MATCH REPORTS 2008-09
 

NORTHWOOD RES. 2  HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH RES. 0

Top of the table side Hampton & Richmond Borough visited an in-form Northwood on Saturday. This was a game in which we would see how far Northwood had come since the start of the season.

The match started off at a steady pace, with Hampton dominating the early stages, but most of the chances were long range shots or balls over the top of the defence that the keeper Simon Dean dealt with comfortably.

After 30 minutes, and against the run of play, Carl Hunt received the ball in the middle of the park and seeing the keeper off his line and the sun in his eyes he lobbed the ball over the custodian, who could not scramble back in time, and the ball rested in the net to give Northwood the lead.

Shortly after this, Hunt had a glorious chance to make game safe when breaking through with only the keeper to beat but he saved well.

Hampton kept on pressing but could not break down the excellent home team defence well marshalled by Richard Vercesi.

Half-time came and with the score an flattering 1-0 to Northwood, there was a stern talking to by the management team. It seemed to have the desired effect as the Woods started the second half the way they have been playing in the last few weeks, starting to control the game. Though Hampton still remained a threat, most of the ball was now falling the way of Northwood and they were in the ascendancy.

Scott Purdue was now brought on for the tiring Dailey and with almost immediate effect Northwood broke through. Laurie Walters beat a couple of players and travelled into the box, and when Hunt cleverly pulled off the defender’s shoulder who followed him, it allowed Walters a clear shot at goal and it was 2-0.

This seem to knock the steam out of Hampton, who started to knock the ball longer and longer and becoming frustrated with the way the game was going. It was from this frustration that they took down Hunt 25 yards out from the goal, and Walters took responsibility, bending a free kick over the wall that crashed against the underside of the bar and bounced to safety.

Northwood made a couple of changes in hope of seeing the game out: on came the experienced Jazz Rose for James Crockford and Max Duffy replaced the injured Courtney Francis to give the side a five-man midfield and despite a late chance for both teams the score stayed 2-0.

The result probably flattered Northwood but overall they did create the better chances so another three points in the bag and a big leap up the table into fourth place with games in hand on all above.