MATCH REPORTS 2008-09
 

BERKHAMSTED TOWN RES. 2   NORTHWOOD RES. 3
 

Wednesday night's game at Berkhamsted Town was a real test of the reserves’ character and resolve with the home club fielding a very experienced side against a very young Northwood team. Included on the subs bench was Jazz Rose – one of only two players aged over 20 in the squad – for his first run out in just over a year. This was to be a very tough, bruising encounter in which the reserves had to dig deep to come back from a two-goal deficit with only 15 minutes left on the clock.

The game kicked off 20 minutes late due to the pitch not being marked out, and when it did start it was reduced to 40 minutes each way. Both teams seemed intent on winning the game from the off with the play moving from end to end very quickly, but without either team really creating an opportunity to score.

After 30 minutes a speculative long shot from a Berkhamsted midfielder, was only parried by Mark Britt diving full length to his right, and they reacted quickly to tap the ball into a empty net. Northwood tried to fight back but the half-time whistle went to leave them trailing by the odd goal.

The second half began in exactly the same way with the players ignoring instructions to stop playing to the home side's strengths and concentrate more on our own game. It led to the same result, conceding a simple second goal from a long punt upfield that the defence called for offside and duly stopped. The referee waved play on and the centre forward finished off despite the great efforts from the keeper.

At this point the manager decided that was enough and put on Jerome Cole for Carl Hunt and Jazz Rose for Luke Lynam. Northwood instantly reaped the rewards when the height of Cole caused panic around their defence, and this allowed Northwood to work the ball in to Hugo Figueiredo who finished the move off.

There were now 15 minutes to go and Northwood were going all out for the equaliser. Berkhamsted were using every trick in the book to slow the game down by giving away free-kicks, and it was five minutes from time that one of the free-kicks was delivered into the box by Dailey, flicked on by Cole, and finished at the back post by Jazz Rose on his return to action.

Instead of settling for a well earned point Northwood decided they would rather take all three and went in search of a winner. Two minutes from time the impressive hard-working Courtney Francis obliged with a 20 yard drive into the bottom corner to give the Woods a deserved away victory.