MATCH REPORTS 2008-09
 

CAMBERLEY TOWN RES. 0  NORTHWOOD RES. 3
 

A young Northwood side continued their recent good form with a convincing win at Camberley. Northwood kicked off the first half playing downhill but against a very strong wind and soaked up quite a bit off early pressure from an experienced home team. With the return of Richard Vercesi, the recent failings at the back were not evident and the defence held firm.

Northwood were now getting into the game and by the midway point of the first half were doing all the running. Hugo Figueiredo and Laurie Walters were causing problems down both flanks, while Jonny Dailey and Scott Purdue were commanding in the centre.

With the half-time whistle approaching Northwood countered quickly after a Camberley attack. With some fine movement the ball fell to Figueiredo, who left his defender on the floor and hit a fine cross to the back post where Carl Hunt met the ball and finished with ease to give the Woods a deserved interval lead.

The second half started much the same as the first, with Camberley urgently looking for the equaliser but once again the defence held firm.

After 60 minutes Northwood introduced one of their young stars from the Allieds in Jake O'Meara. His contribution was immediate, linking well with Dailey in the box, playing a neat pass into Dailey's feet and with the home defender carelessly upending Dailey, a Northwood penalty was the result. This was converted once again by ace striker Hunt.

Northwood were now in total control and could have scored at anytime. Manager Mark Barnham then brought on another youth team player, Max Duffy, who slotted into the left-back spot and he and Walters continued to terrorise the Camberley defence, who by this time were all over the place. The Woods eventually scored the third goal when Camberley failed to clear a ball properly and it fell to Dailey on the edge of the box who hit a beautiful curling shot into the top corner.

The game was all but over but Jerome Cole, another player to come from the youth set-up, came on for the final twenty minutes and looked a very exciting prospect.

Another good day at the office, and a special mention to Eric Gbio, who was making his debut at centre half, with a very accomplished performance for the newcomer. Eric was a member of the same Wealdstone youth team who appeared in the FA Youth Cup Third Round game against Liverpool alongside Lee Holland, Mitch Swain and John Christian, and has spent much of the season getting himself fit.