The Woods returned to winning ways with a narrow victory at Beaconsfield Sycob, which leaves the home side still pointless after three league games.  Leon Osei replaced Jamie Lindsay in the starting line-up as the only change to the side that had played in the opening two fixtures which also meant a change to the formation for Northwood as they looked to create more up front than they had done at Hitchin in midweek.

That showed immediately as the very first minute saw Kyle Matthews curl a shot goalwards from 30 yards which looked to dipping in until goalkeeper Carl Dennison just managed to push the ball onto the crossbar and it was cleared.

Of course, increasing attacking options also meant leaving a few more spaces at the back and the Rams then had two chances themselves inside the next two minutes. Aaron McLeish broke clear down the left but played his cross behind strike partner Jonathan Constant and the opportunity was wasted. Then, Mitch Swain was called into action to save a long-range strike from Dorian Smith but he couldn’t hold on and McLeish should have done better as he hit the loose ball well wide.

This was all before five minutes had elapsed, and the Woods had to knuckle down and work hard to keep Sycob at bay. It was still end to end stuff as Osei played a good ball through for Matthews to link up with Scott Orphanou but his strike was well over the top.

Beaconsfield responded, with Swain saving comfortably from a Sebastian Schoburgh effort and then saving at the feet of Constant after he latched quickly onto a Mark Burgess clearance and raced into the box.

Osei looked to have a great chance to score on 36 minutes when a free-kick reached him just inside the box and though he stepped outside one challenge, his shot was blocked by a second with a corner the only reward.

Swain made another good save to deny Smith’s shot but Scott Raper was fouled when attempting to clear the rebound and was unable to continue. He was replaced by Lindsay who was immediately in action, unable to stop Schoburgh from shooting but Swain saved comfortably to bring the half to a close.

Clearly, the management team did some thinking at half-time and decided to change the formation. Dean Wallace, who hadn’t enjoyed his defensive midfield role, was replaced by Rodney Hicks who took up an unfamiliar wing-back role on the right side. It had little immediate effect with an excellent ball from Jake Lovell finding Constant but his shot was well-saved by Swain and soon after, another strike from McLeish drifted wide of the post.

Gradually, Sycob created less and Northwood began to threaten more, with Osei getting involved and his pass down the channel got Matthews in on goal but he knocked his shot just wide of the far post. A series of free-kicks and corners were won as the Rams began to unravel and both John Christian and Matthews went close from these before Osei directed a header straight at Dennison from close-range.

After 77 minutes the Woods got the breakthrough as Osei set up Matthews for a cross which picked out Hicks and he managed to steer his header perfectly over the ‘keeper and into the top corner. There could have been another just two minutes later as Osei and Orphanou combined again, but the latter smashed his shot over the top with just Dennison to beat.

Once ahead, Northwood were in no mood to let the lead slip and they played the final stages well, restricting Beaconsfield to just one long-range effort from Smith which failed to hit the target.

 The three points take the Woods up to fifth place in the table behind leaders Arlesey Town who are the only side with maximum points from three matches played. Next up is the opening game in this season’s FA Cup campaign at Wingate & Finchley who finally started their Ryman League campaign this afternoon with a 0-0 draw at Ware.

Report by ALAN EVANS

Photos by James Brown