Tuesday 9 April 1974
PENALTY BLOW TO NORTHWOOD
NORTHWOOD 0 BOROUGH ROAD COLLEGE 1
After their convincing victory over Viking Sports the previous Saturday, Northwood were confident they could upset the form book again when they played hosts to the talented Borough Road College in the Middlesex League on Tuesday evening.
However, a second half penalty dashed all their hopes after they had commanded most of the play.
After an even start Northwood were close to a goal many times. Steve Pearce skimmed the bar with a powerful drive, and a loose ball was steered goal wards by Clarke, where it hit a post.
Northwood’s best attacks came from the right, where Coulter found himself free on a number of occasions, but his colleagues couldn’t cash in on his crosses. Borough Road were limited to breakaways, and although dangerous in the build-up, they rarely threatened in the box, where Gould excelled.
As half-time approached Northwood pushed forwards more and more, with full-backs Heslop and Harland joining the attacks.
The pattern continued into the second half until that vital penalty. Then Borough Road broke away, and a long ball set Allen away. Gould went with him and forced him wide out of danger, and just as it looked as if Allen had over-run the ball, Gould made his tackle and sent him sprawling. The referee awarded a penalty, and Gillon had no chance.
Even after this Northwood could still have won as Hester and Stone missed chances, and Coulter had a header cleared off the line.
Northwood: M. Gillon, K. Harland, M. Blanch, B. Gould, J. Byrne, P. Clarke, J. Roberts, C. Hester, S, Pearce, H. Stone, H. Coulter. Sub. A. Roche.
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