In a game that was billed as a
classic six-pointer relegation clash, the Woods were unable to extend
their recent good run as Cheshunt eased their own worries at the
expense of Northwood.
The Woods began brightly with Harry Hunt
having a close-range shot blocked by goalkeeper Martin Peat in the
very first minute.
Jerome Hall was also denied by Peat two
minutes later but Northwood's already makeshift defence was then
rocked further by the loss of the reliable Danny Murphy to a knee
injury after thirteen minutes.
Cheshunt began to make some inroads and
then the Ambers took the lead with their very first shot at goal after
22 minutes. Darrell Cox got a flick on to a left-wing cross and
ex-Peterborough striker Lloyd Opara ghosted in to finish well from
close-range.
The Woods showed good spirit to hit back
with first Hunt and then Elliott Buchanan both forcing peat into
action but then Cheshunt took the game away from them with three goals
in nine minutes.
The ever-dangerous Cox headed home from a
corner to make it 2-0, before Michael Deane curled a left-foot
free-kick over the wall and just inside the post soon after.
What was already a difficult task was
then made an impossible one for Northwood when goalkeeper Mikhael
Jaimez-Ruiz reacted to being grabbed round the neck by Cox, following
through on him, with a quick retaliatory kick to the shins. The
referee only saw the latter, so the resulting red card for the
distraught 'keeper was followed by the award of a penalty.
Though youth goalkeeper Bill Fishenden
had been named on the team-sheet, he was actually carrying an arm
injury so wasn't expected to be in action. Nick Pearce, who had
replaced the injured Murphy, donned the gloves for the spot-kick but
Cox scored easily.
Four goals down and with only ten men at
half-time, Fishenden was drafted in despite his injury, and he
performed well in the second-half, pulling off several fine saves.
However, it was a bit of a non-event
until the final five minutes. Then, the plucky Woods showed more of
that recent spirit with two late goals. Firstly, on 86 minutes, Jerome
Hall danced through the defence and past the 'keeper before setting up
Peter Dean for his tenth goal of the season. Then, three minutes
later, Dwane Williams scored with a majestic strike from over 20
yards, the best goal of the game.
With away games at Merthyr Tydfil and
Yate Town following this defeat, the Woods will need to show the same
sort of spirit if they are to retain any chance of avoiding the drop.
PHOTO GALLERY (Click thumbnail to enlarge)
Danny Murphy sends over a cross
Elliott Buchanan and Ryan Tackley on the attack
Jerome Hall gets up with the keeper
Bradley Hewitt can't get this on target
Jerome Hall shields the ball
Danny Murphy sends over a cross
