Northwood's long midweek journey to the Suffolk coast ended in disappointment as they were knocked out of the Isthmian League Velocity Trophy by their North Division opponents.
Woods had to make do without the cup-tied Brendan Ocran while Dan Pett was unable to make the trip, Keir Dickson and Hakim Nyariki coming into the starting line-up. The was also a new look to the Northwood attack with Emmanuel Melford-Rowe returning to partner Ben Pattie with Ned Clarke reverting to the subs bench.
Northwood created an early opening as Melford-Rowe found space for a shot but his effort lacked the pace to trouble keeper Jack Spurling. But the Seasiders were quickly into their stride and they proceeded to put Woods under a sustained spell of pressure with their pacey, incisive play; Woods keeper Luke Sheldrick twice denied Jack Ainsley while Rhys Henry went close on a couple of occasions.
The hosts continued to threaten, with Woods barely able to get out of their half as they struggled to find their rhythm in the blustery conditions. Seasoned striker Joe Francis was looking particularly dangerous as he broke clear of the Northwood defence before being denied by Sheldrick, with another shot clearing the crossbar.
In a rare moment of Northwood cohesion, Sam Tring's ball over the top released Kweku Lucan but his lob over the advancing Spurling narrowly cleared the woodwork.
However, it was the hosts who deservedly took a 27th minute lead, albeit in somewhat fortuitous circumstances, as Tring's attempted clearance looped backwards onto the post and sat up nicely for Henry to nudge the ball home. And Henry went close to adding a second moments later but Sheldrick was on hand once again to produce a smart save.
Northwood needed to find something before the break and they weren't far away as Nyariki shot narrowly wide after Dickson combined with Lucan to create the opening. But Woods weren't to be denied as they levelled the tie on 40 minutes, Newton arriving at the back post to convert Lucan's corner for his first goal for the club.
The visitors would have been relieved to go into the half-time break on level terms. But it wasn't to be as Newton conceded a stoppage time free-kick in a dangerous position by the corner flag, and Sheldrick failed to deal with Henry's delivery, allowing Jack Ainsley to head home at the far post to restore the Seasiders’ lead.
Woods came out with renewed vigour after the break and Dickson began to make inroads down the left flank, twice firing low balls across the face of goal with Lucan unable to get the vital touch. Pattie was seeing more of the ball for Northwood, and he sent long-range effort over the bar before he squandered a great chance to restore parity when he latched onto a Dickson through-ball, held off the attentions of the home defence but was foiled by Spurling.
The Woods had a decent shout for a penalty waved away after Melford-Rowe was impeded, the Woods striker's case perhaps not helped by having gone down a little easily under a previous challenge early in the game.
Northwood utilised all their substitutes, Cameron Ferguson, Ned Clarke and Kyran Worrell entering the fray but it was the visitors who, having weathered the storm, began to press again with Sheldrick saving from Josh Kerridge and substitute Jamal Wiggins.
Woods switched to a back three and pushed Tring into attack as a last ditch attempt to rescue the tie and the defender turned striker sent a half-volley over the bar when a square ball to Clarke might have been the better option. Northwood continued to press but to no avail and the match was put to bed a minute from time as Francis picked up the loose ball and sent a 20-yard strike beyond Sheldrick to complete the scoring and book the Seasiders’ place in the next round. |