Saturday 2nd October 1971
WOODS LEAVE IT TO WANLESS
NORTHWOOD 2 RUISLIP TOWN 1
Northwood took two hard-earned points from a Middlesex League dogfight with neighbours Ruislip Town on Saturday, after a game which saw the visitors play well above themselves and almost force a draw.
But Northwood’s punchless attack was also to blame for this rather unconvincing victory, for their mid-field trio of Harvey, Gould and Pearce all combined well and presented the front-runners with ample opportunities for a far bigger triumph.
This was a match in which neither attack was able to make much impression, and it was only poor goalkeeping which allowed Woods to open the scoring.
Hickmott put in a speculative 35 yarder which Montague appeared to have well covered, but the ball spun out of his hands and over the line.
Within minutes, Northwood keeper Byrne returned the favour as he allowed another long range effort to put Town level.
Woods were still marginally on top after the interval, and although Montague was doing his best to redeem himself for his first-half lapse, he could do nothing about Wanless seizing on a half-chance and blasting home the winner with 20 minutes left.
Gould then had a tremendous drive tipped over the bar. before Ruislip staged a somewhat belated comeback, with Byrne saving well in the dying minutes.
Northwood: R. Byrne, Harding, Madigan, Myers, Bailey, Harvey, Gould, Pearce, Wanless, Hickmott, Wordsworth. Sub. P. Byrne.
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