Match Report
by Robin Piper
 

Northwood’s Wembley dreams were ended for another year as they were comprehensively beaten by Southern Premier outfit Brackley Town at a rain drenched Chestnut Avenue.

The visitors continued the cup form that has taken them to the first round proper of the F.A. Cup as they came from behind to overcome Woods with a storming second-half display.

There were a couple of changes to the Northwood starting line-up. Otis Williams returned to the Woods’ attack with Abdul Yoki reverting to the subs bench whilst there was the welcome return of Bradley Hewitt, making his first start for a month with the unlucky Richard Orlu making way.

Northwood were immediately into their stride as Michael Gordon sent over an enticing cross for Otis Williams but his header flew narrowly over the bar.

And Williams had a glorious chance to open the scoring moments later as he latched onto Anthony Page’s through-ball but the striker was unable to lift the ball over goalkeeper Richard Knight.

Brackley gradually found their rhythm and they began moving the ball at pace over the slick surface. Mitch Swain was forced to save Ben Mackey’s shot with his legs before the latter had another shot on the turn that flew narrowly wide, whilst Craig Farley wasn’t far away with a long range effort.

Woods were struggling to retain any decent possession as the visitors continued to dominate with their incisive passing.

However, there was a scare for Brackley as Sean Sonner ran onto Otis Williams’ flick-on but he was beaten to the ball by the advancing Knight who made the tackle on the edge of the box, although the referee harshly penalised the Brackley stopper for a foul and showed him a yellow card.

The visitors were soon back on the attack and Northwood were grateful to Swain as he saved from Mackey and Tony Thorpe.

But despite the Brackley pressure it was Woods who opened the scoring two minutes before the break. Knight had denied Otis Williams moments before but the Brackley ‘keeper was unable to prevent Gordon’s shot entering the net via an upright following Sonner’s throw into the box.

Brackley made a double substitution at the break and Thorpe’s replacement Danny Spencer headed narrowly wide soon after the restart.

And the equaliser wasn’t long in coming, although there was a touch of luck as David Perpetuini’s 57^th minute shot took a big deflection to wrong-foot Swain.

Woods were forced into a change as Otis Williams fell victim to an ankle injury and he was replaced in attack by Yoki.

But the tie turned on a indifferent refereeing decision as Dwane Williams was adjudged to have pushed Spencer in the box, much to the surprise of everybody in the ground, Dean Cracknell stepping up to convert the 67^th minute penalty.

Rob Ursell was introduced for Dwane Williams and he took up a position on the left flank as Northwood looked to inject some fresh attacking blood.

And there was an opportunity for Woods after a sweeping move but Gordon failed to hit the target.

At the other end, Mackey was proving to be a constant menace for the Northwood defence, sending in a couple of long range efforts whilst another shot was dealt comfortably with by Swain.

However, Mackey wasn’t to be denied and he was rewarded for his endeavours with a late brace, netting on 86 and 88 minutes to confirm Brackley’s passage  past a dispirited Northwood.

PHOTO GALLERY (Click thumbnail to enlarge) 

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Photos: James Brown