MATCH REPORTS 2008-09
 

FLEET TOWN RES. 1  NORTHWOOD RES. 3
 

Woods took the long trip down the M4 to Hampshire, for an important top of the table clash with high flying Fleet Town FC, who sat one place above Woods in the table in third.

A difficult sloping playing surface did not lend itself to a good passing game and in the first half, playing with the slope, Woods struggled to get the ball down and get any real pattern of play going. Time and time again we turned over good possession through individual errors and/or poor decision making. In the early exchanges, both Courtney Francis and Jake O'Meara had good opportunities to open the scoring but were let down by poor first touches.

On the 20 minute mark proceedings were lit up by the one bit of real quality provided by skipper Carl Hunt, who seems to be getting a reputation for only scoring spectacular goals!! The home defence had successfully defended a ball in from the left on the edge of the box when the ball fell to Carl about 22 yards out, and he swivelled and fired a left foot volley which looped over the keeper into the top corner. This was probably against the run of play but helped to settle Woods who started to grow in confidence.

In the 35th minute Woods doubled their lead through Will Hudson, who was first to react in the six yard box when Fleet failed to deal with a set piece corner. Overall, a scrappy first half affair with both sides resorting to a very direct, long ball game. Fleet Town probably edged possession but whenever they threatened they found a particularly resolute back 4 consisting of Max Moore, Elliott Gibbs, Jazz Rose and the outstanding Eric Gbio. On the one occasion they managed to breach our defence, Simon Dean came to the rescue with an excellent late save low down to his left. Half-time 2-0.

Second half it was just a question of keeping the ball better and finishing off the job with a professional performance. The players responded well, and in the main controlled the half without any major scares. Laurie Walters effectively sealed the victory with 15 minutes remaining with a neat finish in a one on one with the keeper, after having been played in down the right channel. The icing on the cake would have been to keep a clean sheet, but with minutes remaining the home side scored a late consolation goal which took the edge off an otherwise good win. Late drama came within our own ranks as having used our two outfield subs, a late knock to Laurie Walters meant we had to throw goalkeeper Mark Britt into action as an outfield player….excellent outfield debut…but talk us through your first touch of the ball again, Mark??

Report by Gez Reilly