Report by ALAN EVANS

Missed chances during a dominant first half cost the Woods dear in this home fixture against mid-table Abingdon United as the visitors grabbed all three points late in this contest. Having scored three in a league game for the first time this season on Wednesday night at Hilltop, there was plenty of hope that, with home advantage, this could be replicated to produce a first home league win since the opening day.

Northwood went with just one change, young defender Lewis Buamah given a rest with Rafiq Bettamer starting for the first-time as manager Scott Patmore looks to find a more settled side and on a pleasant afternoon, the home side started well.

Mark Osei was the danger to the Abingdon defence from an early stage, with an early shot that flew just over the bar after just four minutes. Four minutes later, another speedy run took him to the edge of the box and he opted to shoot, with Ilyas Khader free to his right, but it again flew wide of the target.

On ten minutes, Juwon Akintunde combined with Osei to put him into the box and this time it was a more controlled finish but the result was the same, his shot flashing just wide of the far post. The visitors settled a little and started to create with Chris Castle looking to cut in from his position on the left flank but a good tackle from Jonathan Moura cleared the danger. On 15 minutes, the Woods picked up an early yellow card when Bettamer caught a visiting player when looking to clear a ball.

Northwood continued to threaten with some good approach work leading to Kevin Mustali setting up Moura for a clean shot at goal which was pushed wide by the diving Eddie Cavanagh in the visitor’s goal. Osei had another two strikes at goal which failed to hit the target while, at the other end, United’s dangerman Chase did get a shot in on target which Finn Rushton saved comfortably.

Rushton had to make more of a save though to deny Chase on 29 minutes after he had switched to the right flank and Abingdon began to have more of a threat. After 42 minutes, Arnold Mengi fed Khader in the box who manged to thread a ball through to Akintunde who slotted home but he was fractionally offside and his effort was ruled out, leaving the scores still goalless at the break.

The Woods knew needed to be more accurate with their finishing in the second-half and again they started well. A free-kick was awarded centrally about 20 yards out on 48 minutes with Mengi given the opportunity but his attempt was well over the top. Four minutes later, Sankou Jabbi got forward down the left to supply Khader in the box. He got past his marker but delayed his shot too long and Tom Lawer did superbly well to race across and get a block in to deny him.

On the hour, a good ball over the top from Johnny Wilson once again put Osei in with a chance for a quick break. This time he saw the keeper off his line and went for a first-time effort from out wide on the right but it missed the near post area. Maksym Fostyk was next to try his luck from distance on 66 minutes but it flew well over as the Woods continued to lack composure in front of goal. They were made to pay.

After 69 minutes, Abingdon threatened through Chase again, getting a shot on goal which Rushton saved with his feet. The ball looped up and out of the area but was touched back to Finlay Beckett who quickly turned in space and hit a half-volley which flew into the top corner with Rushton no chance of getting across to keep it out.

It was a fine strike that put the visitors in the driving seat. The Woods tried to get back into it with Khader doing well to weave his way into the area and get a shot on target but Cavanagh managed to block and the danger was cleared. Three minutes later, another free-kick in a dangerous area was granted to Khader but he was unable to get it past the two-man wall as time began to tick down.

And on 87 minutes Northwood almost found an equaliser. Jabbi again got forward to feed Khader and he eventually got a ball into the centre. Akintunde pounced, dragged the ball one way and then the other but again some desperate defending from the visitors managed to block his shot from close-range.

Just two minutes later it was game over when an Abingdon corner failed to stick in the outstretched hands of Rushton and substitute Bukunmi Maxwell stabbed home the loose ball from a couple of yards for a debut goal. United went close to scoring a third in stoppage-time with a good strike that came back off a post.

There was still time for the Woods to have one late effort as substitute George Eldridge got forward but his drive flew across goal and wide once more; summing up the story of the home side’s finishing on the day.