Match Report
by Robin Piper
Northwood secured
their first league win of the month as they overcame previously
unbeaten Maldon Town.Hopes were high
following the previous week’s Trophy success at Sittingbourne, and the
unchanged Woods team began in a positive manner.However, there
was an early scare for Northwood after Maldon’s Dean Parratt struck an
upright with the goal at his mercy.But Woods were
soon back on the attack with Abdulai Yoki making a strong run into the
box before shooting across the face of goal.
And it was Yoki
who opened the scoring with a stunning effort on 12 minutes, leaving
‘keeper Darren Gould standing with a 30-yard scorcher.Northwood
continued to dominate proceedings, Dean Clark creating an opportunity
for himself but firing his shot wide of the far post.However,
Northwood’s superiority was confirmed when they extended their lead in
the 18th minute through Danny Hart. Yoki was the provider,
as his deep cross fell to Hart on the edge of the box, the latter
expertly controlling the ball before sending a looping half volley
into the far corner via the hand of ‘keeper Gould.
Maldon needed a
quick response and they put Woods under a spell of pressure with a
succession of attacks but they found Northwood ‘keeper Mitch Swain in
fine form as he saved twice from Lee Perry.Having weathered
the storm, Woods produced a strong finish to an entertaining
first-half. Jerome Hall got beyond Gould before squaring the ball to
Yoki who miss-hit his shot before the former made a strong run into
the box but shot wide of the far post.Northwood made a
bright start to the second period, Dwane Williams’ ball over the top
finding Hart whose shot flew narrowly wide of the upright.
However, Woods
were gradually pinned back into their own half as Maldon looked for a
way back into the game. James Robinson went close with a header,
whilst the impressive Swain produced another point blank save to deny
Steve Wareham.In a rare
Northwood attack, Clark attempted to chip Gould after Hart created the
opening, but the Maldon stopper was equal to the task.Manager Colin
Payne was forced due to innjuries to use his full quota of
substitutes, Hall, Hart and Yoki being replaced by Jermaine Hamilton,
Elliott Buchanan and Lee Holland respectively.
The changes
appeared to unsettle Woods as Maldon looked increasingly dangerous,
Swain producing heroics once more as he saved well from substitute
Wayne Purser.However, Swain
was finally beaten as Frank Everitt headed home Parratt’s corner to
reduce the arrears with ten minutes remaining.Woods had a great
chance to make the points safe when Hamilton sent Holland clear of the
Maldon defence, but he was unable to guide his shot beyond Gould.
But the game
finally rested on a moment of drama in the penultimate minute as
Northwood conceded a debatable penalty, Adam Theo being adjudged to
have impeded substitute Paul Shave. However, Swain capped his man of
the match performance as he saved Purser’s well struck penalty-kick to
make the points safe for Northwood.
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