Bedfont Sports 2 Northwood 0
Saturday 6th November 2021
| NORTHWOOD | |||
 |
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| 1 | Daniel Purdue | ||
| 2 | Pablo Velasco | ||
| 3 | Giovanni Palmer  |
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| 4 | Tecane Shrowder (87m) | ||
| 5 | James Gurteen | ||
| 6 | Ryan Avery | ||
| 7 | Matteo Esposito (72m) | ||
| 8 | Declan Nche | ||
| 9 | Melos Ajvazi (73m) | ||
| 10 | Leo Decabo | ||
| 11 | Ismael Ehui | ||
| Substitutes | |||
| 12 | Joakim Ehui (72m) | ||
| 14 | Gradi Milenge (73m) | ||
| 15 | Matt Surmon | ||
| 16 | Aaron Petch (87m) | ||
| 17 | Montel Joseph | ||
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Northwood’s woes continued with a seventh league reverse on the spin, this time at the hands of in-form Bedfont Sports. Woods went into the game with changes in midfield as Matteo Esposito and Declan Nche came in for Joakim Ehui and Matt Ayres while there was a change in central defence with James Gurteen replacing the injured Arnold Linturn.
Northwood played into a strong downwind in the first half as the Eagles looked to take advantage of the conditions. However, Woods started well by winning a freekick in a dangerous position, but Esposito’s effort lacked the power to trouble Bedfont keeper Dimitrios Kyriatzis. And Esposito found himself in another good position as he got to the by-line, but he was unable to pick out a Northwood shirt with his cross ball.
The hosts gradually got to grips with the conditions and they pinned Woods back for long spells with the visitors surviving a goalmouth scramble before Michael Kinsella twice headed narrowly wide. In a rare Northwood attack, a swift move involving Tecane Shrowder and Ismael Ehui ended with Leo Decabo dragging his shot wide.
The Eagles continued to dominate with a couple of long-range attempts before they forced a series of corners - the deadlock finally broken on 35 minutes as Connagh Wilks headed home at the near post.
Northwood came out for the second half hoping to benefit from the wind at their backs but first they had to defend a couple of early corners as Kevin Diomande headed narrowly over.
Woods gradually got into their stride with Shrowder feeding Melos Ajvazi but his shot was wide of the target while the pacy Giovanni Palmer made a strong run with his cross shot being deflected behind for a corner.
Woods proceeded to enjoy plenty of possession but continued to struggle to create any clear-cut chances and failing to test Kyriatzis in the Bedfont goal. And the hosts remained a threat on the break as Darryl Sanders fired narrowly over before Shrowder showed his defensive qualities as he blocked a Jonathan Tadafe effort.
Photos by @prosportsimagesltd
Northwood made a double substitution on 73 minutes as Esposito and Melos made way for Joakim Ehui and Gradi Milenge, the latter being pushed into an unfamiliar striker’s role for his first action for several weeks following suspension and injury. Palmer once again showed a clean pair of heels to the Bedfont defence as he created an opening for Shrowder who saw his shot deflected wide.
Time was running out for Northwood as Shrowder made way for Aaron Petch on 88 minutes. But The Eagles thought they have made the game safe as Sanders headed home the rebound after Daniel Purdue had saved substitute Charlie Postance’s initial effort, but Woods were saved by an offside flag.
However, there was to be no comeback for Woods as Petch was caught in possession on the edge of the box by Joe Jackson who squared for Postance who swept the ball home for the Eagles second goal in the first minute of added time.
Another desperately disappointing afternoon for Northwood who once again showed no shortage of effort but lacked the necessary quality to make a real impression with the post-match news that manager Ben Murray had left the club by mutual consent perhaps inevitable.
Report by ROBIN PIPER
