MATCH REPORTS 2005-06

Southern League Premier Division 

Northwood 3  Cirencester Town 0

 Report by Robin Piper

Northwood finally moved out of the wooden spoon position at the foot of the table after a three goal burst in the opening fifteen minutes ensured a comfortable win over a Cirencester outfit who were looking for their third successive away win.

With Alistair Heselton carrying a slight knock, Darren Grieves was chosen to partner Peter Dean in attack, while Frazer Toms replaced Gavin Hart on the left flank.

But it was the visitors who came out of the blocks running, putting the home defence under intense pressure, Mark Danks and Steven Cowe both squandering opportunities to give Cirencester the lead.

However, after soaking up the early pressure, Woods opened the scoring with a well constructed goal on 8 minutes. Dean Clark was the catalyst, sending over a pinpoint far post cross which Grieves headed back to skipper Luke Garrard, who swept home from close range.

Clark was instrumental once again six minutes later as Northwood extended their lead. The Woods’ playmaker sent over another measured cross to Grieves, who made no mistake with a far post header to score his first goal of an injury-plagued season.

Cirencester looked visibly shell-shocked after they had begun the match so positively and things were to get worse for them after 17 minutes as Dean scored Northwood’s third goal with a well executed header. After a good build up, Toms found space to send over a driven cross which Dean directed over the helpless Paul Thompson in the Cirencester goal.

The match looked effectively over, but to Cirencester’s credit they battled on, producing some attractive football. Gary Horgan’s long range effort flew narrowly over before Kevin Halliday’s free kick rebounded off a post after a misjudgement from Woods’ keeper Liam Watson.

The visitors continued to threaten, Cowe rattling the crossbar with a fierce 25 yard strike, but Northwood themselves had further chances before the break. Dean and Toms both went close with headers, whilst Thompson had to pull off a point blank save to deny Grieves a second after a sweeping move.

The second half was to prove an anti-climax after the excitement of the opening period and it was very much a case of Northwood soaking up the Cirencester pressure.

Cirencester’s Gary Horgan tested Watson from distance, the Woods keeper tipping his long range effort onto the bar, while the hosts were lucky to escape a goalmouth scramble as Craig Fullam and Cowe’s efforts were blocked.

As the visitors pushed forwards, the inevitable gaps were being left at the other end, and Clark shot inches wide after an incisive counter-attack.

Gavin Hart was introduced for the tiring Toms after 68 minutes as Woods continued to hold firm under  Cirencester pressure, Cowe and Lee Smith squandering further chances for the visitors.

Northwood made a further change, Gary Meakin replacing Clark as Woods looked to shore things up for the closing minutes. But Cirencester had accepted their fate and the game petered out to leave Woods celebrating a vital win, which takes them above Cheshunt and off the foot of the table for the first time since September.