The Woods’ final away game of the league season brought success in their eleventh win and three points that took them up to sixth place in the table, though out of the running for a play-off place. Alex Nolan was given a rest so Georges Ehui had a run-out at right-back, while Niko Muir, who had played 120 minutes for New Salamis in their FA Sunday Cup win at the weekend, was made a substitute.
But Northwood started with great energy against a side that had bounced back from the loss of their manager a week earlier with an excellent win at play-off seekers St. Ives Town at the weekend. Myles Stephenson, George Nicholas and Andy Lomas all went close in the first five minutes and then Rob Hastings was put through on goal but, after steadying himself well, he volleyed miles over.
On ten minutes, another good ball from Louis Stead put Max Holland through on goal but he was denied twice by goalkeeper Kyle Forster, first from an early shot and then the follow-up. After that early pressure, Barton showed a bit of attacking prowess themselves. Tyler Ingham shot wide and then a powerful drive from Alex O’Brien forced goalkeeper Berkley Laurencin into his first action, tipping the ball over the top. From the resulting corner, O’Brien’s hooked volley was always climbing and went over the bar.
The home side lost skipper Paul Andrews to injury after only 22 minutes and the Woods were soon back in the driving seat. Stephenson fired a crisp strike that flew across goal and wide before Stead’s great run saw him slip the ball to Stephenson who beat Forster with a good shot that crashed back off the post. Hastings was quickest to the loose ball but his effort was blocked.
Holland was next to burst through a static defence and he should have gone for goal but chose to cut the ball back to Stephenson and his shot was blocked before Hastings fired over again when in plenty of space. Then, an almost identical attack saw Holland again chose to pass and this time Stephenson’s blast was deflected for a corner as the half drew to a close.
There was a slower start to the second-half but the Woods almost took the lead after 56 minutes as good work from Stead found Stephenson and his arrowed shot was pushed wide by Forster. From Lomas’ corner, Mark Burgess came in round the back for a free header but guided it over the top. George Nicholas was having a quiet game in midfield but found space to try his luck from distance but it flew wide before the hard-working Stephenson was replaced by Muir for the final twenty minutes.
Muir got a sight of goal after a ball from Holland but was well over with his shot while a poor defensive clearance from Warren Plowright gave Nicholas a good chance but he shot poorly straight at Forster with just the keeper to beat. But on 76 minutes Northwood finally got the goal their dominance had deserved, and it was substitute Muir who got the breakthrough with a good run and shot which Forster got two hands to but could not keep out. It was the Woods’ top scorer’s first goal from open play for two months.
Once in front, there was never a sign of the Woods losing the lead. On 82 minutes Lomas curled in an excellent corner which James Budden only needed to get the slightest of touches to, from a few feet, to add a second goal. Nicholas latched onto a Stead cross but chipped narrowly over the top and then Muir robbed Plowright to set up substitute Joakim Ehui whose shot was destined for the top corner before Forster flew across to push the ball over the bar.
But from another Lomas corner, Budden’s header this time came back off the post and Plowright knocked the loose ball past his own keeper, with Burgess claiming it came off the bottom of his boot. There was hardly time to restart the game as the Referee blew for time without any additional time. |