Northwood games seem to be forming a pattern at the moment. Having won three away games in succession, it is at the one-time fortress of Chestnut Avenue that they are struggling, especially against the division’s top sides. And Arlesey Town certainly showed that they were one of those on Tuesday night as they romped to an easy victory.

University goalkeeper Darren Walsh came in for his debut between the sticks with Michael Parkin still ruled out with injury, and Howard Hall returned at right-back as Wayne Jackson was sidelined with a possibly broken nose. Arlesey boosted their own squad prior to the game with the signings of Gareth Price from Aylesbury and Chris Dillon from Nuneaton Town, and are clearly keen to push near-neighbours Hitchin Town by winning their games in hand.

They were ahead after just four minutes of this game as Aston Goss was allowed far too much room twenty-five yards out and he hit a superb strike into the top corner that gave Walsh no chance.

It was not the start the Woods needed, but they looked to hit back with Chris Chase racing down the left and squaring to Jake Lovell, however the Woods striker wasted the opportunity with a poor touch.

Northwood’s defence was fully occupied trying to halt the tide of Arlesey attacks as they got the ball wide to both flanks and stretched the back-four to the full but they were making a reasonable job of it until the 21st minute when Price did well on the right and crossed for an offside-looking Zema Abbey to slot home.

The spirit was still willing, though, and when Lovell won a free-kick with a battling run down the centre six minutes later, Dean Wallace lifted and curled his strike over the wall and into the top corner for a neat finish that brought the Woods back into it.

Northwood had come back from two down at Burnham a few days earlier, but they never really looked likely to repeat that here and Arlesey went close with a Price cross which flashed across the face of the goal and then Walsh raced out to save at the feet of Joel Mason.

The Blues didn’t have long to wait, though, with the third goal coming after 34 minutes. Price was again the instigator with a cross-cum-shot which Walsh blocked but could not hold and Mason was quickest to pounce and knock the ball home. It got even worse five minutes later as Price went route one this time, jinking his way past two half-hearted challenges and then thumping a shot inside the post. Walsh made a fine save to deny Abbey just before the break which couldn’t have come soon enough for the beleaguered Northwood defence.

It was damage-limitation that was the main hope in the second-half, but Price was still full of running and saw an effort hit the post within a minute of the restart. Mason then wasted a good chance with a poor touch when one-on-one with Walsh but after 54 minutes he made up for that with a neat lobbed finish to score his second and Arlesey’s fifth.

Scott Orphanou replaced Lovell and the visitors also made a couple of substitutions which saw the tempo of the game drop, and the Woods became a little less shaky. They rarely ventured forward, though Chase did hit a shot which was not far wide.

Former Woods striker Harry Hunt came on for the visitors in the final fifteen minutes but never really had a chance to impress and it was Northwood who recorded the last efforts on goal. Chase knocked in a dangerous cross which was well taken by goalkeeper Richard Hayward while the ‘keeper also dealt comfortably with a crisp last-minute strike from Wallace which was directed straight at him.

Having now conceded sixteen goals in their last three home matches, the Woods will need to find some form for the visit of seventh-placed Leighton Town on Saturday.

Report by ALAN EVANS