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The Woods gave this tough away game at play-off certainties Slough a real go but eventually lost out by the odd goal in seven, and remain just one place off the bottom of the table after their seventh successive away defeat. Gary Meakin made several changes to the starting line-up bringing in two new central defenders; Daniel Sintim on-loan from Woking and a more familiar face in former Woods favourite Michael Peacock, dual-registered with Hendon. Ryan Tackley returned at left-back and the new-look defence had a shaky start.

It was with just three minutes on the clock that the Rebels top scorer Danny Burnell was left unmarked to head home a corner and put the home side in front. In reply, Scott Orphanou did well to control and poke a shot towards goal having been picked out by a Scott Raper ball but it was Slough that were making the early running with Burnell latching onto a long-ball and hooking a first-time volley over the bar.

Both Sintim, for handball, and Peacock, for a trip, picked up yellow cards during this spell but the defence was gradually settling and with Oliver Hawkins enjoying a fine game up front, the Woods did begin to threaten with Danny Murphy doing well to clear a dangerous ball from Tackley. However, Slough notched a second goal after 32 minutes that really left the Woods with a mountain to climb. Steve Sinclair darted in from the right, leaving Tackley behind and let fly with a stinging shot that Sam Styles did well to keep out but the ball ran loose and Shaun Byrne was first to react and fire home.

Byrne also volleyed another effort over the bar soon after but Northwood continued to work hard and got their reward for their endeavours just before the break as Rob Ursell flighted a free-kick in from the left and Hawkins beat David Woozley to flick a header inside the post of former Northwood goalkeeper Rob Bullivant. It was the tall striker’s first goal for the club and deserved return for an industrious first-half performance.

There was a surprise at the start of the second-half as Meakin made all three substitutions with Aaron Lansiquot, Jimmy Froud and Kevin Wynter replacing James Bent, skipper Peter Lyall and a clearly limping Wayne Jackson. The Woods more than held their own as the second half progressed, forcing Slough into mistakes and enjoying plenty of possession and forward movement but newcomer Froud picked up a knee injury when he won a challenge in midfield and became a virtual passenger for the next twenty minutes, before eventually leaving the field with ten minutes to go.

Despite being almost down to ten men, Northwood were still in with a chance, though another former Northwood player, Sean Sonner could have taken it away from then when he spooned  a shot over from  a good position on 70 minutes. Just two minutes later the Woods were level as Ursell turned supplier again with a great cross to the far post, where Wynter met it to fire it back across Bullivant and accurately into the corner.

Slough immediately upped their game though with Paul Coyne firing straight at Styles and then the Woods ‘keeper made a good save to deny Burnell. The Woods were being clearly stretched now with another of the ex-Northwood contingent, substitute Ben Porter, racing down the right and picking out Burnell who again headed past Styles to put the Rebels back in front after 80 minutes. It was the 100th league goal conceded by the Woods this season.

Froud limped off and the Woods tried to salvage something by moving to a 3-3-3 formation but it did leave them more vulnerable at the back and Burnell almost added his third with a great strike that struck the inside of the post and rebounded into the arms of Styles. In the second minute of stoppage-time, another breakaway saw Porter set up for a chance but Styles got across well to make a great stop, only for the defence to continue to ball-watch as Burnell got to the rebound and accurately fire home to make it 4-2.

There were still a few minutes to play and when Adam Logie made a hash of a defensive clearance, Orphanou pounced to beat his marker and shoot across Bullivant to reduce the arrears once again. Could there possibly be another equaliser? Well, the Woods had the better of the final two minutes and twice got into shooting positions but first Ursell, and then Hawkins, failed to go for goal and the time slipped away.

There are clear signs that the team is progressing, but with just five games to play, the Woods still need to pick up more points and Tuesday night’s trip to fellow strugglers North Greenford United, who defeated Leighton Town 1-0 with a last minute goal, may give them the ideal opportunity.

Report by ALAN EVANS

Photos by James Brown