Saturday 11th September 1976
WOODS COME A CROPPER AT HANWELL
HANWELL TOWN 2 NORTHWOOD 1
Northwood’s good run of nine league and cup games without defeat came to an end on Saturday against a team they smashed 5-0 the previous week.
And the Woods’ manager Paddy Coburn, recovering in hospital from an Achilles tendon operation, must have been glad he missed his side's most inept performance of the season.
They never looked like repeating the previous week's run-around, and few of the Northwood players can look back on the game with satisfaction.
Although Northwood had the lion's share of play in the first half, Hanwell Town could have turned round in the lead.
They missed two easy chances as the Woods defence creaked ominously.
Then Northwood took the lead in the 20th minute. Martin Ellis found, space on the right and hammered over a cross. The goalkeeper had left his line, and the ball sailed into the net. This should have been the signal for the Woods to take up where they had left off seven days earlier, but Hanwell never allowed the setback to disturb them and by half-time the writing was on the wall for Northwood.
Hanwell took the initiative after the break, forcing Northwood back and with 25 minutes to go the two teams were level. Mills and Merison dithered over a ball and Hefferen ran in to lash a swerving shot past the startled Currell from 30 yards
Tidd tried to inspire the Woods but his efforts were in vain and Hanwell grabbed the winner in the closing minutes.
A long ball down the middle, a plea for offside and Hefferen was clear. Three strides and a cunning lob saw Hanwell take the lead and both points.
Northwood: Currell, Ellis, Gould, Merison, Mills, Tidd, Pearce, Curran, Livingstone, Ellis, Franklin. Sub. Jones.
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