Northwood’s first home game in three weeks saw them face an Aylesbury side who flirted with the play offs last season before finishing a respectable ninth. Both sides started the game in mid table, with Northwood looking to get back to winning ways following back to back defeats against Marlow and Chertsey Town respectively, games that they probably should have won.

Aylesbury waved farewell to long serving manager Mark Eaton in the week, replacing him with Greg Williams, and he would have without doubt been eager to start with three points. Steve Hale who last saw work as manager of Northwood, returned to Chestnut Avenue, having been appointed first team coach at Aylesbury, a match that also saw the return of Scott Orphanou who started up front for The Moles.

Gary Meakin made seven changes from the side that lost 1-2 at Chertsey last weekend with Derek Lewis replacing Sean Thomas in goal, Scott Raper returning from injury to take the place of Danny Dyer at right back, Liam Fowler coming in for Peter Lyall at centre-half, Jack Hutchinson replacing Romaine Walker, Oliver Hawkins coming in to replace Aaron Lansiquot, Ben Alexander replacing Garry Senior up top and goal scorer from a week ago Jonathan Constant replacing Wayne O’Sullivan.

Northwood started the better of the two teams at a sunny Chestnut Avenue, with Jonathan Constant finding early space. The Woods were trying to penetrate the Aylesbury back line and after Constant found room he picked out youngster Jack Hutchinson who managed to get his shot away however he could only find the hands of goalkeeper Anthony Ender. Hutchinson was involved again moments later when he cleverly nicked the ball away from Aylesbury skipper Daniel Mead and subsequently crossed into the danger zone although it was comfortably cleared.

A lapse of concentration then ensued when defender Junior Osborne made a hash of his clearance which fell to ex Northwood striker Orphanou who decided to go for goal but his shot curled wide of the left hand upright. The ex Watford and Aldershot defender was solid for much of the afternoon. Osborne was in the thick of it again when he drilled a beautiful ball towards Constant who controlled brilliantly and found some space before cutting onto his right foot, where he whipped a delicious ball into the area which Oliver Hawkins glanced towards goal, only for it to come back off the woodwork.

Barely a few minutes later and Northwood were on the offensive once more when Constant played a clever one-two with left back Ronayne Marsh-Brown, before coming infield and curling a lovely effort towards goal which hit the post. The ball then dropped kindly for Hawkins who saw his effort blocked and his follow up attempt saved by a relieved Ender. Ex Northwood reserve winger Lemar Simpson’s pace was causing a few problems for Northwood and he was involved in the visitors’ first ‘real’ opportunity on goal. He managed to get clear of Marsh-Brown and then get to the by line before playing the ball across the box which somehow found Simon Martin who prodded towards goal, but his effort was saved by Derek Lewis. From the resulting goal kick the Woods won a corner which Marsh-Brown whipped in, the goalkeeper Ender had to alert as the ball was dipping under the crossbar only for him to tap over the bar for another corner.

However they couldn’t muster anything of note as a result. Aylesbury then went close when Dominic Marsala unleashed from just inside the box but he saw his effort parried away expertly by Lewis, who was making his first appearance of the campaign. Northwood had seen the better of the chances in the first half and as it neared it conclusion, it came as no surprise when the Woods had the last say with Hawkins flicking his header wide after a cross in by Marsh-Brown. Both sides had things to think about as they headed to the dressing rooms with the deadlock yet to be broken.

Meakin would have undoubtedly been stressing to his players that they didn’t want a repeat of the last two matches where Northwood had numerous chances to win the game but failed to do so. It was the perfect start to the second half when Constant found Alexander in the six yard box and he turned superbly before smashing the ball into the top corner, leaving Ender with absolutely no chance.

Northwood had the lead and now it was a case of starting again and trying to add to their advantage. Orphanou, a man who won a lot of admirers for his outstanding work rate during his time with Northwood had caused a few problems for the Woods in the first half, unfortunately however his game was about to be ended when he was caught accidently in a challenge with a Woods midfielder. Orphanou stayed down and appeared in obvious discomfort, one hoped that it wasn’t a repeat of his broken ankle he suffered last season, but the stretcher was called and he was carried off to a sympathetic applause, with both fans acknowledging his contribution both in this game and the two years he served as a crucial member of the Northwood team, Kevin Mealor was his replacement.

Hawkins was trying to replicate the goal from a few minutes earlier, when he turned and curled his shot towards goal but this time Ender was there to make the stop. The Woods then made two substitutions within as many minutes of each other with Romaine Walker coming on for Constant and Aaron Lansiquot coming on for goal scorer Alexander. The third substitution was made soon after with Hutchinson being replaced by Lee Grant.

Northwood then had an injury concern of their own when right back Scott Raper, a man who was starting his first game of the season and who had only just returned from a lay off went down following a collision with Mealor. Raper limped gingerly to his feet and played on in attempt to shake the knock off. It would have given Meakin a real headache had he been forced to leave the field as the Woods would have had to play the remainder of the game with ten men, having made all three substitutions. Northwood then were found guilty of a lack of concentration when they conceded a free kick in a silly area. The ball that was played in by Mealor was spilled uncharacteristically by Lewis into the path of a grateful Simon Martin who flicked home in the dying minutes to surely secure a point for Aylesbury.

Northwood were searching for a winner having conceded a very soft equaliser but their ball in was cleared and it was from that clearance that full back Daniel Parsons raced clear but was checked by Osborne, the linesman appeared to be swayed in his decision by a handful of Aylesbury supporters behind him. However, before the free-kick could be taken, a discussion between the assistant and the referee ended with Marsh-Brown being called over, and being shown a red card for abusive language from a prior incident. In truth, a silly dismissal.

That red card was the last action of an entertaining match, one that was marred by the scenes in the dying moments. A frustrating end to the match for Northwood, who for so long looked destined to end their two match losing streak with a win in what was a good, hard working and spirited performance by the team. Ultimately Northwood will look back to the chances they missed, because that was what cost them, and the poor goalkeeping error by Lewis who fluffed his attempted catch and gifted the Moles a leveller.

Northwood now turn their sights to the game with Bedfont Town, as they make the visit to Chestnut Avenue on Tuesday evening. There were plenty of positives; nevertheless football can be cruel as Northwood have found out on more than one occasion this campaign.

Report by MATT FORD

Photos by James Brown