Northwood suffered their first reverse in the league under the stewardship of caretaker manager Scott Dash as they came out second best on the 3G pitch at Bedfont Sports Ground.

There was one change to the starting line-up, with Chris Gosling replacing Kieran Asumadu-Sakyi in midfield as Woods looked to extend their six match unbeaten run in the league against an in-form Bedfont.

Both sides were quickly into the groove and it was the hosts who threatened first as the physical Mustafa Tiryaki sent a flicked header narrowly over from a corner. At the other end, Andrew Ofosu tested keeper Matte Pierson with a header from Matt Cooper's pin-point delivery.

Tiryaki was proving to be a handful for the visitors and he went close once again as he had a shot blocked on the line following another corner.

Woods stood firm and they enjoyed a good passage of play with some neat, incisive moves. Ofosu, Pattie and Leigh Stevens all went close for Northwood but they were unable to reap the rewards that their football deserved.

Woods continued to press for the openings goal as Kyran Worrell created an opening for Ofosu but final touch was lacking.

And Northwood were made to pay for their lack of cutting edge as the hosts opened the scoring on 36 minutes, Charlie Postance powering his header beyond Sheldrick after he latched onto Tim Pitt's delicious cross with the Woods keeper caught in no-man's land.

Northwood almost posted an immediate response as Ofosu's cross agonisingly missed the head of Stevens with the goal at his mercy, while the first period ended with Dan Pett's shot rebounding off Pierson after Sam Tring and Stevens combined.

Sheldrick was called into action immediately after the restart as he tipped a Postance free-kick over the bar. But the Woods stopper was left helpless on 47 minutes as Postance headed home his second of the evening with the visitors betraying their prevailing weakness at defending corners.

Northwood needed a quick response and they weren't far away as Pattie's shot on the turn flew narrowly, wide while Bedfont had their appeals for a penalty ignored after Tiryaki took a tumble, and Sheldrick saved from Postance.

Conrad Lucan replaced Gosling on 65 minutes, which in effect gave Woods a four man front line, and they continued to create openings with Pattie going close once again.

The returning Max Holland, following his switch from Chesham United, replaced Worrell on 70 minutes and he was soon into the action, linking well with Pattie. And Holland's jinking run and cross picked out Pett in the six-yard box but his header cleared the bar following a push in the back which was missed by the referee.

Northwood continued to push for that elusive goal and they were inevitably dealt the sucker-punch as a Bedfont break-away led to Postance falling in the box under a challenge from Sam Jenkins with substitute David Pitt stepping up to dispatch the 89th minute penalty kick to seal the win for the hosts.