Match Report
by Alan Evans
The Woods completed their first
double of the season with this comfortable victory over
relegation-haunted Wivenhoe whose recent form threatened more than
they showed on the day.
The Dragons made a good start, with
former Northwood winger Danny Hart, currently on-loan to the Essex
club from Barnet, showing plenty of speed and skill. He had one effort
disallowed for offside, another shot flew across the goal and wide,
while goalkeeper Mitch Swain saved well from his best shot on goal.
Having ridden that early pressure,
Northwood hit back after 11 minutes when Matt Baxter, restored to the
side in place of Jerome Hall who had arrived late due to travel
problems, fed Abdul Yoki. He jinked past one defender and crossed only
for the ball to hit the far post and elude Sean Sonner as he looked to
pounce.
Six minutes later, a free-kick, pumped
in by Jeff Shepherd, saw Lee Underwood flick a header which was not
far wide but that was the last threat from the home side in the first
half.
Yoki hit a 20-yard shot which was only
just over and then some excellent work from Michael Gordon saw him
chip to the far post where Yoki headed back across goal, but there was
no-one to apply the finishing touch.
There were five minutes to go to
half-time when the Woods took a vital lead. Lee Holland exchanged
passes with Gordon out wide and then knocked in a cross, which saw
Yoki dive to head in unmarked at the far post.
Northwood looked to improve further
before the break and a great ball from Dwane Williams set Baxter away.
He beat his marker and knocked the ball in, with goalkeeper Richard
McKinney and a defender combining to clear for a corner. From that,
the ball appeared to go out of play but Bradley Hewitt hooked the ball
back into the middle and Baxter pounced from close range for his first
goal for the club. The goal stood, much to the surprise of the
Wivenhoe defenders.
Comfortably ahead at half-time, the
Woods never looked like losing their grip on the game after the break
with Williams dominating the midfield and Gordon causing all sorts of
problems on the flank. McKinney saved well from Ryan Tackley after 53
minutes, and then got across to just keep out an inswinging Danny
Murphy corner.
After 55 minutes a long throw from
Murphy was headed on by Hewitt but kept out by the 'keeper again and
soon after, McKinney saved at the near post after more magic and a
shot from Gordon.
The contest was over after 65 minutes
when Murphy scored the best goal of the game with a spectacular
striker from 35 yards which rifled into the top corner.
Three minutes later, the Woods skipper
turned stopper as well, blocking a powerful shot from substitute Andy
Hughes on the line.
Substitutions followed, with Manny
Sackley replacing the tiring Murphy and Rico Grimm coming on for
Baxter as the Woods looked to add a fourth goal.
After 78 minutes Williams' superbly
flighted ball put Sonner in on goal and he got ahead of former
Tottenham defender Stuart Nethercott but then saw his shot well saved
by the advancing McKinney.
New signing Rodney Hicks, formerly of
Halesowen Town, replaced John Christian for the final eight minutes
and he showed some clever touches to set up Sonner, but the Woods
striker was left still waiting for his first Northwood goal as the
final whistle signalled the end of the game.
It was the Woods biggest away league win
since their 4-1 victory at Salisbury City in the Ryman Premier back in
October 2004 and they have now lost just one of their last eleven away
games.
PHOTO GALLERY (Click thumbnail to enlarge)
Michael Gordon takes the play to Wivenhoe
Was it a goal? No, hit the post! An aerial battle in midfield Matt Baxter has three defenders around him Abdul Yoki dives in to head Woods in front John Christian feels the force of a challenge from behind Sean Sonner leaves ex-Spurs man Stuart Nethercott in his wake Bradley Hewitt gets the ball across just as it's going out, for the waiting Matt Baxter to net Northwood's second from close range Ryan Tackley's instructions were to mark tightly.... Michael Gordon goes on a run... Bradley Hewitt joins in the Woods attack again The Wivenhoe keeper is left floundering by Danny Murphy's 30-yard strike for the third goal Sean Sonner gets up well here
Michael Gordon takes the play to Wivenhoe
Photos: James Brown |
