Northwood’s on-loan striker Staforde Palmer hit a debut hat-trick with goals both early and late in this local derby at a very cold Middlesex Stadium. He is believed to be the first player in the club’s history to achieve such a feat.

Palmer replaced Otis Williams as the sole striker while Ryan Tackley returned to the side at left-back, with Gary Meakin switching to the right-back position with Danny Power dropped to the subs bench.

The Woods were into attack from the off and an excellent cross from Hugo Figueiredo found Michael Gordon, whose first-time volley was wide of the post. The match was only four minutes old when Gordon showed good pace to cut in from the right and when his cross was pushed out by former Woods goalkeeper Ben Harris, it was Palmer who stretched and clipped the ball back for the opening goal.

Another goal at that stage would have probably ended the match for Hillingdon who had lost their previous eight league games in succession but they were in luck. After 15 minutes, Tackley’s corner picked out Dwane Williams whose firm header was palmed away by Harris and cleared away. The ball was played back in and Palmer set up Williams for another strike at goal which took a deflection, hit the post and rolled along the line before being picked up by a relieved Harris.

Just three minutes later a well-flighted free-kick from Tackley saw Figueiredo flick the ball on and when Harris blocked, Anthony Page turned the ball goalwards, only to be denied by an offside flag. The chances kept coming, and on 22 minutes another good cross from Figueiredo saw Palmer head the ball on and present Williams with a great chance but his header down was straight at Harris, who saved comfortably.

The home side were battling but it was Harris keeping them in the game and after 26 minutes a good ball through from Palmer got Gordon in on goal but his shot was saved by the outstretched foot of the keeper.

As the half wore on, Borough did begin to look dangerous on the break with the pacy Stanley Mugisha causing some problems but generally the Woods still held the upper hand and Harris had to save two efforts from John Christian just as the first half closed.

Power replaced the injured Tackley at half-time but the Woods still pushed forward, with Palmer seeing an effort flash just wide and then setting up Figueiredo, whose close-range strike was cleared off the line by Zachary Gill.

After 49 minutes Hillingdon hit on the break again and this time Mugisha was able to set up an unmarked Sam Warrell, who fired home from just outside the box.

Manager Dave Anderson made a further change with Rob Ursell replacing Williams, and he was quickly into action with a run and shot which was pushed over the bar by Harris. From the corner, taken by Figueiredo, it was John Christian that restored the Woods lead with a firm header.

Hillingdon, managed by former Northwood favourite Steve Hale, made a couple of changes themselves to try to turn things around but it was to no avail as the Woods continued to dominate. Michael Peacock headed an Ursell corner wide from a good position and it wasn’t until the final minute of normal time that the three points were finally wrapped up. It was a terrific solo goal that did the damage with Palmer shrugging off the attentions of his marker just inside the Borough half and then running thirty yards before hitting a scorching shot which gave Harris no chance.

Just two minutes later, Ursell danced into the penalty area, and pulled the ball back for Palmer to add his third and create that little bit of history and make the scoreline a bit more convincing.

It was the Woods seventh League game unbeaten since the defeat at Witham Town which culminated in the departure of boss Colin Payne but they remain in seventh place in the table.

PHOTO GALLERY (Click thumbnail to enlarge) 

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Photos: James Brown