Northwood romped to their first league victory at home since October, beating visiting side FC Romania 4-1. First half goals from Trey Charles, Leigh Stevens and captain Carl Pearce put the game to bed before the second half had even kicked off. The Woods made a few changes, with Jabir Laraba, Dan Newton and Kweku Lucan replacing Yahya El-Khabouche, Imran Uche and Kyran Worrell.

The first half started as an open affair, FC Romania’s Chiduben Onokwai’s audacious backheel flick set up his team-mate Dumitru Chiriac but his half-volley flew over the bar.

The visitors were quickly punished for not taking their chance, as with six minutes on the clock Trey Charles’ long-range effort beat FC Romania’s goalkeeper Adrian Darabanti.

Charles’ goal opened the floodgates and a couple of minutes later Laraba had an excellent opportunity and he did well to round the keeper, but the angle was too tight, and his shot hit the side netting.

Luckily for Laraba his miss was quickly forgotten when Leigh Stevens scored the second of the game and his first for Northwood; bearing down 1 on 1 with the keeper, Stevens kept his calm and slotted the ball in the back of the net. Twelve minutes into the match and the game looked like it was only heading one way.

The home side, going two goals up, hit a bit of a lull and FC Romania’s playmaker Chiriac tried his best to benefit, creating a few chances for himself but none tested Luke Sheldrick.

Northwood’s lull did not last for long, and in the 41st minute, Charles produced a perfect whipped free-kick for captain Carl Pearce to head into the net, helping Northwood finish the first half with one foot over the finishing line.

FC Romania started the second half with a point to prove, and without Luke Sheldrick displaying fine reflexes, the visitors would have got on the score sheet within 10 minutes of the restart. Diving to his left to first deny Bogdan Ungureanu, Sheldrick quickly scrambled to his feet to prevent Onokwai scoring from no more than five yards out.

Northwood’s number 11 Trey Charles was one of many stand-out performers, and in the 68th minute, he helped set up their fourth goal, his second assist of the game. Charles floated in his corner for the unmarked Alex Witham to powerfully head the ball in.

Although 4-0 up, Sheldrick still had to be alert, and when FC Romania’s liveliest player and leading goalscorer Onokwai went through on goal he stood his ground well to keep the visitors out.

Unfortunately for Sheldrick, who was deserving of a clean sheet, he couldn’t keep out the substitute Dimetru Gritcan, who scored after a failed clearance from a corner.

Northwood had the chance to make it five when after some delightful free-flowing passing, Lucan was set up, but he lacked the composure and the ball went over the bar from two yards out.