Match Report
by Alan Evans

The Woods showed great character to recover from conceding a hotly-disputed late goal to level in stoppage-time of this hard-fought encounter in Essex.

With Danny Hart’s loan from Barnet at an end for now at least, the fit-again Danny Murphy started on the left side of midfield in an otherwise unchanged side from that which had thrashed Waltham Forest 6-0 a week earlier.

It was Northwood who went close early on when home defender Colin Wall miskicked a clearance. Adrian Abramian was quickly onto it but saw his shot blocked and Murphy met the loose ball with a driven shot which whistled just over the bar.

Canvey looked good going forward and, having forced a corner, Jay Curran saw his shot cleared off the line by Murphy. After twelve minutes, Canvey had a goal ruled out for a clear offside decision but they continued to press and when Leon Gordon crossed from the right, Mitch Swain pulled off a remarkable save to deny Curran, diving across goal to push round a powerful close-range header.

Having soaked up the pressure successfully, the Woods began to work their way back into it and after 34 minutes, a cross from Murphy flashed across goal with Abramian and Abdul Yoki both just unable to get the required touch.

Four minutes later, Yoki played an excellent ball through to Abramian and after his first shot was blocked, he recovered well to fire another past goalkeeper Ricky Wiseman but against the post.

Two minutes into the second half a corner was met by Dwane Williams but Wiseman was well-placed on the goal-line to save, and the home ‘keeper then made a good stop from a swerving Elliott Buchanan effort.

Canvey then enjoyed another dominant spell with Swain saving from Gordon’s shot after a swift turn on the edge of the box. After 66 minutes the giant Wall had the ball in the net, heading home from a corner but this was notched off for climbing on his marker, and then substitute Danny Curran shot just wide from close-range.

After 81 minutes, a defensive slip allowed Yoki a run through on goal but his shot was well-blocked by the on-rushing Wiseman and although the ball ran loose into a dangerous area, there was no-one there to slot home.

Then came the game’s real talking point as Swain made a good save, only to be clearly fouled by Clyde Roberts as he followed through and saw his bundled effort roll over the line. It should have been a third disallowed goal, Swain having to leave the field with slight concussion and a head injury, but somehow the goal was given this time.

There had been a six minute hold-up while Swain was assessed and then replaced by Ben Harris in goal and, amazingly, Canvey’s keeper Wiseman also had to come off at the same time, still suffering after his save from Yoki a few minutes earlier.

It meant the game restarted with two new keepers but the Gulls Mel Capleton was soon beaten as Yoki broke down the right, played in Abramian and his square ball was slotted home by defender Bradley Hewitt, who had just been sent up to play as a forward in the closing-stages.

There were a further seven minutes of stoppage-time but no more goals and the Woods were happy with their point, while hoping that both Swain’s knock and a late injury to a scythed-down Abramian will clear up in time for Boxing Day’s visit from table-topping neighbours Edgware Town.