Match Report
by Alan Evans
Winchester
goalkeeper Dave Hook was no stranger to the Middlesex area, having
enjoyed previous spells at Hendon, Hampton, and Harrow Borough in the
past. He certainly felt at home on Saturday, becoming the City hero as
a string of excellent saves earned his side a replay in this FA
Carlsberg Trophy tie.
Both sides were
missing key strikers, with Northwood's Lee Tunnell serving the last
game of a three-match suspension, while Winchester had Jamie
Musslewhite ruled out with injury. In addition to this, joint top
scorer Dean Clark was also left out after he was forced off with a
back injury in midweek, so the Woods started with a front two who are
yet to score a goal all season. There was good news, though, as both
wing-backs Lee Holland and Danny Murphy had recovered from injuries
that had seen them substituted at Halesowen the previous Saturday.
It meant the new
attacking formation could be maintained, and the Woods started really
brightly.
After just five
minutes David Warner found space on the edge of the box for a shot
which lacked the power to beat Hook, and two minutes later Murphy was
just inches away from adding the vital touch to a Mark Nicholls cross.
Nicholls went close himself a minute later with a volley from the edge
of the area which saw Hook pull off the first of a series of fine
saves, and on 10 minutes Warner struck a much stronger shot which Hook
flew across goal to push wide.
The pressure
continued and after 24 minutes Hook made another diving stop from a
Murphy drive, this time with his chest. The ball ran loose and Yiadom
Yeboah appeared to be upended by the City 'keeper as he poked a shot
past him, but his effort was cleared and penalty appeals were waved
away.
Winchester
finally settled towards the end of the first-half, and Ian Mancey had
their first effort on target as his crisp strike was touched over by
Northwood 'keeper Liam Watson. From the corner, Mark Jones climbed
high for a free header but steered it wide of the target.
The hard-working
Lloyd Webber also went close for the visitors, shrugging off the
challenge of Dwane Williams, and firing a shot which was only just
wide.
After 37 minutes
it was Northwood's turn to go close again, as good work from Nicholls
saw him slip the ball through to Warner. He chose to lay a pass to
Peter Dean, whose left-foot shot curled just wide of the far post.
The second half
began in similar fashion with Murphy heading a deep cross back across
goal, Nicholls heading it goalwards and Hook stretching himself fully
to push it round the post.
After 52 minutes
Nicholls broke through a square defence and played in Danny Julienne,
on as a substitute for Williams. He slipped the ball inside to
Holland, whose low shot was again well saved by Hook.
On the hour the
impressive Holland was the instigator of another attack, cutting a
cross back into the path of Nicholls, who was frustrated to see
another goal-bound effort kept out by the legs of the diving Hook.
Barnet youngster
Harry Hunt came on for his Northwood debut after 62 minutes for the
tiring Warner, and within three minutes Winchester, on a rare attack,
missed the best chance of the game. Webber broke down the right and
bided his time before picking out James Davis at the far post. Somehow
the youngster got his feet tangled up and only succeeded in steering
the ball the wrong side of the post.
Back came
Northwood again. After one of his long throws had been cleared, Yiadom
Yeboah fired in a cross which led to Murphy having two strikes from
close-range, but both times Hook somehow managed to get his body in
the way. Four minutes later Yeboah showed the strikers how to do it
with a mazy dribble which saw him get past two defenders, before
sliding the ball through to Dean. Again his shot arrowed like a magnet
into the diving figure of Hook.
Hunt showed some
extra pace with ten minutes remaining, beating his man on the left,
and when his cross dropped to Dean on the edge of the box he hit a
firm strike which flew just over the bar.
In the closing
stages it was Winchester who almost stole the victory as the
impressive Webber burst forward and hit a great strike which Watson
tipped just over the bar.
That was the last
action of the game as the whistle blew to signal that the two sides
would have to do it all again at Winchester on Tuesday night.
PHOTO GALLERY (Click thumbnail to enlarge)
Dwane Williams shields the ball David Warner sets up Peter Dean Lee Holland flicks on a header Mark Nicholls battles through David Warner on the attach
Dwane Williams shields the ball
Photos: Paul Evans |
