Northwood U18 4  Bedfont Sports U18 2

Thursday 19th September 2013

NORTHWOOD UNDER 18		Lucas Fettes League Cup 1st Round
Team line-up
1	Tom O’Brian
2	Hashim Aziz
3	Eric Nyarko
4	Jamie Doolan
5	Giles Townsend
6	Dave Palmer
7	Adam Wais *
8	Ronnie Blagden
9	Imran Haidray *
10	Michael Elderfield *
11	Pranav Amarnath
Substitutes
12	Tom Ellis *
14	Mitchell Tate *
15	Ricky Brown *
16	-
17	-

Coming along to a Northwood FC under 18 game these days is a little like taking a ride on the most pulsating attraction at Thorpe Park. This match proved no exception.

The Woods’ youth team were exceptional from the start and bombarded the Bedfont goal, and as early as the third minute a Northwood shot was cleared off the line.

The first goal wasn’t long in coming, though, and it was no surprise when captain David Palmer scored with a header in the seventh minute.

Within three minutes it was 2-0 when Michael Elderfield followed up after Imran Haidary’s powerful shot had only been half saved by the keeper. Bedfont could barely get out of there own half, and had it been a boxing match the referee would have stopped the bout.

Northwood laid siege to the visitors’ goal and it’s fair to say that just before half-time they could have scored five times within a three minute spell.

Half-time reached and it is 2-0: could the Woods keep it going in the second half was the talking point at half time. And indeed they could, as Ronnie Blagden scored with a great free kick at the very start of the half.

From that moment, however, things changed and Bedfont would go on to completely dominate and outplay Northwood throughout the entire second half. Within fifteen minutes they were back in the game at 3-2 and looked like going on to win.

The next half an hour saw the visitors bombard the Woods’ goal, but excellent defending along with a little luck saw them left frustrated. Then with time almost up and Bedfont now exhausted, one of the home side’s few attacks of the second period saw Ricky Brown’s fantastic strike deflected on to the bar, and Tom Ellis was on hand to pick up the clearance and send a great shot over the top of the keeper.

What a great match it had been once again….more of the same in our next home game and we may have to think about upping admission prices!!

Next up for the Northwood Under 18s is an away trip to Harefield United in the FA Youth Cup - Wednesday 25th September, kick-off 7.45pm – I can’t wait!

For match photos click here.

REPORT and PHOTOS by Alan Palmer