Northwood’s poor run of form continued as they went down to an early goal at home to neighbours Chalfont in a fairly uneventful game which saw three red cards issued. After a midweek thrashing at play-off seeking Barton Rovers, the Woods were looking to return to winning ways against a team in a similar position to Northwood both having dropped down the table in recent weeks. Thomas Spenser started in goal having recovered from a shoulder injury that had kept him out for three months while Daniel Taylor made his first start at right-back and striker Hamoud Salum made his debut alongside in-form Myles Stephenson up front.

Former Woods Gary Burrell and Ismael Ehui were both included in the Saints starting line-up but it was Alex Paine, who spent a pre-season with Northwood before choosing to sign for Chalfont a few years back, that produced the header that ultimately won the game after just eight minutes. Andrew White conceded a foul just outside the box on the right flank and a perfect free-kick delivery from Burrell found Paine unmarked to crash home a header.

Stephenson’s attempt to level two minutes later failed as he controlled well but then shot well wide of the near post while Spenser’s first action came after 20 minutes when a shot from Chris Henry was straight at home and taken comfortably.  After 24 minutes the Woods had a good chance as Joakim Ehui put in a very good cross which picked out Stephenson but he directed his header wide of the target but the Woods were to be dealt a huge blow on the half-hour.

Stephenson felt he had been fouled as Chalfont broke quickly and he continued his protestations enough to incur the wrath of a clearly sensitive referee who showed a red card for abusive language to leave Northwood with ten men for a full hour of the game. The Woods tried to shore up in defence for the remainder of the half. Spenser saved from Adam Kirby who also headed wide from a corner, Paine shot over the top and then a cross from Henry saw Taylor head a clearance against his own crossbar for a lucky let-off.

The second half continued slowly with Northwood showing very little attacking threat. It wasn’t until the 64th minute that Jake Cass had a great chance as Spenser raced out of goal and although he chipped the keeper and the ball spun goalwards, it still came back off the post and was cleared. A minute later Paine hit the post from a free-kick as the Woods goal continued to be under siege and Northwood had just the one chance when James Budden headed down in the box and Salum steered a shot wide of the far post.

On 72 minutes, the sides were evened up as Cass went in heavily on a challenge on White and was shown a straight red card. White eventually limped off to be replaced by Mark Burgess, who picked up a yellow card for a rash challenge within a minute.

With only a short time to save the game, the Woods could have produced a stirring finish but in fact they went out with a whimper and created nothing. In fact it was the Saints who should have added a second goal four minutes from time as Henry broke well down the left but he chose to square to substitute Kofi Lockhart-Adams whose shot was well saved by a diving Spenser. With just one win in twelve games, Northwood’s season was beginning to tail off badly and next up is a midweek away fixture at title-favourites Royston Town.