Northwood once again wedged opened a window of play-off opportunity with this emphatic away win at rivals Beaconsfield Sycob. Manager Gary Meakin was without Wayne O’Sullivan, Jonathan Constant, James McCluskey and the suspended Reece Yorke, but his side proved more than up for this challenge as the home side, who included former Woods Mark Burgess and Anthony Page, rarely threatened.

The Rams were gifted an early opportunity when Victor Osubu seized on a defensive error and slipped the ball to Adam Bernard but he delayed his shot and wasted the chance. From there, the Woods took control on a difficult, hard and bouncy surface which at least had a good grass covering. Kwasi Frempong put a shot just wide of the target but chances were few and far between until Page inexplicably pushed Bellotti over in the box and the Referee pointed to the spot. With the two regular penalty-takers both missing, youngster Romaine Walker had the confidence to seize the initiative from the spot and calmly stroked the ball high into the top corner to give goalkeeper Michael Power-Simpson no chance.

Northwood continued to press and the in-form Bellotti swivelled on a John Christian cross but saw his shot blocked and half-time arrived with no further incident.  Beaconsfield came out for the second half a little more livelier and went close on 48 minutes when Tyron Sealey slipped through the defence but James Reading was out quickly to block his shot and when the loose ball was looped back into the middle, the Woods keeper collected it at the second attempt.

The Woods knew that they probably needed a second goal and it came after 52 minutes. A free-kick was played in by Walker and when it was knocked back out to the edge of the box, Christian headed goalwards and Bellotti was there to flick a header home from close-range. It takes his tally to six goals in the last four games, and the former Oxhey Jets hotshot appears to be getting used to the higher level.

Sycob picked up a couple of bookings as they tried to muscle their way back into the game and also made a couple of substitutions in an effort to reverse their fortunes but the Woods were having none of it and they added a third goal after 69 minutes. Walker’s attacking run saw him beat a couple of defenders and cut in to shoot for goal and though Sam Grayley cleared his effort off the line, top scorer Oliver Hawkins pounced to steer the rebound past Power-Simpson and just inside the post for his first goal in five weeks.

Hawkins had another good strike saved by the home ‘keeper as traffic remained one-way but the Woods then made substitutions themselves, replacing Walker, Christian and Bellotti with Byron Bubb, Kevin Ayodele and Garry Senior. Osubu was the Rams main threat going forward and he whipped in one cross which flashed across the goal but the home side then denied Reading his first-ever clean-sheet for the Woods when Bernard stole in behind the defence to lift the ball into the net after 80 minutes.

Even that didn’t inspire Beaconsfield to raise their performance in the closing stages and, although they remain in the play-off places, they will need to improve in their final two matches if they are to get through to the end of season knockout stage.

The Woods win lifted them above Rugby Town who were thrashed 4-0 at North Greenford United. They need to win their final two games – against Burnham and at Leighton Town – to have a chance of getting into the play-offs, but if they do then they could squeeze past Beaconsfield and also Biggleswade Town who surprisingly slipped up at home to Chertsey Town. The Waders play at home to Uxbridge next and finish at Bedworth United, who have already qualified for a play-off place.  Beaconsfield will need four points from their two matches – away at relegated Fleet Town and at home to lowly Daventry Town – to stay above a Northwood team that does need to win their last two. There is still all to play for.

Report by ALAN EVANS

Photos by James Brown