Match Report
by Robin Piper
Near neighbours Harefield United were the
next visitors to Chestnut Avenue in Northwood’s busy pre-season
programme.
Chris Drake went close to giving the
Hares an early lead but his shot flew the wrong side of the post.
But it was Northwood who took the lead on
three minutes when Dwain Williams scored his first goal for the club
with a low drive from outside the box.
Harefield responded well, with Mitch
Swain diverting Luke Lloyd’s shot onto the crossbar.
Woods almost added a second goal but
Harefield old boy Sean Sonner’s near post flick from Andre Delisser’s
cross flew narrowly wide.
However, Jack Bennett made no mistake
with a cool finish from John Christian’s through-ball to extend
Northwood’s advantage on 27 minutes.
A minute later, Harefield had reduced the
lead as former Northwood stalwart Gary Williams headed home unopposed
after Adam Willis’ free-kick rebounded off the crossbar.
Northwood threatened to extend their lead
with Terry Davies being denied by Hares keeper Andrew Haggar, and
Sonner shooting into the latter’s arms.
But Sonner and Davies combined well to
manufacture Woods’ third goal two minutes before the half-time break,
as Davies swept home Sonner’s low cross.
Both sides made a number of substitutions
and after early second half pressure from the visitors when Swain
saved well from Jack Flowerday, substitute Ryan Tackley put the game
beyond Harefield as he bundled the ball home on 65 minutes following a
Danny Murphy corner.
And the scoring was completed on 81
minutes as Davies notched his second of the afternoon by stroking home
the loose ball after Haggar parried Delisser’s fierce shot. |
