Match Report
by Alan Evans
The Woods extended their
unbeaten league run to eight games with this narrow victory over
play-off rivals Ware in frozen conditions at Northwood Park.
Northwood went into the
game without Ryan Tackley, John Christian, Anthony Page and Hugo
Figueiredo, but there was a return after injury for Bradley Hewitt,
who slotted in alongside Michael Peacock in defence. Mark Burgess
pushed into a central midfield role and there was also a start up
front for Kyle Matthews, returning to the club for a third spell.
Ware made a blistering
start to their campaign but have been through traumatic times in
recent weeks, with the loss of their manager and most of their
highly-rated team. New boss Dennis Greene has had to recruit from
scratch and he has a tough job on his hands trying to keep the side in
the top positions.
The pitch had passed a
morning inspection and on a hard but flat surface, Northwood settled
quickly with Michael Gordon testing goalkeeper Ifeamvi Agu with an
early effort after cutting in from the left.
The opening goal came
after 16 minutes and it was Staforde Browne, a hat-trick hero on his
debut the previous Saturday, that rifled home after Hewitt had found
him with a deft header.
Another good move three
minutes later almost produced a second when Matthews headed a Danny
Brown cross over the bar following a good ball from Danny Power.
However, there was a real
mess-up in defence for Ware’s equaliser on 24 minutes. Mitch Swain,
Gary Meakin and Hewitt all combined to allow Daniel Lodge a free shot
at goal and although he missed the target, Darryl Wilson was on hand
to steer the ball home.
It raised the visitors’
confidence and from a corner Hewitt almost headed into his own net,
with Meakin clearing, and then Wilson drove another shot straight at
Swain.
The Woods stormed back,
though, as the half progressed with Dwane Williams not far away with a
good strike and then Michael Peacock heading over from a good
position. It was after 42 minutes that the lead was restored. Gordon
played a short corner to Meakin and when his cross was nodded down by
Hewitt, Matthews pounced for a debut goal.
Ware rallied again after
the break, with Swain forced into a good save as Kyri Kyriagou fired
in a a shot to his near post, but after that the visitors made few
inroads into a more-solid looking Northwood defence.
The Woods gained the upper
hand, and Agu needed to at his best to deny Palmer from close-range
after Hewitt had again caused problems at a corner. After 66 minutes
another good run from Power saw him cut the ball back for Matthews
whose shot was deflected wide and he repeated that effort a little
later, this time with Matthews hooking his shot just over the
crossbar.
The hard-working Meakin
was lost to injury a minute later and replaced by Lee Holland, but
Ware looked a spent force by this time and the Woods dominated the
closing stages, played out in conditions that began to deteriorate.
A typical Gordon run and
cross forced Jack Bradshaw to head behind for a corner and from that
Agu spread himself well to save from Hewitt close-range strike. Palmer
again proved dangerous as the game neared the end, seeing one shot on
the turn deflected just wide, another lift just over the bar, while he
also set up Matthews for a late strike which flashed just wide of the
post.
The Woods held on to all
three points in a game played sensibly by both sides in the conditions
and which proved excellent entertainment for the crowd swelled by
other local postponements. It was Northwood’s seventh successive home
win in all competitions, dating back to November 8th.
PHOTO GALLERY (Click thumbnail to enlarge)
Pressure on the Ware goalkeeper
Danny Brown in midfield action
Gary Meakin takes a watching brief...
More pressure on the Ware goal
Staforde Palmer has just fired home Northwood's opening goal
Michael Gordon tussling for the ball
Fit-again Brad Hewitt closely watches the Ware striker
Gary Meakin brings the ball forwards
Staforde Palmer waits for the ball to drop
The keeper is tested by Staforde Palmer
Michael Gordon shows his usual tight ball control
Heads up in this challenge
Staforde Palmer is full of running
Pressure on the Ware goalkeeper
Photos: James Brown |
