Northwood fell at the first hurdle in the Red Insure League Cup at Ashford Town on Tuesday night, but only after a real battle and a penalty shoot-out which ultimately proved their downfall.

Manager Mark Barnham joined the lengthy injury list himself having picked up a foot problem, probably during his badminton thrashing at the hands of the Chairman.

Three players made their starting debuts with Dave Hewinson and Edward Hatcher starting at full-backs and Charlie Hill, newly arrived from Burnham, partnering Leon Osei up front.

The new-look side made a good start to the game with Rodney Hicks seeing his shot deflected over the top after just five minutes and then the Woods took the lead four minutes later. John Sonuga headed a corner back across goal and Scott Raper directed his header past goalkeeper and defender.

The lead didn't last long though as just four minutes later goalkeeper Takunda Marevesa fumbled a deep cross and former Arsenal striker Isaiah Rankin gratefully knocked in the loose ball.

Ashford lifted their game after that with Luke Hickie missing a good chance soon after and then they took the lead on 21 minutes. Rankin was given far too much space to run and he split the defence with a good pass through to Mark Bitmead who hit a shot across Marevesa that somehow found its way across goal and in off the post.

The Woods 'keeper made some amends by saving from Spencer Taffeurelli and the Woods then regained their confidence and defended more solidly as the half wore on. It was Hicks who was the biggest threat in front of goal, firing over from long-range and then seeing his free-kick well stopped by Paul Burgess in goal.

Having got to half-time without further mishap, John Christian replaced the tiring Hill for the start of the second period and the Woods were level within thirty seconds as Leon Osei cracked an unstoppable shot into the top corner to stun the home side.

It was the start of an excellent period of play for Northwood as Hicks sliced a shot wide when a corner dropped to him at the far post and then another powerful low strike from the edge of the box was kept out by a fine save from the diving Burgess in goal.

Sam Sharples replaced skipper Murray Williamson and Tim Salako came on for his first-team debut in place of Hewinson as the Woods tried to maintain the tempo while Ashford manager Jamie Lawrence brought himself on up front to try to revive his own side.

Marevesa made a good stop to deny Rankin from close-range and then also pushed out a long-range effort from Alain Behi but he had to be thankful for his far post when Rankin beat him with a clever volley that bounced back into his arms having struck the woodwork.

With the end of normal time approaching, Wayne Jackson had his dipping free-kick tipped over by Burgess while Bitmead had his effort well saved by Marevesa who was looking much more comfortable by now.

Extra-time was in store, though it looked as if there would be a further change when Referee Oleksandr Saliy advised that he was struggling with a hamstring injury. But he limped on like a brave soldier and in the very first minute The Woods went close when an Osei strike was deflected into the side-netting.

Ashford were restricted to long-range efforts but the Woods were restricted by a series of injuries to Hatcher. Each time he came back for more before eventually having to limp off at the start of the second period of extra-time; leaving Northwood with just ten men.

It meant backs to the wall a little and Marevesa made an excellent diving stop to once again deny Rankin who was a shade fortunate to be shown only a yellow card when scything down Sonuga just after this, having been dispossessed in the box by the Woods defender.

With Osei also limping, Northwood had little to threaten up front and were holding on for penalties when Ashford were awarded a free-kick centrally just outside the penalty-area with three minutes left. Lawrence was the threat and he curled his shot well but Marevesa was there to knock the ball over the bar and earn his side the right to another chance.

That came via the penalty shoot-out, bizarrely taken at the far end of the ground, away from the massed ranks of supporters!!

The Woods went first and James Burgess took his customary thirty-yard run-up before hammering a shot past his namesake Paul in goal. When Marevesa then dived to his left to keep out Ashford's first effort, taken by Lawrence, hopes were raised and Sam Sharples stepped up to put the Woods 2-0 ahead with a cool finish.

Rankin made no mistake but Christian then made a complete hash of his penalty, merely chipping the ball straight to a grateful Burgess in goal. Tom Kanek levelled things up and then Osei had his kick well saved by the veteran 'keeper to hand the home side the advantage.

Jim Mann knocked in Ashford's third and although Wayne Jackson kept his nerve to square things up, substitute Jordan Kiffin made no mistake to win the shoot-out 4-3 and send his side into the next round.

Report by ALAN EVANS