Northwood 0 Egham Town 1

Saturday 2nd August 2025

NORTHWOOD




1	Hafad Al-Droubi
2	Nasir Sharifi (88m)
3	Mack Miskin
4	Manny Folarin
5	Jack Empson
6	Carl Stewart (80m)
7	Reece Price-Placid (74m)
8	Ademide Baruwa (89m)
9	Dylan Kearney
10	Devonte Totesaut
11	Kush Lewis-Thomas (27m)
Substitutes
12	Jamie Kennedy (89m)
14	Freddie Ford (74m)
15	Chama Torsiello
16	Rico Clarke-Rowe (88m)
17	Osa Otote (27m)
18	Jon-Jo Bates (80m)

Northwood opened their season with this difficult FA Cup clash at the Skyline Roofing Stadium against newly-promoted Egham Town and it was the visitors who made it into the next round with a narrowest of victories by the only goal of the game.

The management duo of Jack Smith and Jon-Jo Bates had most of their squad to pick from, though still without the injured duo of Harry’s McKenna
and McCorkell while Hicham Bouchareb was left awaiting FA clearance. Five players made their starting Woods debuts with another two from the bench later. For the Sarnies, there was a noted absence of skipper Reece Yorke, also out injured on a pleasant afternoon with a good crowd in attendance.

There was an early raid forward from Kush Lewis-Thomas who nocked a ball out wide but Egham goalkeeper Tyler Tobin was able to block his attempted cross for a corner. A few minutes later, Ademide Baruwa tried his luck with a shot from distance but it was straight at the keeper who grabbed it at the second attempt.

At the other end, a free-kick from the right saw Ben Peden react quickest to get a foot on the cross to volley it goalwards and that clipped the crossbar as Egham showed their danger from set-pieces.

Dylan Kearney had one effort which flew well wide but after 16 minutes he was close to netting an opening goal thanks to a good run from Reece Price-Placid and a great cross which flashed across the six-yard box but the Woods striker couldn’t quite get the touch needed.

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PHOTOS by James Brown

Unfortunately, Lewis-Thomas, who had already had some treatment earlier, succumbed to a hamstring issue on 27 minutes, being replaced by Osaretin Otote. Four minutes later, the substitute made a good run down the right and found Devonte Totesaut outside the box and his low strike had Tobin beaten but also hit the bottom of the post and off to safety.

Egham were still equally dangerous going forward with Reece Mitchell causing the most problems for the Northwood defence and giving youngster Nasir Sharifi a torrid time on debut. He knocked in a series of crosses which defended well or scrambled away desperately. However, on 38 minutes Mitchell chipped a ball to the far post where a free header had to be cleared off the line.

It was still all to play for when the second half got underway and Egham picked up the first yellow card of the game on 50 minutes when Ibrahim Nagheeb fouled. Jack Empson somehow managed to talk himself into a second yellow in the same incident.

Sharifi was still trying hard to keep shackles on Mitchell but picked up his yellow card on 57 minutes and after that resulting free-kick was cleared, the Sarnies were able to recycle the ball and, taking advantage of a defensive error, the ball was lifted over a stranded Hafed Al-Droubi and knocked into the empty net by Connor Cullen.

The Woods had created very little in the second half at that stage and it could have been game over just five minutes later when Manny Folarin clumsily clattered into Mitchell when chasing him down on the edge of the box and a penalty was awarded. Mitchell was given the opportunity to double the lead from the spot but he failed to get any power on his shot at all and Al-Droubi gratefully dived to his right to save easily.

Substitutions followed with Rico-Clarke Rowe introduced for his debut in midfield, with Baruwa moving to right-back, while 17-year-old Freddie Ford replaced Price-Placid, who had drifted out of the game. Ford lifted the tempo a little but there was still no impact on goal until the 80th minute when Otote cut in from the left and let fly with a shot which saw Tobin dive to his right and push the ball wide of the post.

Sadly, that was the extent of the Woods' resurgence and Egham were able to see out the remainder of the game comfortably to record a deserved success where they will now travel to play Step 5 side Corinthian in the next round. Northwood now have to put that cup defeat being them and go through a week’s preparation before their opening Southern League fixture away at AFC Dunstable next Saturday.

REPORT by Alan Evans



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