Match Report
by Alan Evans

If Northwood have any ambitions to figure at the right end of the table come next spring, this was the type of game that they should have had all three points securely tucked away.

Though the pitch was hard and bumpy, and their opponents could boast a 100% record on it so far this season, the Woods should have had enough power to overcome an Abbey side suffering through the loss of two key players for the game.

While Colin Payne introduced goalkeeper Adam Thomson in goal, on a three-month loan deal from neighbours Hayes & Yeading United, Waltham Abbey were forced to play their veteran goalkeeping coach Tony Tillbrook as regular custodian John Hickman was away for the weekend. The home side had also lost striker Billy Holland to Redbridge the previous day. Elliott Buchanan failed a fitness test and Kyle Matthews was delayed on the way to the game, so the Woods manager named reserve striker Adrian Abramian in the starting line-up for his debut.

Dwane Williams was back from injury for Northwood and set up an early chance but keeper Tillbrook blocked his header across goal. After just eight minutes, a cross from Denny Webb presented home skipper Lee White with a great opportunity but he headed wide of the target.

Gradually the Woods began to gain the upper hand and after 17 minutes, from a Dean Clark corner, Bradley Hewitt headed down and Jermaine Hamilton saw his effort well blocked by a defender. Just three minutes later, Clark picked up a pass from Hamilton and knocked in a great ball to Danny Murphy, who slipped with the goal at his mercy.

Abramian was settling into his role up front and made room for a shot which was blocked on 27 minutes but the rebound fell to Hamilton, who should have done better than slicing his shot well wide.

Yet all this pressure came to nothing on 37 minutes when Waltham Abbey, yet to have a shot on target themselves, were gifted the lead. A free-kick was pumped in, White headed the ball across the six-yard box and Clark, attempting to clear but under no pressure, volleyed the ball into the back of the net.

For the second-half, Simieon Howell succumbed to a calf strain and was replaced by Chris Mills, also back from injury, and and the Woods continued to dominate.

Williams went close with a chip which Tillbrook just caught under the crossbar, and the same player then latched onto a loose ball with a shot into the ground which bounced up and just over the bar.

Waltham Abbey did threaten just the once when a good move saw Ian Sawyer cut in from the left but Thomson saved well with his legs.

On the hour mark, the Woods drew level when a good break saw Clark chip the ball forward to Abramian and the striker cut across his marker to fire home a left-foot shot and a debut goal.

Ten minutes later they should have been in front when Hamilton chased a through ball, knocked it past a defender and then stole in front of him only to fire into the side-netting with just the hesitant Tillbrook to beat.

However, on 75 minutes, a short corner was cleared out as far as Abdul Yoki and his low shot crept under the diving Tillbrook to give Northwood the lead and Yoki his first goal in Northwood colours.

To their credit, Abbey picked up the pace a little but it was still a shock when they pulled level again three minutes from time, with Marc Sontag finding enough space in the box to fire home across Thomson and into the far corner.

Still, the Woods should have won it as Abramian battled up front to present a great chance to the arriving Murphy but his fierce shot cannoned back off the crossbar and Abramian’s diving-header from the rebound was deflected just inches wide of the post.

In the end, Northwood had to settle for just a point and will need to continue to build over the coming weeks to haul themselves out of the bottom six.