Uxbridge Res. 2  Northwood Res. 1

Monday 8th April 2013

NORTHWOOD RESERVES		Suburban League Premier B Division
		At Honeycroft
Team line-up
1	Garry Malone
2	Sofian Taghi (59m)
3	Eric Nyarko
4	Jarrad Engelbrecht
5	Adam Laberosa
6	Theo Hunte
7	Matt Cooper  (80m)
8	Lewis Davis
9	Michael Dixon
10	Romaine Walker
11	Fraser Robbins
Substitutes
12	George Moore (59m)
14	Denis Nortey
15	Aaron Watson (80m)
16	Bart Koprowski
17

Northwood Reserves management team of Errol Dyer and Roger Linton were forced to make a number of changes to the side that beat Colliers Wood on Saturday. The first 25 minutes of the game was end to end attack and counter attack without any real clear cut chances for both sides. The nearest Northwood came in the opening stages was from a solo run from Eric Nyarko from deep inside his own half that ended with his shot just wide of the Uxbridge post. Matt Cooper went close on 29 minutes with a curling shot from just outside the box, as did Michael Dixon two minutes later, with a long range shot that was pushed wide for a corner.

Uxbridge were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position on 34 minutes; just outside the box. The whipped in cross was punched clear by Garry Malone, who found Romaine Walker; he carried the ball into the Uxbridge half and slotted in Dixon, who ran on and shot just wide of the post. Nine minutes later really good pressure from Fraser Robbins chasing back saw him win the ball and feed Dixon down the line, who crossed into Walker just inside the box, he beat one defender but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

Northwood came out for the second half fired up and went close in the 48th and 49th minutes with two good efforts from Dixon and Walker. A minute later Malone made an excellent point blank save at his near post from an Uxbridge counter attack; the resulting corner was driven in hard and low and unfortunately headed home for an own goal to give Uxbridge the lead on 51 minutes.

Woods were on the attack again a minute later, with Walker shooting from a tight angle just outside the six yard box; the blocked shot fell to Dixon who’s shot was also pushed wide for a corner. Northwood were awarded a free kick on 63 minutes just outside the Uxbridge penalty area. Moore drove in a wonderful free kick; low and hard across the six yard box, but no-one was able to get their foot to it and it went behind for a goal kick. A minute later Cooper went close with a good header from a Northwood corner. Northwood were dominating the second half and pressing hard for an equaliser and again came close from a free kick from Malone that found Walker on the edge of the box. Walker sold the defender a clever dummy, before crossing the ball into Lewis Davies, whose shot sailed just over the bar.



Adam Laberosa went close in the 79th minute with his shot just over the bar, whilst Dixon was unlucky not to score an equaliser soon after with a snap shot that went just wide of the post. Northwood were really piling on the pressure, and with a bit more composure in front of goal could have equalised in the 81st and 85th minutes with some wonderful counter-attacking football from the midfield and front line, that saw two efforts by Dixon first saved by the Uxbridge keeper and  the second crash into the side netting.

Woods were awarded a penalty in the 85th minute for a foul on Walker. Substitute Watson, who had only been on the pitch five minutes, stepped up and smashed the penalty home for a well deserved Northwood equaliser. Unfortunately, just over a minute later Northwood were caught with a sucker punch when they failed to clear an Uxbridge corner and their striker sliced his shot into the top right hand corner of the goal to take the lead and go on to win the game 2-1.

Overall, this was a good team performance away from home that deserved at least a share of the points. There was a stand-out Man of the Match display from captain Theo Hunte.