Mark Barnham’s managerial reign came to an ultimately disappointing end with a narrow defeat at struggling rivals Soham Town Rangers, but there were lots of positives to take out of his final game in charge.  The side was slightly strengthened by the return of the Burgess twins, both taking a midfield role, and Scott Raper, who felt he had recovered from his recent illness, but there were still plenty of senior players missing from the line-up.

On a chilly night in North Cambridgeshire, Soham got in the first blow when a cross from the right was flicked on but Deaken Napier was unable to control his attempt on goal and the ball cannoned wide of the post. The Woods responded well, with a tricky run from Romaine Walker ending when he was crowded out, Wayne Jackson shooting wide from long-range, and then Andrew Murphy hitting a good shot on the turn which lacked the power to beat goalkeeper Daniel Bircham.

Mark Burgess also hit a low shot wide of the target as the Woods gave as good as they got, but this changed midway through the half as the home side began to get on top. On 23 minutes, a quick ball forward put Napier in on goal, but Mark Britt was out of his goal quickly to smother his shot and it was cleared. A minute later a corner fell kindly to Michael Simpson and his shot was well pushed out by a diving Britt. But the ball wasn’t cleared well enough, and when it was returned back into the middle, Simpson was still unmarked and he fired home the opening goal.

Soham continued to attack, with Raper preventing another goal with a timely tackle while Mark Burgess and Murphy both picked up yellow cards as the Woods attempted to keep themselves in the game. After 37 minutes, Dean Wallace went close with a free-kick that curled well but flashed just wide of the post with the ‘keeper nowhere, and this lifted the Woods, who finished the half well. They won a corner in stoppage-time and when Bircham failed to collect cleanly, John Sonuga was on hand to poke the ball over the line for an equaliser.

Northwood came out for the second half with renewed enthusiasm for the task ahead and enjoyed plenty of possession as Soham struggled to make inroads out of their own half. Murphy hit a low shot wide of the target but then threatened with a more powerful strike on the turn, which was a lot closer. After 61 minutes, Britt was again swiftly out of his goal to block a Napier effort but that was a rare attack from the home side and the Woods went close soon after as Wallace latched onto a James Burgess and hit a good shot that Bircham saved well.

Murphy was fouled 25 yards out after 69 minutes and from the resulting free-kick, Jackson hit an excellent strike which hit the crossbar and bounced over. The Woods appeared to be set for a valuable point but Soham had other ideas and raised their game in the final ten minutes. It led to a second goal after 81 minutes as some good work on the left stretched the Northwood defence, and a square ball across picked out Luke Hipwell, who slotted home.

Northwood’s team was still up for a battle, though, and two minutes later, a foul on Walker presented Jackson with another opportunity from a dead-ball. Once again the youngster conjured up a fine effort, but this time the ball came back off the post with Bircham relieved once again. Clearly the luck wasn’t running the Woods’ way, and after 85 minutes, a corner was only half-cleared by James Burgess out to Napier, who had time to rifle a shot back in to the crowded area and it flashed under the bar to make the score 3-1 and wrap up the points.

Mark Barnham had already decided to call it a day before this game was played out, but he will be pleased with the effort put in by his squad on this occasion. However, with the side now without a win in eleven games, they will need to turn things around quickly if they are to avoid being involved in a relegation battle.

Report by ALAN EVANS

Photos to follow...

Photos by James Brown