Woods created a bit of history as they notched their first-ever Southern League, currently sponsored by Red Insure, Cup win at the fourth attempt.

Liam Fowler was unavailable so Shaun Wanklyn switched to central defence to cover while a couple of others were rested but it was a fairly strong side that took on Ashford Town (Middlesex) who chose to give a run out to a couple of their promising under-18s players who would also come up against the Woods a couple of nights later.
Northwood were well in control for much of the first-half and created several chances which were mainly squandered. Jack Hutchinson created much if the early pressure and had a couple of chances himself while Garry Senior and Wanklyn also went close before the Woods finally took the lead after 40 minutes. Gary Burrell was the supplier of a cross and Oliver Hawkins flicked home a header.

It was a more competitive in the second-half but Ashford got little change from the Woods defence in the early stages and they then grabbed a crucial second goal on 62 minutes. There was a slice of fortune in it too as Jonathan Constant knocked the ball in from the right and Senior’s flick-on hit defender Jim Mann to wrong-foot goalkeeper Steve Windegaard.

Both sides made substitutions and the game was looking like petering out but Burrell then cut in from the right to slot home a fins solo effort and make it 3-0 with ten minutes still to play.

Northwood appeared to switch off at that stage and twice gave away late opportunities to young substitute Rinor Sopjani but on both occasions he failed to hit the target and Derek Lewis was happy to maintain  a clean sheet.

Report by ALAN EVANS