Northwood manager Steve Hale rang the changes again for this tough trip to title-chasing Arlesey Town, with three newcomers making their Northwood debuts. Danny Sonner came in from Ware to become the twelfth player to don the gloves this season, while Seldyn Grant has arrived from Beaconsfield Sycob and centre-half Dean Marney added an experienced head to the centre of defence on dual-registration loan from Harrow Borough.

Arlesey had banged in twelve goals in their previous home game against Atherstone Town and had also won 5-1 at Chestnut Avenue just a few weeks earlier, so the Woods were on a hiding to nothing against a side that was also unbeaten at home this season.

Northwood were clearly set up to defend and they came under pressure from the start with Aston Goss shooting wide and Chris Dillon flicking a header just over the bar. There was just thirteen minutes on the clock when Lee Allinson knocked a free-kick into the danger-zone and the giant former Woods defender Marc Leach beat Sonner to the ball with the merest flick of his head to steer the ball inside the far post.

James Bent led the recovery with a couple of good forward runs from midfield resulting in two shots which got closer but still not hitting the target. He was also needed in action at the other end as he cleared a Joel Mason shot off the line after a good cross from Goss.

There seemed more about the Northwood side as they looked to ensure the game didn’t run away from them and Jake Lovell knocked in a fine cross which was headed wide by George Gould before Scott Orphanou was hit by a clearance from goalkeeper Richard Hayward and the ball could have gone anywhere but spun and bounced harmlessly wide.

The home side still looked dangerous though and Mason did well to nip between Sonner and Mark Burgess to flick a Dillon cross over the bar after 35 minutes. Lovell countered by latching onto an Orphanou ball, cutting in and forcing Hayward into a save. The half finished with Arlesey again getting more chances from set-pieces as Nick Leach headed wide from one free-kick and then Marc Leach saw his shot well held by Sonner from another.

The Woods were still in with a chance of getting something from the game as the second-half commenced and a good move between Lovell and Grant led to a chance for Gould but he failed to take advantage. However, it was the start of a good spell for Northwood with Orphanou shooting wide and then Marney having his strike blocked after a Lovell cross had been only half-cleared.

But Arlesey then notched a second against the run of play as a corner was headed out by Marney but only as far as Goss just outside the box, and he hit a superbly controlled volley which arrowed into towards the top corner, hitting the underside of the crossbar and bouncing down over the line, despite the efforts of Gould on the line.

Orphanou was booked on the hour having finally questioned the series of rough tackles from behind he had endured throughout from the Leach brothers, who both somehow avoided yellow cards despite Nick Leach launching a ball out of the ground after being penalised for one of those fouls.

Dean Wallace replaced the tiring Gould and had an early shot deflected straight at Hayward before another good cross from Lovell saw Marc Leach dangerously slice an attempted clearance but luck was on his side. Arlesey had a chance for a third as Dillon was put through on goal but he failed to hit the target and was then replaced by Zema Abbey, who almost immediately conceded a penalty as he climbed all over Matt Jarvis at a corner and the Referee pointed to the spot. Bent stepped up to make no mistake from twelve yards and suddenly the Woods were back in with a chance.

Arlesey almost replied immediately as good work from Chris Marsh set up Mason but his shot was blocked by Jarvis and the ball rebounded into the arms of a grateful Sonner.

Unfortunately, Northwood then lost Lovell, certainly their most effective attacking player on the day, with a knee injury and the final seven minutes failed to bring much opportunity to level. The only chance came in the first, and surprisingly only, minute of stoppage-time as Wallace knocked in a free-kick and Marney looped a header which Hayward held comfortably underneath the crossbar.

Still a defeat, their ninth in ten games, but there was plenty to admire in this Northwood performance to take forward to the midweek home game against Ashford Town (Middlesex).

Report by ALAN EVANS

Photos by James Brown