Saturday 8th January 1972
VETERAN DODDS “SWAYS” TENSE CUP STRUGGLE
BARNES 1 NORTHWOOD 2
Northwood, right amongst the pacesetters in the Middlesex League, were fully extended to win this Premier Division Cup first round clash on Saturday. Barnes, who continue to maintain their vast improvement, did well to restrict Northwood to a solitary first half goal and stuck to their task magnificently against a steady stream of attacks in the second.
Northwood suffered two severe last minute setbacks when leading goalscorer Barry Wanless and skipper Johnny Myers were forced to withdraw with influenza. Fortunately Northwood had the non-stop Willie Burt back in the side after a two-week absence. His mid-field control was a continued source of inspiration to his colleagues.
Woods were well in command from the start, but despite their undoubted superiority they were unable to produce many clear-cut chances.
It took a touch of the Paddy Coburn magic in the 40th minute to break down the resolute Barnes defence. He received a throw from veteran Ron Dodd and cut in towards the goal, beating two men in the process. As he approached the box, he produced a really powerful shot that left the goalkeeper floundering.
In the second half, Barnes pushed more men up in an effort to snatch an equaliser. However, against a Northwood defence led by Barry Gould, Barnes were unable to make any real impression. Gould won everything us the air and Don Dibbens, deputising for Myers, was always around to sweep up on the ground. The Northwood attacks found more room as the home side pushed forward and Coburn was particularly impressive.
It was the combination of Coburn and Steve Senior who set up Northwood's second goal for Dodd to calmly net. The game took a sudden turn in the last ten minutes when Barnes scored a completely unexpected goal. A back-pass by Dibbens eluded goalkeeper Byrne. Norman quickly seized the opportunity to open the Barnes account, but it was Northwood who held command at the final whistle.
Northwood: R. Byrne, G. Harding, D. Dibbens, B. Gould, B. Taylor, S. Pearce, I. Harvey, W. Burt, P. Coburn, R. Dodd, S. Senior. Sub. G. Roberts.
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