Ellis and Harman saw the former sweep the final shot just wide of the post. Cooper then sent a low drive just past the post.
The Woods went nap when Livingstone used all his height to meet a free kick from Heslop and he sent a looping header over the keeper into the roof of the net. The visitors just wouldn't give up, and a late rally saw them snatch a third when Currell was left unprotected following a fine through ball that Bates converted.
Northwood: L. Currell, N. Heslop, J. Harman, M. O’Donnell, A. Merison, R. Tidd, C. Hester, G. Cooper, R. Livingstone, M. Ellis, B. Gould, sub. D. King.
|
