Northwood crashed out of the League cup after an under-par performance at Chestnut Avenue. The Scholars recorded their first ever win over Woods by scoring three goals in quick succession, two late goals for the hosts giving the scoreline a slightly more respectable look.

Woods were keen to get back to action after the postponement of their match at the weekend and manager Dave Anderson put out his strongest available side. But it was the visitors who showed first as Ellis Remy almost capitalised on a misjudgement by ‘keeper Mitch Swain, the resultant shot flying along the goal-line and past and shaving the far post.

Northwood settled down and they twice went close through skipper Eugene Ofori, Scholars’ goalkeeper Matt Bennett dealing with a first time shot before another effort was hooked off the line.
Woods enjoyed a period of sustained pressure with Gary Burrell dragging a shot wide of the goal after good work from Ofori while Michael Peacock was off-target with a shot after he latched onto Brad Hewitt’s knockdown from Chris Seeby’s free-kick.

Potters Bar thought they had opened the scoring when former Northwood youngster Aryan Taj’s near post corner was helped on by Shayne Wyllie but the ball was cleared off the line by the Woods’ defence.
Opportunities continued to be presented at both ends, Burrell seeing his shot saved by Bennett whilst Potters Bar squandered a gilt-edged chance as Jake Parrett headed wide with the goal at his mercy after he was picked out by Terry Smith’s floated free-kick.

But the Scholars made amends in first-half stoppage time in rather fortuitous circumstances, James Hammond’s intended far post cross looping over Swain for the opening goal of the evening.
Northwood made a half-time substitution with Aaron Cato replacing John Christian and offering Woods the hope of greater width to their play. However, Northwood’s task was made harder as they conceded another goal two minutes after the restart when Ellis Remy converted Ola Williams’ pin-point cross.

The contest was effectively over as shell-shocked Northwood conceded a third goal on 49 minutes, Shayne Wyllie being allowed to waltz through a static defence before rolling the ball past Swain.
Woods looked for some consolation and Seeby went close following a Burrell free-kick whist Ofori broke into the Potters Bar box but there was no Northwood shirt to apply the finish. Northwood continued to press and Gilbert Nuako’s cross was met by the head of Danny Jones but Bennett was up to the challenge.

Ofori and Hewitt made way for Anton Lewis and Danny Power on 65 minutes but Northwood continued to be frustrated by Bennett in the Scholars’ goal as he denied Jones and Burrell whist at the other end, substitute Luke Croll saw a shot shave the Northwood woodwork.

Woods finally found a way past Bennett in the final minute as Lewis finished well from Power’s through-ball and the latter was involved again as he set up Cato for a second goal deep in stoppage time, but it was too little too late as Potters Bar deservedly progressed to the next round.

Report by ROBIN PIPER