Northwood were unable to build on the creditable draw against the league leaders the previous week as they succumbed to a controversial solitary goal defeat in the spring sunshine at Fleet.

Woods were forced to make a number of changes due to injury and unavailability. Borja Loeches-Teixeira made a return between the sticks as Xavi Comas continues his recovery from the knock he received against Rushden while Sam Tring had failed to recover from the ankle injury he suffered in the same game. Lewis Hobbs moved back to central defence to partner Tom Gilbey with 17-year old Jamie Fulton, a product of the Woods youth set-up, making his senior debut in midfield while there was a change at left-back with Temiloluwa Oledejo replacing Kier Dickson for his first Woods start.

The young Northwood side, with seven teenagers in the starting line-up, started brightly with Declan Nche combining with Femi Azeez who found Jermaine Osei but his close-range shot was blocked. The hosts also threatened with an early chance as Bradley Wilson dragged his shot wide after he broke clear as he latched onto a long goal-kick from Liam Beach.

Woods positive start continued as Isaac Olorunfemi found himself in an advanced position and he tried his luck from the edge of the box but his effort flew wide of the target. But the Northwood right-back immediately had some defending to do and after winning the ball on the by-line he appeared to be clipped by Matt Bunyan but to the amazement of most in the ground, the referee awarded a penalty to Fleet which Wilson duly despatched to give the hosts a ninth minute lead.

Northwood were ruffled by the penalty controversy and Fleet went close to adding a second as Wilson’s shot deflected wide for a corner before a testing cross from Ross Ewen was scrambled away to safety by Loaches-Teixeira.

However, Woods slowly regained their composure and proceeded to put a number of useful moves together. Wilson Chingoka saw a shot on the turn fly the wrong side of the upright after good work from Evans Kouassi and Azeez before another strong run from Kouassi saw him pick out Chingoka but the chance went begging.

Northwood continued to ask questions of the Fleet defence as Beach was forced to produce two full-length saves to deny both Osei and Kouassi as the visitors enjoyed a strong finish to the first half.

Woods struggled to maintain the momentum after the restart and Sam Oyeniran replaced Osei in attack on 52 minutes. Northwood were seeing plenty of the ball but as so often this season, were making little impression in the final third.

The hosts made a couple of substitutions as they looked to freshen things up but it was Northwood who finally began to threaten again as Azeez went close with a shot from outside the box while Oyeniran’s first time strike was turned round the post by Beach. And Oyeniran went close again with a shot on the turn that flew wide of the target.

Fleet had barely threatened the Northwood goal with the impressive central defensive duo of Gilbey and Hobbs comfortably averting any danger. However, Fleet  finally managed to breach the backline but Loeches-Teixeira was hand to gather substitute Graeme Purdy’s header.

Northwood had so far failed to find the equaliser which their share of the play warranted. And they had one last chance deep into stoppage time, Chingoka’s free-kick being cleared out to Fulton, whose ball back in skimmed the head of Azeez and flew agonisingly wide to condemn Woods to another undeserved defeat.