Match Report
by Robin Piper
Northwood’s
Wembley dreams were ended for another year as they were
comprehensively beaten by Southern Premier outfit Brackley Town at a
rain drenched Chestnut Avenue.
The visitors
continued the cup form that has taken them to the first round proper
of the F.A. Cup as they came from behind to overcome Woods with a
storming second-half display.
There were a
couple of changes to the Northwood starting line-up. Otis Williams
returned to the Woods’ attack with Abdul Yoki reverting to the subs
bench whilst there was the welcome return of Bradley Hewitt, making
his first start for a month with the unlucky Richard Orlu making way.
Northwood were
immediately into their stride as Michael Gordon sent over an enticing
cross for Otis Williams but his header flew narrowly over the bar.
And Williams had
a glorious chance to open the scoring moments later as he latched onto
Anthony Page’s through-ball but the striker was unable to lift the
ball over goalkeeper Richard Knight.
Brackley
gradually found their rhythm and they began moving the ball at pace
over the slick surface. Mitch Swain was forced to save Ben Mackey’s
shot with his legs before the latter had another shot on the turn that
flew narrowly wide, whilst Craig Farley wasn’t far away with a long
range effort.
Woods were
struggling to retain any decent possession as the visitors continued
to dominate with their incisive passing.
However, there
was a scare for Brackley as Sean Sonner ran onto Otis Williams’
flick-on but he was beaten to the ball by the advancing Knight who
made the tackle on the edge of the box, although the referee harshly
penalised the Brackley stopper for a foul and showed him a yellow
card.
The visitors were
soon back on the attack and Northwood were grateful to Swain as he
saved from Mackey and Tony Thorpe.
But despite the
Brackley pressure it was Woods who opened the scoring two minutes
before the break. Knight had denied Otis Williams moments before but
the Brackley ‘keeper was unable to prevent Gordon’s shot entering the
net via an upright following Sonner’s throw into the box.
Brackley made a
double substitution at the break and Thorpe’s replacement Danny
Spencer headed narrowly wide soon after the restart.
And the equaliser
wasn’t long in coming, although there was a touch of luck as David
Perpetuini’s 57th minute shot took a big deflection to
wrong-foot Swain.
Woods were forced
into a change as Otis Williams fell victim to an ankle injury and he
was replaced in attack by Yoki.
But the tie
turned on a indifferent refereeing decision as Dwane Williams was
adjudged to have pushed Spencer in the box, much to the surprise of
everybody in the ground, Dean Cracknell stepping up to convert the 67th minute penalty.
Rob Ursell was
introduced for Dwane Williams and he took up a position on the left
flank as Northwood looked to inject some fresh attacking blood.
And there was an
opportunity for Woods after a sweeping move but Gordon failed to hit
the target.
At the other end,
Mackey was proving to be a constant menace for the Northwood defence,
sending in a couple of long range efforts whilst another shot was
dealt comfortably with by Swain.
However, Mackey
wasn’t to be denied and he was rewarded for his endeavours with a late
brace, netting on 86 and 88 minutes to confirm Brackley’s passage
past a dispirited Northwood.
PHOTO GALLERY (Click thumbnail to enlarge)
Photos: James Brown |
