Two nights after the narrow loss to
Spartan South Midlands League side Langford, the Woods visited
Chalfont St. Peter, but put in their worst pre-season display of the
season.
They never looked up for the game, and
the home side were in front after just three minutes when a defensive
error allowed a Saints striker to smash the ball home from a few
yards.
John Lawford chipped a shot wide and then
Jerome Hall headed a Danny Brown quickly taken free-kick just wide but
the Woods were struggling to get a grip on the game.
The Chalfont ‘keeper made one good save
to deny Lawford after he was put through by Charlie Hill but the home
side could have made it two on the half-hour when Brown was
dispossessed but the Chalfont midfielder then screwed his shot just
wide.
Colin Payne made three early
substitutions in an attempt to wake his side up, with Perry Norman,
Bradley Hewitt and Jerome Hall replaced by Aryan Taj, Lee Holland and
Dave Tilbury, and this did seem to have some effect, with the defence
staying strong to half-time.
For the second-half, triallist goalkeeper
Ashley Harris came on for Bill Fishenden and there were two early
shots on goal, the Chalfont ‘keeper making diving stops from both Dean
Clark and Lawford.
Then, on 53 minutes, a long ball split
the Northwood defence completely wide open and the Saints added a
second goal.
Northwood were unable to respond. A
couple of long-range efforts went sailing high and wide, while Clark
then saw a lob tipped over. With five minutes to go, the home ‘keeper
made his best save of the game to deny Hill after he had been set up
by Jack Bennett, but there was no way back for the Woods.