Match Report
by Alan Evans
 

A late equaliser from in-form striker Eugene Ofori rescued a point for the Woods in this entertaining fixture at in-form Chatham Town but the result handed the advantage back to play-off rivals Concord Rangers.

The Chats had won seven and drawn one of their previous eight games as the Kent side had enjoyed a late season surge up the table, so a tough game was expected by a Northwood team who had found winning form hard to come by in recent weeks.

Anthony Page was still ruled out with a leg injury and he was joined on the sidelines by Hugo Figueiredo, who reported ill on the day. Mitch Swain returned in goal after his one-match suspension and Gary Burrell returned for the unavailable Danny Brown.

The first half proved fast and furious from the start, and after just two minutes Burrell’s cross was headed goalwards by Brad Hewitt but the ball was blocked by a defender and cleared away. Two minutes later Danny Power and Chris Seeby linked well for a cross, which led to Mark Burgess volleying well wide.

The home side played their part in the opening exchanges, and ace striker Lee Barnett latched onto a throw from Ashley Proberts to send a shot on the turn just over the bar.

Rob Ursell almost conjured up a chance for himself after 14 minutes, dancing his way past two defenders and then sending a shot low but wide of the target.

Barnett had the best effort of the first-half after 20 minutes with a long-range effort that caught Swain off his line but bounced off the crossbar and over the top.

Back came the Woods again, and they continued to enjoy the better of the half with Ofori flicking an Ursell corner wide, then Burrell finding space for a shot from just outside the box which also flashed the wrong side of the post.

The lack of any efforts on target was the problem for Northwood and it continued to the break, with Burgess firing over the top after a neat exchange of passes with Power, Ofori unable to get any real connection on a header from a Power throw, and then a good cross from Gary Senior was cleared away by Probets.

The second half started in much the same fashion with Power’s cross being well taken by goalkeeper James Platten who was also equal to Power’s header across the face of the goal following a good cross from Burrell.

The Woods then lost the impressive Power to injury, replaced by Lee Holland. Though Barnett managed a shot on target soon after, comfortably saved by Swain, Northwood were still dominating play. John Christian fired over from 20 yards and then an Ursell free-kick curled in neatly towards Hewitt only for Platten to just get a fist to the ball to divert it for as corner on 66 minutes. It was from that corner, taken by Burrell, that the Woods almost grabbed the lead as Hewitt rose and steered his header past Platten only for Matthew Solly to clear off the line.

Just four minutes later, Chatham grabbed the lead against the run of play as Justin Ascheri’s long-throw was helped on by Richard Avery, and substitute Byron Walker stole in to fire the ball into the roof of the net.

It was a big blow for the Woods, but being behind certainly saw them raise their game for the final twenty minutes. Just two minutes later, a fine run from Seeby saw him set up substitute Kyle Matthews, and his poked shot was just wide of the post.

After 76 minutes Ursell knocked a free-kick into the far post where Ofori did well to stretch and get power on a header which Platten was forced to tip over the bar, and the Woods continued to push forward.

They were rewarded after 84 minutes when some clever play, and a good cross, from Matthews found Ofori, who planted a downward header neatly between defender and goalkeeper for the equaliser. It was the fifth goal in four games for the striker who is gradually finding his prowess after a few months out of the game before joining the club.

The Woods went for the winner, with Holland winning a free-kick in a dangerous position after good run down the right flank but that was wasted. A last minute throw from Ryan Tackley almost picked out Hewitt but Platten took it off his head and then Christian hit a final shot straight at the ‘keeper.

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Photos: James Brown