Match Report
by Alan Evans
The Woods went into this opening-day
fixture in East London with confidence high following a
highly-successful pre-season campaign but they expected to have to dig
deep and scrap out a victory on a bumpy surface which made flowing
football very difficult.
There were debuts for three players, the
defensive pair of Joe Cowen, recruited from Harefield United, and
Richard Orlu who had arrived from Staines Town plus striker Terry
Davies who bagged five pre-season goals after making the move from
Slough Town.
The home side were playing their first
game as tenants of Ilford FC at the Cricklefields Stadium and included
former Woods winger Karl Lewis in their starting line-up.
After an even start with both sides
looking to get to grips with both pitch and the strong wind, the Woods
began to make inroads with a Danny Murphy long-throw being headed on
by Brad Hewitt and Sean Sonner pounced on the loose ball with a
snapshot which flashed wide.
After 10 minutes, another delivery by the
Woods skipper, this time a free-kick, saw Hewitt flick on again for
Sonner who was unable to get a shot in as goalkeeper Roberto Gada
smothered the ball and then Ryan Tackley saw his follow-up blocked.
Northwood kept up the pressure without
threatening the goal but they were gifted the lead after 25 minutes.
This time it was a long-throw from Sonner
that caused the damage with Gada coming to collect but missing the
ball and allowing the predatory Davies, lurking behind, to convert
into the unguarded net.
The Woods maintained the pressure for
much of the half with Murphy, playing further forward that usual, the
main supply line. His corner saw Hewitt find room for a clear header
which failed to hit the target and soon after Hewitt flicked another
Sonner throw which wasn’t far away. After 38 minutes another cross
from Murphy saw Davies stretch to get a shot in on goal but Gada
managed to save low down.
Finally, the home side showed that they
could create something themselves when a good move down the left saw
Marcel Jones get in a shot but Mitch Swain saved comfortably.
The Woods should have been further ahead
in the opening minute of the second-half as a free-kick from Dwain
Williams saw Davies steal in unmarked. He had all the time in the
world to turn and score but rushed an overhead kick which sailed wide.
It was a let-off for the home side and
they went close on 51 minutes when Jones set-up Vinnie Durrant for a
shot which Swain was again equal to.
After 58 minutes, Orlu brought the ball
out of defence and sent Michael Gordon on a run. He jinked past his
marker and floated over an inviting cross which dropped for Davies but
his shot was blocked by Cedrik Ngaku and scrambled away.
Substitutes were introduced with Adrian
Abramian and Aryan Taj replacing Davies and Gordon but chances were
few and far between until the closing stages when the tireless Sonner
set up Taj for what would have been a fine goal but the youngster
blasted his effort wide.
In the end the Woods settled for the
narrow 1-0 victory, their first away opening-day success since their
last promotion season back in 2002/03. |
