Northwood bounced back from conceding an early goal to keep their FA Carlsberg Trophy hopes alive, and a Tuesday night replay means that they will be in the draw for the Second Round proper at the FA’s Wembley Stadium headquarters on Monday. With Danny Jones and Gilbert Nuako both cup-tied, manager Dave Anderson was also forced into a big change in defence with star defender Michael Peacock ruled out with a damaged shoulder following a car crash a week earlier. John Sonuga, top scorer in the reserves this season, showed his versatility by slotting into a central defensive role while there was also a place for new goalkeeper Bobby Smith who had made his debut a few days earlier in the County Cup win at Hampton & Richmond Borough. The changes didn’t end there, either, with a recall for Leon Osei following a spell on the sidelines with injury.

Carshalton had won just one of their previous eight games, that being in the previous round of the Trophy when they beat Weston-Super-Mare in a replay, so they were far from confident of victory against a Woods side who were the lowest-ranked team left in the competition. Amazingly, though it was the Robins who grabbed a very early lead, the Woods started brightly, winning a free-kick within seconds which saw Gary Burrell have his shot deflected only just wide for a corner. From that, the home side cleared upfield, Craig Faulconbridge quickly switched the play wide to Richard Jolly and his run and cross was converted from close-range by Barry Stevens with less than two minutes on the clock.

In a similar scenario to the previous round against Basingstoke, it was important that the Woods didn’t let the game slip away from them further and they buckled down well, working hard all over the pitch to ensure Carshalton never had it easy. Burrell was very prominent in those early stages and one of his inswinging corners almost crept in at the far post after six minutes with goalscorer Stevens doing just as well at the other end by clearing off the line. A curling shot from the same player on 13 minutes was also not far wide.

Having settled things down, the Robins then almost doubled their lead with another long-ball counter-attack. It was three on two as the ball was worked across to Stevens but this time his shot crashed back off the post and Jolly hooked the rebound wide. After 36 minutes, a flick-on from Eugene Ofori appeared to drop kindly for Brad Hewitt but some desperate defending just prevented him from getting any power behind his shot and the long clearance from Karl Murray then presented Faulconbridge with a chance but he shot failed to hit the target.

The very next attack rewarded Northwood for their endeavours with the equaliser. A good attacking run down the left from Leon Osei left David Ray floundering and when his cut-back from the bye-line whistled across the six-yard box, Rashid Kamara’s attempted clearance was directed at Eugene Ofori who instinctively steered a shot past goalkeeper Nick Hamann.

Just before the break, Smith was tested by another Stevens strike but he saved comfortably low down and the scores remained level at half-time.

The Woods started the second-half strongly and hopes were certainly raised for another memorable victory. Osei set up John Christian for a shot which spun in the air and flashed not that far wide of the target. Soon after that a good ball through from Sam Sharples found Ofori but his chip was always dipping just over the bar.

The Robins' only chance in those early stages of the half was when John Christian, having just made a winning tackle in the centre, played a loose ball back and saw Jolly steal in but his effort was blocked.
Back came the Woods though with Danny Power linking up with Osei to let fly with a shot which looked to be curling inside the post with Hamann beaten but he finished just the wrong side. A minute later Osei was given another chance when getting on the end of a neat pass from Burrell but again he was unable to get enough power behind his shot.

Just before the hour mark, another defensive mistake, this time a header from Power, gave Jolly a great chance to put Carshalton ahead again but Smith was out quickly and made an excellent save to deny him.
Northwood continued to work tirelessly in midfield with Burrell again turning supplier for a couple of chances for the effervescent Scott Orphanou. Firstly the diminutive striker jinked across the edge of the area before getting in a shot that flashed just over the bar and then he hit a shot on the turn which Hamann dealt with comfortably.

The final twenty minutes saw the home side back on the front foot as the Woods started to concede too many free-kicks and a succession of corners. After 73 minutes one of those corners fell nicely for Faulconbridge at the near post and his shot was well blocked by Sonuga. Two minutes later Jolly got the better of Sonuga with a pacy run but then flicked his shot wide, the resulting decision of another corner, suggesting that Sonuga may have got an important touch.

Hugo Figueiredo replaced the tiring Orphanou with fifteen minutes to go but the Robins went close again soon after with Smith saving well from another Jolly strike. After 78 minutes, the Woods relieved the pressure a little with a good break and Ofori laid a good ball off to Osei who got in a better strike but was straight at the ‘keeper.

Smith was again down sharply to save from Jolly as the Carshalton goal-ace continued to endure a barren day but after 88 minutes, the Woods had a golden opportunity to take the game. Ofori did the hard work down the right and when his cross was blocked, it fell kindly to Figueiredo who sliced his shot from ten yards over the bar.

It was a let-off for the Robins who were awarded several more free-kicks in stoppage-time. From one of these the ball fell dangerously in the penalty-area but Burrell managed to clear the danger and ensure that Northwood would get another crack at winning the tie on home soil in a midweek replay. The Trophy story continues....

Report by ALAN EVANS

Photos by James Brown