Northwood made the trip to Canvey Island and continued their league campaign where they left off three weeks ago as they scored another four goals to deservedly beat play-off rivals Concord. Manager Dave Anderson had almost a full squad to choose from with the recent departure of Gary Burrell to Wingate meaning a slight change to the pattern of play, Woods lining up in a more balanced 4-4-2 formation, with Aaron Cato and Danny Power playing on the flanks.

There were chances at both ends as the game got off to a lively start with Concord’s Lyle Taylor and Danny Heale both seeing their efforts hit the Northwood woodwork, whilst Gilbert Nuako drew a save from goalkeeper Dale Brightly before the effervescent Scott Orphanou went close with a shot into the side-netting. After a promising start the game became scrappy and threatened to become bogged down by the over-use of the referee’s whistle. But Woods continued to produce some constructive football with Orphanou calling Brightly into action once again, before Leon Osei’s attempted chip flew narrowly over the Concord crossbar.

Northwood were asking all the questions and Cato wasn’t far away with a fee-kick from the edge of the box. And Woods were rewarded by taking the lead two minutes before the half-time break, the impressive Osei creating space on the edge of the box and unleashing an unstoppable shot which rocketed into the top corner of the Concord net.   

Northwood’s afternoon got even better early in the second-half as Brightly made a hash of an attempted clearance under pressure from the on-rushing Orphanou, the ball falling to John Christian a fully 40-yards from goal, and he showed great composure and skill to send the ball into the unguarded net to make in 2-0 on 49 minutes.

Shell-shocked Concord appeared to have no solution to their predicament, which grew more serious as Woods added a third on 53 minutes following an incisive move. Christian was the instigator as he surged into the box and threaded the ball to Cato, whose shot was well saved by Brightly but Orphanou displayed the poacher’s instinct as he latched onto the loose ball to score his seventh league goal of an impressive debut season.

Concord utilised all their substitutes in a desperate attempt to claw something back but their frustrations boiled over as one of the replacements, Lee Williams, received a straight red card for a crude challenge on Orphanou. The hosts’ humiliation was complete as they conceded a 75th minute penalty after Bradley Hewitt was tripped by Steve King, Cato converting the rebound after Brightly had saved his initial spot-kick to make it 4-0.

Hugo Figueiredo and Eugene Ofori were introduced for Power and Orphanou whilst the hosts were reduced to nine men after Nick Skelton succumbed to injury with all the substitutes used. But the nine men of Concord managed to gain a consolation goal on 82 minutes, as Taylor broke clear before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Bobby Smith.

Michael Peacock, who along with Hewitt had been a rock in central defence, was replaced by John Sonuga for the closing minutes and the latter was on hand to clear the ball off the line as Taylor threatened another goal.

Chris Seeby and Osei both went close before the whistle was blown on an impressive Northwood win which manager Anderson later described as one of the most satisfying in his managerial career.

Report by ROBIN PIPER

Photos by James Brown