Match Report
by Robin Piper
Northwood signed
off for the summer by coming from a goal behind to share the spoils
with the students from Bath.
With Bath safely
in the play-offs, their team was much changed, whilst Woods welcomed
back skipper Wayne Carter and Ryan Tackley.
Both sides made a
bright start, Tackley trying his luck from distance, whilst Woods
‘keeper Bill Fishenden held onto a shot from David Bailey.
And Northwood
should have taken the lead on 12 minutes, Jerome Hall playing in Peter
Dean, who was denied by ‘keeper Ali Hines, and Hall blasted the
follow-up wide with the goal at his mercy.
Woods were
enjoying a good spell, Shipperley rising well at the far post to head
down Danny Murphy’s free-kick, Hines fumbling the ball before
recovering whilst under pressure from Dean.
However, after
the positive start, Northwood were gradually forced onto the back foot
and they fell behind to a goal on 19 minutes, substitute Josh Llewelyn
running through a square defence before rolling the ball past
Fishenden.
Fishenden was
called into action minutes later as he saved bravely at the feet of
Bailey, Matt William putting the loose ball wide of the target.
The visitors had
further chances through Bailey and Matt William before half-time
whilst Hall sent a header into the side-netting after latching onto
Murphy’s hanging cross.
Bath were quickly
out of the blocks after the break, Williams shot on the turn too close
to Fishenden before Joe Lang dragged his shot wide.
The game seemed
to petering out as both teams tired in the warm conditions. But after
Elliot Buchanan was introduced for defender Perry Norman just after
the hour mark, the Woods began to threaten the visitors.
And it was
Buchanan who put his team back on level terms after he latched onto
Hall’s flick-on before firing emphatically past Hines.
Bath almost
posted an immediate reply, Fishenden producing a flying save to turn
away Bailey’s 25-yard volley.
Chances were
being created at either end, Carter and Hall shooting wide for Woods,
whilst Tackley was on hand to block a shot from the lively Bailey.
However, Bath
restored their lead with five minutes left on the clock, William being
given time to pick his spot past Fishenden.
But Northwood
weren’t to be denied, and they got their reward in the 87th
minute, the ball falling to Dean in the box following a throw-in, and
the Northwood striker making no mistake to restore parity.
Harry Hunt and
Dave Nolan were introduced for Hall and Carter for the closing minutes
but there were no additions to the score line as the curtain finally
came down on a long hard season. |
