Cobham 2 Northwood 2
Tuesday 22nd July 2025
| NORTHWOOD | |||
 |
|||
| 1 | Hafad Al-Droubi | ||
| 2 | Jack Empson | ||
| 3 | Mack MiskinB | ||
| 4 | Manny Folarin | ||
| 5 | Chama Torsiello | ||
| 6 | Carl Stewart | ||
| 7 | Ademide Baruwa | ||
| 8 | Devonte Totesaut | ||
| 9 | Reece Price-Placid | ||
| 10 | Dylan Kearney | ||
| 11 | Triallist A | ||
| Substitutes | |||
| 12 | Jack Smith | ||
| 14 | Jon-Jo Bates | ||
| 15 | Jamie Kennedy | ||
| 16 | Frankie Pass | ||
| 17 | Kush Lewis-Thomas | ||
| 18 | |||
The Woods made their first ever visit to Cobham for their fifth pre-season warm-up game as they continue to build fitness with the new season looming.
The hosts went close to promotion from the Combined Counties League in May, only losing out to Jersey Bulls in the play-off final, and it proved to be a tough battle throughout.
Northwood went into this game missing Romario Jonas, Harry McKenna, Brian McGovern, Freddie Ford, Nasir Sharifi and Harry McCorkell so were a bit short on numbers and gave a start to the latest in a string of triallists.
He impressed in that first half with some good, attacking play down the left and the Woods could have taken the lead after 17 minutes when Dylan Kearney hit a cracking strike from 30-yards which crashed back off the crossbar.
However, the Hammers were working hard to get an advantage with Pat Murray getting plenty of joy with his forays down the right and it was from his first-time cross on 39 minutes that Cobham took the lead, a neat flick home in the centre of goal giving the home side what was probably a deserved half-time lead.
After a slow start to the second half with the Woods pressing much higher, some poor defensive work led to Hafed Al-Droubi having to challenge out wide on the edge of the box and the Referee decided on a foul inside the box and a penalty was awarded, a decision that caused some unnecessary confrontations. It took an age for the spot-kick to be taken; it was fired miles wide.
But on 71 minutes, after the introduction of several substitutes for both sides, Cobham were awarded a second penalty. This one was much more dubious but scored to double the home side’s advantage.
The Woods needed to get back into the game and on 83 minutes, Al-Droubi came out of goal to clear a through ball, brought it forward and then played a defence-splitting pass which allowed Frankie Pass to quickly lob the oncoming keeper and reduce the arrears.
Buoyed by the goal, Northwood continued to press forward and three minutes later were awarded a free-kick out wide on the left. Jack Smith fired it over the wall but the ball came back off the bar with the keeper nowhere. Jon-Jo Bates was first to try to force the loose ball over the line but that was half-blocked and it took a clinical finish from Devonte Totesaut to level the scores. It was a comeback that showed excellent spirit and character against a good side.
With just one more warm-up game to come, at home to Hendon, newly relegated to Step 4 for the first time in their history, the Woods will be looking for a more solid performance at the weekend.
REPORT by Alan Evans
