Northwood 2  North Leigh 0

Tuesday 26th November 2024

 

NORTHWOOD
1	Hafad Al Droubi
2	Harry McKenna
3	Kelechi Etienne (46m)
4	Balu Makumbi
5	Manny Folarin
6	Jack Smith (81m)
7	Cassius Joseph
8	Troy Perez-Duah
9	Jack Timberlake (62m)
10	Archie James (46m)
11	Samuel Folarin
Substitutes
12	Jack Empson
14	Chris Ozougwu (46m)
15	Jeremy Stewart (81m)
16	Nnaemeka Anyanwu (46m)
17	Alex Cathline (62m)

A fourth win in seven league games has raised the spirits at The Skyline Roofing Stadium as the Woods recorded their first success by more than one goal up against fellow strugglers North Leigh, who they were meeting for the first-time. The three points moved Northwood up to a fourth from bottom position, though still three points off of safety.

Cassius Joseph returned to the starting line-up while Jack Timberlake made his first start for the Woods as Nnaemeka Anyanwu and Alex Cathline reverted to the subs bench. Stefan Powell was ruled out with injury so back came Jeremy Stewart to complete the set of substitutes.

And the Woods made the perfect start with just over two minutes gone as Joseph played a great, deep left-footed cross to the far post and Samuel Folarin nodded the ball back over the keeper for his first goal for the club.

The home side continued to dominate the early stages but the Millers defended stoutly to ensure that there were few real chances on front of goal. There were 17 minutes gone before skipper Troy Perez-Duah managed to slip a ball through to Timberlake whose effort travelled across the six-yard box, wide of the far post and there was no-one there to apply the needed finish.

Seven minutes later the visitors recorded their first effort on goal as Viktor Hernandez broke down the left and lifted a curling shot towards the far post but it was just too high to unduly worry Hafed Al Droubi in goal. A minute later they won a free-kick in a dangerous area on the right and a header flew wide.

After 32 minutes Archie James played a neat ball out to Joseph who attacked at pace before shooting but it flew wide of the near post and five minutes later the same player tried his luck from distance but goalkeeper Monty Marriott got down well to save.

PHOTOS by James Brown

There were changes made at the break by the Woods management team as Chris Ozougwu replaced Kelechi Etienne at left-back and Anyanwu came on for James in an attacking midfield role. The second-half took a while to warm-up though and over ten minutes had elapsed before Perez-Duah struck a low shot that Marriott collected comfortably at his near post.

There was a scary moment for the Woods though after 63 minutes as an excellent through ball saw Riley Cotter in on goal and he neatly chipped the ball over Al Droubi and into the net before realising an offside flag was to rule out the possible equaliser.

Five minutes later, it was close to a Woods second as McKenna overlapped onto a Joseph ball down the right and cut it back to Perez-Duah. His strike was only parried by Marriott and Sam Folarin pounced on the loose ball only for the Millers keeper to block instinctively and deny him a second goal.

But Northwood finally found the all-important second goal on 74 minutes. A through-ball from Jack Smith saw Joseph again test the visitors defence with a pacy run down the left and into the box. Although his shot was blocked the loose ball was rammed home by Anyanwu who was following in to double the lead.

Three minutes later the home side went close to a third as Joseph enjoyed a great run again, this time down the right and his cross found Sam Folarin once more but this time his header was tipped over the bar by a stretching Marriott in goal.

The Woods saw the game out comfortably with the final chance coming from Joseph once again. He sped into the box and had three Woods players to his right but chose to shoot for the near-post and Marriott did well to keep it out.

Northwood haven’t played at The Skyline much in recent times but will now go into their weekend game unbeaten at home since the end of August. The additional confidence from this victory will be needed as they take on second-placed Real Bedford who have won all of their six away league games this season.

REPORT by Alan Evans