Manager Colin Payne would have been happy
with the result of this final pre-season game as the Woods recorded a
comfortable 3-0 victory over Ryman Premier side Hendon.
Peter Dean returned from a week's holiday
looking refreshed and although Liam Watson, Ricky Alexander, Shane
O'Neill, Leon Callender, and Shayne Demetrious were all missing, the
manager still had nineteen players to call upon.
Northwood looked more fluid and composed
throughout the game and could have had a penalty after just a few
minutes when Lee Tunnell was sent sprawling but decision gave a
free-kick right on the edge of the area. That was wasted but Dean
Clark enjoyed an excellent first-half and was soon testing the Hendon
goalkeeper with some accurate shooting. Lee Tunnell appeared to have
scored his elusive first goal for the club when he cleverly beat
goalkeeper Anthony O'Connor but the referee ruled it out, having
spotted a shirt pull.
There was a blow when an injury to Danny
Murphy ended his involvement at left-back and 17-year-old Elliott
Buchanan came on to cover in an unfamiliar position.
Peter Dean saw a shot well saved by
O'Connor and then Wayne Carter's 25-yard strike cannoned back off a
post as the Woods turned the screw. There was just three minutes to go
before the break when Gavin Hart broke through the middle as the
referee played an excellent advantage. Hart slipped the ball to Peter
Dean on his left and the Woods striker lifted a chip shot over
O'Connor and into the top corner.
Another good run from Dean set up Dean
Powles early in the second-half but the midfielder saw his effort
deflected wide.
Hendon were enjoying plenty of possession
in the centre of the pitch but were unable to do create much in front
of goal. When Nas Richardson did finally record a shot on goal after
73 minutes, Rob Bullivant was equal to it, tipping the ball over the
bar.
It was in the final ten minutes that the
Woods wrapped up the win. Firstly, substitute Ross Hanley was played
in by Clark, and he weaved his way past two challenges before sliding
the ball in off a defender.
Then James Hamsher got forward on the
left and cut the ball back for Peter Dean to fire in his second of the
game.
PHOTO GALLERY (Click thumbnail to enlarge)
Photos: James Brown
