MATCH REPORTS 2007-08
 

NORTHWOOD RES. 2  HARROW BOROUGH RES.1
 

The Woods second-string maintained their position at the top of the Capital League West Division table with this hard-fought, narrow 2-1 success over neighbours Harrow Borough.

There were several triallists given a run-out during the game and the late pull-out of Douglas Kisuule prior to the game meant that Northwood were a bit short of the strike-power that had seen them record recent high-scoring victories over Boreham Wood and Hemel Hempstead, but they made up for that with plenty of hard work and drive from the midfield. It also meant that Lee Holland, only there to do a short training session, was drafted into the side.

Harrow’s side included plenty of experience in attack, with regular first-team substitute Jonathan Constant linking up with Daniel McGonigle, coming back from injury, and Rene James-Barriteau. And it was Constant who had the first effort on goal on eight minutes when the ball was worked across and found him unmarked but his shot forced the first of many solid saves from Northwood’s Simon Dean in goal.

After just 14 minutes, an excellent sweeping move saw Aryan Taj apply a neat flick to a Holland pass and this saw newcomer Nick Chrysanthou burst through the defence. He steadied himself just outside the box and curled a neat shot in off the far post.

Just four minutes later a long free-kick saw another triallist, Rob Grant, run from deep to meet it with a free header, but this time the goalkeeper Matthew Mann was well-placed to take it.

Dean got across well to push wide another Constant effort after 23 minutes but Harrow were beginning to threaten and when the Woods ‘keeper was out-jumped attempting to punch clear a cross from the right, the ball was flicked on and Aaron Silcott had the simple task of heading home from a few feet to level the scores.

Taj tested Mann with a low strike which he held well as the Woods got back on top in the final ten minutes of the first-half but it remained all-square at the break.

The second-half started with two quick substitutions by Northwood as triallists Ricky and Tony Hazard, both sons of former Tottenham, Chelsea and Swindon midfielder Micky Hazard, were introduced for Shane Campbell, who was feeling unwell, and the injured Taj.

It was after 55 minutes that the Woods regained the lead as Tony Hazard knocked in a cross from the left and Holland managed to steer his header, with some power from fifteen yards, over the ‘keeper and into the net.

Borough threw caution to the wind midway through the half and started playing with four up front and the Woods were backed into defence for a long period of pressure. Dean made a good save low down from a strike from James-Barriteau and then Holland cleared a McGonigle header off the line.

Things got even better for the Woods keeper after 74 minutes as he followed a routine save from substitute Tiago Martins with a touch on a pile-driver from Kevin Wynter that diverted the ball onto the underside of the crossbar. He then recovered to smother the follow-up and keep his goal intact.

This seemed to take the heart out of any further comeback plans for the visitors and the final fifteen minutes were more comfortable for the Woods apart from one final chance for Constant who shot wide when well placed to complete a bad night in front of goal for Harrow.