South Park Reigate 3 Northwood 1
Saturday 15th April 2023
NORTHWOOD | |||
1 | Andrew McCorkell | ||
2 | James Gurteen | ||
3 | Andy Lomas | ||
4 | Riccardo Alexander-Greenaway | ||
5 | Luke Tingey © | ||
6 | Keagan Cole (74m) | ||
7 | Shane Cojocarel | ||
8 | Carl Stewart | ||
9 | Gareth Chendlik (63m) | ||
10 | Dan Williams | ||
11 | Sandro Costa (75m) | ||
Substitutes | |||
12 | Sam Jernkins (74m) | ||
14 | Josh Helmore (63m) | ||
15 | Romario Jonas | ||
16 | Harry Gallagher | ||
17 | Osaretin Otote (75m) | ||
|
Northwood’s quest to make the play-offs goes into the final week of the regular season after South Park completed the double over Woods on a frustrating afternoon on the 3G at Whitehall Lane.
Northwood travelled to Reigate knowing that a win would secure a play-off place but had to do so without the services of the unavailable duo of Micah Jackson and Teddy Stacey with the latter’s absence meaning a return to the starting line-up for Carl Stewart, the only change from the midweek defeat at Hanworth.
After Woods went close with an early 30-yard effort from Luke Tingey which narrowly cleared the crossbar, the hosts threatened as Sam King saw his shot cleared off the line before the same player’s touch let him down as Finlay Johnson created a close-range opportunity.
And the Sparks were rewarded for their bright start as they took the lead on 14 minutes – Brendan Murphy-McVey being allowed to run at the Northwood defence before unleashing a low drive from 20 yards which flew in off the bottom of the upright.
Woods brushed themselves down and they had the chance to restore parity from the penalty spot after Riccardo Alexander-Greenaway was tripped in the box Zak Basey was equal to Gareth Chendlik’s attempt from 12 yards as he turned the ball behind for a corner.
Northwood continued to press for the equaliser as James Gurteen had his goal-bound header from a Keagan Cole corner cleared off the line while Shane Cojocarel and Andy Lomas were off target following a couple of incisive moves from the visitors.
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PHOTOS by James Brown
At the other end, Woods were nearly punished as they failed to clear their lines and Murphy McVey might have done better as he volleyed over from a central position.
However, Woods gave themselves the perfect tonic as they went into the half-time break on level terms – Tingey’s crossfield ball picking out Lomas who set up Dan Williams for a great strike which flew across Basey and into the far corner of the home net.
South Park threatened soon after the restart as goalkeeper Andrew McCorkell kept out a point-blank shot from Johnson with Murphy-McVey’s follow up effort missing the target. But the Sparks were not to be denied as youngster Deondre Date was afforded too much room before firing beyond McCorkell to restore the host’s lead on 50 minutes.
Northwood looked to respond once again and they went close as Williams burst through the middle but he was denied by the on-rushing Basey with Cojocarel’s follow up being blocked by some determined defending.
Woods made a change just after the hour as they sought to freshen up the attack with Chendlik making way for Josh Helmore. However, Woods approach play continued to founder on a determined South Park backline with chances difficult to come by.
And as Northwood prepared to make further substitutions, they switched off sufficiently to allow King to tee up Johnson who fired a rasping shot into the roof of the net to effectively put the contest to bed on 73 minutes.
Woods made the double change as Sam Jenkins saw his first action for several weeks as he replaced Cole while Osaretin Otote was introduced for Sandro Costa.
Northwood stuck to their task but they couldn’t find the necessary guile in the final third to alter the situation with Tingey’s long-range effort which flew narrowly wide, the closest they came in the remaining minutes.
Woods will now be keeping an anxious eye on Marlow’s midweek visit to Binfield and hoping the Blues can get the win which would secure them third place, prevent the Moles from taking the play-off battle into the final round of matches and confirm Northwood's spot in the end of season knockout.
REPORT by Robin Piper