Northwood suffered their first home defeat since early September as Cheshunt ran out winners thanks to a second half brace from super-sub Jason Hallett.

There were a number of changes to the Woods’ team which lost to Marlow the previous Saturday, Miguel Matos returning at left wing-back with Dan Newton moving into the back three replacing the injured Imran Uche. There was a return to the midfield for Kieran Asumadu-Sakyi at the expense of Hakim Nyariki, while Jabir Laraba made his first start as a replacement for attacker Max Holland following his midweek departure to Harrow Borough.
The Ambers were the first to show as Yvan Jourdan tried his luck from distance before a curling effort from the boot of Olayemi Adelani narrowly cleared the home crossbar.

However, Northwood were soon into their stride and they had a couple of gilt-edged chances to take an early lead as firstly Andrew Ofosu set up Laraba, who shot weakly at ‘keeper Harry Girling, before the latter blocked Ofosu’s close-range shot following a Sam Jenkins cross.

Woods were looking the more cohesive unit and continued to ask questions of the Cheshunt defence, Dan Pett having a shot blocked before Chris Gosling saw his rising shot clear the woodwork. Northwood maintained their attacking impetus as they searched for the goal to confirm their first half superiority and Ofosu might have done better with time and space in the Cheshunt box but lifted his shot over the Ambers’ crossbar, while Laraba ended a promising run with a weak shot which was comfortably gathered by Girling.

Cheshunt looked a different proposition at the start of the second period with experienced striker Hallett now on as substitute and they immediately threatened as Oluwole Akinsanya headed against the crossbar before Hallett did the same from the resulting corner. And it was no surprise when Hallett gave the Ambers the lead on 54 minutes as he applied the finish to Taylor McKenzie’s low cross.

Woods gradually regained their rhythm and created a couple of openings, Ofosu dragging his shot across the face of goal after good work from Jenkins before Gosling fired over from the edge of the box.

Northwood made a change on 64 minutes with Gosling making way for Zaied Sabti for only his second appearance after injury cut short a promising debut back in September. But the hosts were given a scare as Hallett saw his shot rebound off the far post and end up in the arms of a grateful Luke Sheldrick.

Kweku Lucan was introduced for Ofosu on 64 minutes and the substitute almost made an immediate impact as he burst into the Cheshunt box before shooting narrowly over. And the deserved equaliser finally arrived for Northwood with wing-back Jenkins showing how it should be done as he picked up the loose ball on the edge of the box before firing an emphatic shot into the roof of the Ambers’ net on 64 minutes.

Manager Scott Dash played his last attacking card, with Kyran Worrell replacing  Laraba with fifteen minutes left on the clock as Northwood went in search of the winner, Zabti sending a long-range effort wide of the target before Worrell had a shot deflected behind for a corner.

However, Woods seemed to lose their momentum and belief as the contest reached the latter stages with the visitors looking increasingly dangerous, and it was with some inevitable that Hallett got on the end of Jourdan’s cross to power his header beyond Sheldrick to restore the Ambers’ lead in the 87th minute.

Northwood did have a glimpse of an opportunity to gain a share of the spoils in stoppage time but Worrell attempted a speculative shot when the better option might have been to play in Sabti. While at the other end, Hallett went close to completing a hat-trick as Sheldrick’s attempted clearance cannoned off the striker before nestling in the side-netting, the final moment of drama on a frustrating afternoon for Northwood.