MATCH REPORTS 2007-08
 

Mark Barnham's reserve side were up against a strong Maidenhead United outfit on Wednesday night and they battled well throughout before being ultimately unlucky to go down 0-1 at Chestnut Avenue.

Billy Fishenden had his first competitive run-out of the season in goal and there was also ninety minutes from recent signing Sean O'Keefe, while John Lawford had a run out but withdrew at half-time with a back problem.

The Magpies included plenty of experience in their line-up, with goalkeeper Chico Ramos, defender Mark Nisbet, recent midfield signing Fouhade Belaid and strikers Gavin James and Serge Makofo all starting.

The Woods almost took the lead with a few minutes when a through ball from Sam Holland got Lawford into the box but defender Alvin Inboli just managed to get a toe on the ball an concede a corner as the striker shaped to shoot.

After this, the Northwood defence had to withstand a lot of Maidenhead pressure. Inboli headed wide from a good position after 12 minutes and then Fishenden made the first of several good saves to deny the useful Ryan Hazell.

On 22 minutes Makofo drove a ball across the face of goal and Hazell's header flashed across Fishenden and just wide of the far post.

The Woods young defence continued to hold but a slip from skipper Stuart Alsford after 34 minutes allowed Alan Haine to get a shot in on goal, but again Fishenden was equal to it.

James, a summer target of Colin Payne's when he left Beaconsfield, should probably have scored when he burst through the centre four minutes later but his effort was also saved by the busy Northwood goalkeeper.

Just before the break, the home side finally got forward themselves and Aryan Taj tried his luck from 30 yards with a low, well-driven shot which was not far wide of the post.

Almost immediately, the Magpies missed a golden opportunity when a ricochet in the box fell kindly to Aaron Samuel but he knocked the ball wide from six yards.

Adrian Abramian replaced Lawford for the second-half while James Linehan came on for Holland and it did seem to lift the Woods as they began to threaten.

But Taj and then Danny Brown both recorded shots at goal which went nowhere near threatening the experienced Ramos, and it took the introduction of Douglas Kisuule for Anton Agdomar to raise the tempo further.

The newcomer's good run into the box after 65 minutes almost got him in on goal, but his shot was blocked for a corner. The Magpies made changes themselves, and the fresh legs got them back on top once again.

Fishenden made another excellent save with his legs to deny Tyrone Hippolyte and then Haine shot wide from the rebound.

It was after 79 minutes that Maidenhead finally scored the goal which won the game. Referee Steve Conway gave a somewhat controversial free-kick about 20 yards out and Belaid, who had already had a sighter a few minutes earlier, got his shot on target. Fishenden saved once more but was unable to hold on this time and when Alsford failed to clear the loose ball, Jayden Freeman knocked it in.

The visitors ran the game down but had to survive a late scare when Linehan's run from midfield saw the ball fall to Kisuule, whose finish was clinical but an offside flag curtailed any Northwood celebrations.