The Woods ended a run of three successive league defeats with this hard-fought goalless draw against a Rugby Town side who still remain unbeaten away from home this season.

The injury situation was improved by the return of Anthony Page and Sam Sharples but Northwood were still without Scott Orphanou, Kyle Matthews, Jamie Lindsay, Ryan Tackley, Rodney Hicks and Wayne Jackson while both Danny Power and Aaron Cato had departed the club in the previous few days.

Reserve goalkeeper Takunda Marevesa was given a first-team debut while there was a return to the club after almost ten years for Mark Burgess’ twin brother James; on a dual-registration basis from Hendon.
There was a setback almost immediately for the Woods as Scott Raper pulled up with a hamstring strain and had to be replaced by Dean Wallace who slotted into an unfamiliar right wing-back position.

However, there appeared to be more solidity to the defence that in recent games with Page looking dominant in the centre again as a stand-in centre-half and the two Burgess brothers organising things well. It restricted the visitors to shooting from distance which never looked like being successful and the whole of the first-half was pretty chanceless at both ends.

It was after 41 minutes that the Woods recorded the only shot on target before the break as Murray Williamson shot from just outside the box and Dave Clarke dived to save well. Soon after, a good build-up and cross from Douglas Kisuule, picked out Leon Osei who headed over the top.

Straight after the break Kisuule got his head to a cross which was cleared away by Melvin Gourlay but it was much the same with defences still on top and neither side able to string that many passes together.

Richard Wesley curled a free-kick just over the top for the visitors and the Woods hit back with Page heading a John Christian cross on target but Clarke kept it out.
After 70 minutes there was a real chance as a through-ball saw both Osei and Kisuule race towards goal. Osei was the one who took control of the ball yet managed to be crowded out before getting a shot in on goal.

Two minutes later Rugby finally recorded their first shot on goal as substitute Luke Keen saw his effort well held by a diving Mareseva but neither side really looked like getting the elusive goal as the end approached. It was in stoppage-time that the Woods gave the visitors a glimmer of hope when Josh Urquhart dropped a header back to the ‘keeper short and Keen got in but rolled his shot across the face of the goal and wide of the far post.

It may well be an important point for the Woods but that makes it just one win in nine games now for the side and the ten-day break they now have before their next fixture could be good as they look to get key players fit and back in the squad.

Report by ALAN EVANS

Photos by James Brown