Northwood Res. 1  Walton & Hersham Res. 2

Saturday 4th May 2013

NORTHWOOD RESERVES		Suburban League Premier B Division
		At Northwood Park
Team line-up
1	Garry Malone
2	Eric Nyarko
3	Alex Ishola
4	Adam Zaberosa (22m)
5	Corey Ellis
6	Ken Obeng
7	Theo Hunte
8	Lewis Davis
9	Denis Nortey
10	Romaine Walker
11	Matt Cooper
Substitutes
12	Rocky Baptiste(22m)
14	Hisham El Haddad
15	-
16	Bright Prempeh
17	Adam El Haddad

Northwood Reserves were forced to make a number of changes for the second game in a row, with several players not bothering to show up for the final outing of the season. The Woods started well with two good chances in the 4th and 7th minutes that saw Dennis Nortey and Lewis Davis come close to opening the scoring. Five minutes later a wonderful ping from Garry Malone found Nortey just outside the left hand corner of the penalty area. Nortey did well to control the ball and feed Davis near the penalty spot; his snap shot was saved comfortably by the Walton keeper.

On the quarter hour an excellent 40-yard crossfield free kick by Adam Zaberosa found Corey Ellis unmarked at the back post, but his glancing header went just wide of the upright and behind for a goal kick. Seven minutes later Zaberosa was caught late by a poor challenge in the middle of the park and had to be replaced by Rocky Baptiste.

Romaine Walker skipped past two defenders in the 23rd minute to create an opening for himself, but his effort sailed just over the bar from 12 yards out. Fourteen minutes later a well struck goal-kick from Malone found Walker deep on the left hand touchline; he jumped well and headed on to set up Baptiste, who came close with a shot that just drifted wide of the upright.

Sixty seconds later Ken Obeng picked the ball up in the centre circle before driving forward and smashing a ferocious shot from thirty five yards out that went wide of the Walton goal post. Northwood were dominating the game but failing to convert their chances. This continued for the remainder of the half, during which Walker came close on three further occasions in the 40th, 44th and 45th minutes. The sides went in at half time all square with Northwood left to rue their lack of composure in front of goal.

Malone was called into action in the 51st minute to make a really good reaction save from a early Walton effort struck from eight yards out. Walker had two good chances to open the scoring in the 57th and 58th minutes with two long-range efforts from the edge of the box and thirty yards out that both sailed just over the crossbar. Walton were denied again in the 60th minute when their striker was clear through on goal after a neat through ball from midfield but was well tackled just outside the box by Malone. The keeper’s clearance led to a swift counter attack down the right wing by Theo Hunte, who beat two Walton defenders before cutting back his pass from the touchline to Walker poised on the penalty spot; his first time volley went over the bar and behind for a goal kick.

With twenty minutes of the second half gone Walton and Hersham took the lead when they picked up the ball on the left wing after a mistake in midfield; their winger hit a 40-yard crossfield ball that was volleyed home from about twelve yards into the corner of the net. With time running out, Walker scored a deserved equaliser in the 89th minute when he latched on to through ball and slotted home from ten yards out. Northwood went looking for a second and when Walker beat two players and cutback a ball for Hunte it looked like a certain second goal for the Woods. Unfortunately, Hunte was unable to convert the chance and from the subsequent clearance and counter attack Walton caught the Woods players over committed and too far forward, and were able to slot home their second and the winner in the final seconds of the game.

Overall this was a good TEAM performance to end the season.