After three hours of this closely-fought FA Cup tie it was Barton Rovers who claimed the £3,000 purse and a place in the next round as the Woods fell to an ultimately disappointing late exit. Following the weekend’s draw, salvaged by George Nicholas’ late equaliser but spoiled by a missed penalty, Northwood had raised hopes of a victory on home turf in the midweek replay with an away trip to the Kent coast at either Margate or Folkestone Invicta awaiting the winners. With Berkley Laurencin returning in goal after missing three games the starting line-up was strengthened, but Andy Lomas was ruled out with injury so the versatile Omar Vassell switched to cover at left-back while James Duncan came into the left-back position.

Rob Hastings had an early effort blocked but then Duncan was booked for a late challenge as the game began at a high tempo. The visitors had the first effort on goal as a stretching Nat Peacock got his head to a Kevin Kilroy cross but Laurencin plucked it out of the air. The Woods were playing some fast, flowing football but continued to lack penetration in the final third with Joakim Ehui, Sam Byfield and Dave Lawrence all failing to hit the target after excellent approach work.

But the side never dropped their efforts and when George Nicholas spotted Jordan Lawal making a good move forward on 27 minutes, he picked him out superbly and it seemed a certain goal only for the Woods midfielder to chip a first time volley straight into the relieved hands of goalkeeper Kyle Forster. That was soon forgotten though as just a minute later, a good run down the right produced an accurate, sweeping cross and Ehui pounced to fire past Forster for the opening goal. The Woods were in front for the first time in the tie.

Rovers raised their game after going behind but remained reliant on the long-throw to try to breach the Northwood rearguard and Mark Burgess marshalled his troops well to negate the threat that this posed. Laurencin also kept out a shot from Keshi Anderson while Kilroy saw a well-struck free-kick drift only just wide of the post after 40 minutes. Barton levelled things at an ideal time, the final minute of the first half as James Peters did well to get a cross in from the right and when it fell to Tony Burnett he buried the chance with a rising shot into the roof of the net.

The pressure from the visitors continued after the break with Laurencin saving from Anderson, Peacock’s header clipping the bar after another long throw into the box was flicked on and then Burnett fired over after a good ball from Anderson. But the Woods countered this with a fine goal on 53 minutes as Lawrence split the defence to put Sam Byfield through on goal and a cool finish saw Northwood back in front.

Just a minute later, Byfield turned provider with a great cross from the left that could have repaid the favour as Lawrence came in to attack it but under pressure from a defender his header lacked direction and the ball was cleared. Play switched back to the other end and on 57 minutes a goalmouth scramble saw Louis Lee’s shot come back off a post but Burnett was there again to blast home and level things up yet again.

Northwood needed to come up with another effort to get ahead again but Hastings lacked power as he swept Ehui’s cut-back towards goal and then Nicholas did well to set up Byfield but his shot was well wide. Extra-time was looking likely as both sides made substitutions that slowed the game down a little but on 85 minutes, Barton forced a corner and from this it was substitute Alex Condon that powered home a header.

Michael Murray came on as a target man for the closing stages and flicked one header on that was deflected and flashed only just wide while a late free-kick saw Murray flick on again and Perry Dicker couldn’t quite connect. He retrieved the ball and knocked it in again but Forster claimed it to end the Woods hopes.