Northwood 1  Enfield 2

Saturday 8th March 2025

 

NORTHWOOD
1	Aymen Azaze
2	Jack Empson (78m)
3	Junior Paiva
4	Manny Folarin
5	Jordan Ajanlekoko
6	Jon-Jo Bates (92m)
7	Bradley Clayton
8	Troy Perez-Duah
9	Alex Cathlin (61m)
10	Hassan Jalloh (46m)
11	Nnaemeka Anyanwu
Substitutes
12	Devonte Totesaut (92m)
14	Jayden Ashbourne (78m)
15	Jamie Dwyer
16	Josh Williams (46m)
17	Samuel Folarin (61m)

After the disappointment of the home defeat against Welwyn in midweek, the Woods returned to the Skyline Roofing Stadium for this first Saturday home game in seven weeks with high hopes of picking up some points to ease the growing concerns of the drop zone looming increasingly largely.

Changes were enforced as Harry McKenna’s dislocated shoulder leaves him out for a lengthy spell while Stefan Powell and Alpha Keita-Turay were also missing with illness. Sam Folarin and Josh Williams also reverted to the bench so in came Jack Empson, Jon-Jo Bates, Alex Cathline, Nnaemeka Anyanwu and new signing Jordan Ajanlekoko to the starting line-up. Another new signing, Jayden Ashbourne, also came in as a substitute.

Enfield came to the Skyline on the back of an excellent 7-0 victory over Kidlington, though that was their first success of the year, so the Woods needed to try to dent their confidence from an early stage if possible.

With nine minutes on the clock, the Referee played a good advantage when Ajanlekoko was fouled and it allowed Anyanwu to sprint forward down the left and knock in an inviting cross but there was no-one able to get a touch.

Just two minutes later, the E’s launched their first attack and after Ajanlekoko headed away a cross, the ball fell to Jack Taylor who hit a sweet right-foot shot low into the bottom corner to give Aymen Azaze no chance and Northwood were behind early once again. 

The Woods responded well enough and should have been level after 19 minutes when a well-worked quick free-kick from Troy Perez-Duah led to a left-footed cross from Junior Paiva and Empson met it with a volley which flew wide of the gaping goal.

Seven minutes later, Bradley Clayton found space for a shot which took a deflection and flew just wide of the far post while a chance for Hassan Jalloh shortly after was blocked after he had danced into the area and rebounded safely as the Enfield defence came under pressure.

 

PHOTOS by James Brown

Having been unable to find the equaliser, the Woods then came under a bit of pressure in the closing stages of the half. Gabi Ipanga-Mbambo, who was with Northwood earlier in the season, made a quick break and played it across to Dimitri Christou but thankfully he shot high and over the bar.

A change was needed at the break as Jalloh had suffered a calf injury and was replaced by Williams and the Woods made the best possible start as Cathline did well to collect a pass and turn his marker to power home a shot from 20 yards that George Edgeworth couldn’t get near.

The visitors responded well. Bradley McClenaghan showed some good footwork inside the box to get a shot in that was straight at Azaze and then four minutes later, the Woods ‘keeper was in action again but there was no power in Ipanga-Mbambo’s shot after he had got ahead of Empson.

On 53 minutes, the Woods should have been in front as a good ball from Clayton put Williams through into the box and his square ball to an unmarked Anyanwu saw the youngster stab his shot wide of the goal. Soon after, a chip into the box by Perez-Duah found Anyanwu but his header was easy to collect by Edgeworth.

Sam Folarin replaced Cathline on the hour and almost immediately Anyanwu turned provider with a cut back from the right. There was no-one immediately there to take advantage but Paiva did still arrive and get a shot on goal which the keeper pushed away.

As the half wore on, chances dried up and the game seemed to be heading for a draw as Ashbourne replaced Empson for his debut and then Williams saw an effort saved above his head by the keeper.

Devonte Totesaut came on for Bates in stoppage-time. There was an additional six minutes played when a long-range effort crashed off the Woods crossbar. The danger signals were there and two minutes later, the E’s won a corner on the right, the ball cannoned back across goal to Joni Vukaj who quickly steered his shot inside the post to put his side back ahead.

Incredibly, there was still time for Northwood to equalise as a good touch put Sam Folarin through on goal with just Edgeworth to beat but he hit his shot wide of the goal and it left the Woods frustrated once more.

REPORT by Alan Evans