Farnborough Res. B 0  Northwood Res. 5

Saturday 3rd September 2011

Northwood Res.		Suburban League Cup Round 1 Leg 1 Lion Park, Bisley
Keita Karamoko	1	Kick Off
Harry Wright	2	3.00 p.m.
Michael Williams	3	H/T
Doug Fitzgerald	4	1-0
Dominic Franklin	5	Scorers
Jimmy Froud	6	Northwood
Julian Smith	7	Asombang, Froud 2, Morlese 2
Marcus Sawyer	8
Kurt Morlese	9
Victor Asombang	10
Ryan Phillips	11
Dwayne Cole (3)	12
Kerran Pacquett (11)	14
Ghislain Yoro (10)	15
Reece Fallon	16
Julian Cole	17

The first half of this first leg Suburban League Cup tie was an even contest, with both sides looked well organised most of the time.  There were few chances being created but the build-up play was quite tidy. Farnborough had a decent left winger and he tested Woods’ back line on a few occasions, whilst Northwood were more organised defensively although the work rate in wide areas needed to improve in the first half.

Northwood were caught out twice trying to step out from the back when they would have been better staying goal-side. Fortunately for Woods, the recovery defending was up to the task, and Keita Karamoko had very little to do in goal but he remained focused and kept on his toes. In possession of the ball, Northwood put in a better display than the previous week, with Marcus Sawyer and Julian Smith positively searching for the ball in midfield. The visitors looked a threat on the left, with Harry Wright and Ryan Phillips both offering attacking options. The latter put in plenty of searching crosses but the team was lacking in options in the final third, though I believe that Woods could have stepped up another couple of gears in the first half and used the width of the pitch a lot more.
 
After 30 minutes both front men Kurt Morlese and Victor Asombang were beginning to find their way, each making themselves available and bringing others into the play. Before the break Northwood took the lead with a superb solo goal from Asombang: there were several passing options open but he opted to go alone and strolled past two defenders before placing the ball in the corner. Five minutes to go before half-time Northwood were on top and nearly doubled their lead, Asombang having a shot blocked from six yards and Doug Fitzgerald heading wide from a corner.

More energy throughout the team was demanded at the break from the Northwood coaching staff, and Northwood controlled the half from start to finish, Morlese and Asombang immediately causing problems. The work rate from the front two and a much improved second half from Jimmy Froud on the right kept Farnborough in their half. Farnborough found it very difficult to break through a tighter midfield line and the confidence of the Northwood team grew vastly.
 
The pace and ability of Wright from full back was causing the home side problems, and several times Woods’ play from the left produced some excellent crosses. Jimmy Froud scored two very well taken goals, the first coming after a great run through to goal and a well placed finish after a pass from Morlese. His second goal came after a great move in which Morlese and Froud played a quick one-two, before Froud slotted in the back of the net.
 
The football played was without doubt the most confident and easy on the eye from Woods’ reserves so far this season. The passing was fast, the ball was moved about from left to right, from defence to attack and Northwood players took full advantage.

Kurt Morlese scored two goals in the second half. The first was a well worked move from the left and the second came after hard work from Ghislain Yoro in attack, his pressure forcing the defender into an error and Morlese pounced on a loose ball.
 
This was a fine display from Northwood, who take a 5-0 lead into the second leg.

Report: IAN BUCKINGHAM