Meeting the same side twice inside three days is usually reserved for the cut and thrust atmosphere of cup replays but this was for a quickfire end-of-season double as the Woods finally travelled to the Cricklefield Stadium to play this much-postponed fixture.

An Anthony Page goal separated the two sides at Chestnut Avenue on Saturday but the Woods midfielder was ruled out with injury to join the unavailable Ryan Tackley on the sidelines with Jon Daily and Hugo Figueiredo starting in their place. In addition to this, Manager Mark Barnham swapped a couple of others with Aaron Cato starting instead of Scott Purdue while Leon Osei made his first start in a while in place of Kyle Matthews.

Ilford went into the game still needing one point to be mathematically assured of safety and they started quickly with a Richard Simpson shot into the side-netting. A stiff breeze blowing in the home side’s favour meant that they shaded the first twenty minutes but without any real threat while the Woods looked more dangerous on the break.

After 20 minutes Brad Hewitt knocked down a Michael Peacock free-kick and Scott Orphanou was onto it in a flash only to see his rasping shot crash back off the crossbar.

Ilford tried hard but lacked any composure around the box and it was Northwood who again went close next as Osei made room for a shot which flashed just over the bar.

After 39 minutes the Woods failed to clear a free-kick knocked in from the right and Sam Phillips almost conceded an own-goal with the ball scooped up onto the crossbar before being cleared to safety. Almost immediately after that scare a long ball out of defence released Orphanou who sped away from the chasing defenders to plant a shot past the oncoming goalkeeper and put the Woods ahead.

Just before the break Osei succumbed to injury once again and was replaced by Matthews but in the second-half, Ilford came out with renewed vigour. That early pressure came to nothing and then a well-worked move ended with a great chance for Derek Hawtin but he snatched at his shot and it sailed wide of the target.

They were rewarded for their endeavour after 57 minutes as Gavin Taylor danced into the box and then took a tumble under a challenge from Phillips. He certainly made a meal of the dive but the penalty decision looked to be the right one and Victor Omogbehin pulled Ilford level from the spot-kick, though he needed the assistance of both posts before the ball crossed the line.

Northwood huffed and puffed as they looked to get themselves back in front but they lacked any real quality in their attacking play. Cato knocked one shot well wide when there was a better option from Will Hudson’s run into the box but apart from that goalkeeper Rob Budd was never troubled. It was a similar story at the other end as both sides really settled for a point apiece.

Report by ALAN EVANS