Northwood 2 Hazells (Aylesbury) 1

Hellenic League Premier Division Cup Semi-final
Saturday 6th March 1982

Northwood		Northwood Park, Chestnut Avenue
John Toogood	1	Kick Off
Dean Johns	2	3.00 p.m.
Derek Hobbs	3	H/T
Barry Gould	4	3-0
Peter Lammin	5	Scorers
Norman Heslop	6	Northwood
Alan Clarke	7	Heslop, James
Viv James	8	Hazells
Don Lucas	9	McKenzie
Nigel Franklin	10
Phil Boyle	11
Substitute
Gary Cooper	12

A tap-in goal two minutes from time by Viv James put Northwood in the Hellenic League Cup final and the chance to make a winning farewell against Abingdon if their application for Athenian League status is successful.

The Woods' first appearance in the final will undoubtedly help their case, but there were times on Saturday when they were sweating that they had thrown the chance away.

And it would have been entirely their own fault. Before the break they entirely deserved the lead Norman Heslop had coolly given them.

Inexplicably, or perhaps that they are just lacking in fitness, they suddenly stopped running, and it came as no surprise when Hazells drew level.

This lapse could have cost them even more dearly, but John Toogood was guarding their interests with customary zeal and no little skill - his one-handed save to turn aside a searing Hazells drive was right out of any top drawer.

And it was not until manager Paddy Coburn brought on the lackadaisical, but skilful, Gary Cooper that the Woods hauled themselves back on the rails.

Even so, Nigel Franklin should have netted himself a hat-trick before Cooper supplied the vital cross that James could not miss and rekindle Northwood's plans for celebrations.