Match Report
by Alan Evans

Having fallen at home to Canvey Island on the opening day, it was important that the Woods picked up the pace at Waltham Forest in midweek but having led at half-time, they will have been disappointed that they couldn’t pick up all three points.

The home side were full of confidence after a weekend win at Great Wakering Rovers and included former Northwood players Rob Courtnage and Darren Grieves in their line up, while Northwood were without the injured Dwane Williams and John Lawford as well as Elliott Buchanan, who was a victim of a chest infection. In came new recruit Simieon Howell who was with Basingstoke Town last season, Chris Mills and Jerome Hall.

Yet it was Northwood who enjoyed the early advantage, with Mills trying his luck from long-range and then Adam Theo steering a header over the bar after being picked out by a Danny Murphy free-kick on 12 minutes. Four minutes later, another Murphy free-kick was pumped in but it carried too far and Bradley Hewitt’s header was wide.

With the wind and rain beginning to sweep in, Forest struggled to impose themselves with the Woods defence looking strong but after 27 minutes a cross from Courtnage saw Grieves out-jump Theo for a typical header which only just cleared the crossbar.

On the half-hour, it was only a wake-up call for the Woods, though, who continued to threaten. Hall’s turn and shot deflected just wide of the upright and from the resulting corner, swung in by Dean Clark, goalkeeper Justin Willis just managed to palm the ball away from dropping in under the crossbar.  Four minutes later Clark won a free-kick 25 yards out and fired in a low shot which Willis did well to keep out down by the post.

The home side hit back a minute later, with Courtnage latching on to a half-cleared corner and firing through a ruck of players in the box. Ashley Harris was unsighted but flew across the goal to push the ball round the post.

Northwood increased the pressure as the half drew to a close, and they were rewarded in the final minute when a Murphy corner was met by Hewitt, who steered his powerful header past two defenders on the line.

After the break, the home side came close to levelling the scores when Jeff Hammond found space for himself in the area but he steered his shot wide of the target.

A sweeping move from Northwood, started with a pass out of defence by Theo saw Mills find Adam Cornell in the box but his control let him down and the ball was cleared.

Waltham Forest tried to change things after 67 minutes, bringing on Karem Imbert in a free role to roam up front, and he was booked within seconds for a lunging foul on Hewitt. It was one of seven cautions in the final 25 minutes.

After 71 minutes, the home side were level with a goal scored in similar fashion to the Northwood one. Another corner was swung in and a surge of Forest players towards to ball saw skipper Ryan Oliva get his head to it and force it past Harris in goal.

Five minutes later, Mills was replaced by Phil Holder in the centre of the park and he steadied things a little as the Woods threatened again. Clark swung another corner goalwards but Willis was equal to it again, pushing the ball out to safety.

After 87 minutes, Hall tried a solo run which saw him beat two defenders and then set up Clark for a shot from the edge of the box. It was a scenario which has seen Clark net many goals but this time his effort was blocked by a Forest defender.

The last chance fell to Northwood and young Danny Brown, who got forward well in the closing stages, but he lacked composure in front of goal and his shot sailed over the bar.