Match Report
by Alan Evans

The Woods extended their good run of form to just one defeat in fifteen matches with this hard-fought point at equally in-form Aveley.

Since the Essex side won 2-0 at Chestnut Avenue back in mid-November with an almost completely new side, inherited from Barking, they have been showing title-winning form, so it was always going to be a tough one for Northwood.

Colin Payne also had to shuffle his defensive troops after key centre-back Bradley Hewitt reported ill, while James Fisher had accepted the invitation to join the relegation battle at Blue Square South side St Albans City the day before. Adrian Abramian was also missing, starting a massive 35-day suspension picked up for a Sunday football sending-off, so in came young 19-year-old striker Matt Baxter who had arrived on a month's loan from Ryman Premier side Ashford Town.

Aveley were also without a couple of their midfield playmakers, but they started best on a very bumpy pitch and with the strong, biting wind sweeping across the ground, not really conducive to pretty football.

After nine minutes, a long free-kick was flicked on by Wayne Vaughan and Ainsley Gasper lacked composure when the ball fell to him on the edge of the six-yard box with Mitch Swain taking it away from him.

It was Baxter who looked most dangerous for the Woods up front, and after 17 minutes a ball from Dwain Williams saw him burst into the box, holding off a defender but shooting just over the bar.

The Millers continued to hold the advantage, though, with Bradley Barnes getting a shot on target but with no real power, followed by a rising rocket of a free-kick from John Maskell which Swain tipped over the bar to be sure. From the resulting corner, Adam Theo headed off the line as the Woods continued to battle hard.

With ten minutes to go to the break Baxter was put through again, this time from a poor defensive header but his shot was beaten out by goalkeeper Adam Rafis when he should have done better.

The start of the second-half was much the same, with Vaughan testing Swain with a near-post strike which he saved well.

After 57 minutes, Danny Murphy and Phil Turner were replaced by Jazz Rose and Jerome Hall and the Woods lifted the pace.

It meant more possession for the visitors but Aveley's defence remained strong. After 70 minutes, Michael Gordon was brought down just outside the box and Abdul Yoki struck a low free-kick, which Rafis did well to save by his feet.

In return, Barnes finally got the better of John Christian, who had been doing a fine job filling in at right-back, and hit a shot into the side-netting and then a free-kick drilled in by Shaz Ahmed was flicked on by the head of Ryan Doyle and Swain turned it over the bar.

That was the last chance for the home side, but there was one late bit of excitement for the travelling supporters as Hall flicked on a Ryan Tackley ball forward and Baxter raced through to score, only for an offside flag to correctly put an end to any celebrations.