Northwood 0  Hanwell Town 1

Tuesday 2nd August 2011

Northwood
Sam Styles	1
Aaron Silcott	2
Ryan Phillips	3
Peter Lyall	4
Doug Fitzgerald	5
James McCluskey	6
Murray Williamson	7
Jack Hutchinson	8
Aaron Lansiquot	9
Romaine Walker	10
Byron Bubb	11
Kevin Ayodele (3, 66m)	12
Eddie Clements (7, 57m)	14
Kevin Wynter (8, 46m)	15
Aaron Samuel (9, 57m)	16
Richard Worrell (10, 46m)	17
Gavin Hart (11, 57m)	18

Gary Meakin used this game against local Spartan South Midland League side Hanwell Town to run a final check on a number of squad players vying to impress and win a place in the team for the opening game of the season, which is less than two weeks away.

Only the trialling Byron Bubb remained from the starting eleven who had impressed against Brentford for the visit of Hanwell, and the visitors took advantage early on as they pressed a shaky-looking defence and star striker Blaise O’Brien slotted home after just eight minutes.

Hanwell had finished last season badly but looked in good form for much of the first half, with defender Kris Barrett impressing at the back and keeping the Woods forward line at bay.

Without Rob Ursell dictating matters in midfield, for all their willing running and accurate passing, Northwood lacked creativity in the final third and Hanwell keeper Keiran Jimmy was never really threatened.

There was a familiar figure introduced for the second half as Gavin Hart, veteran of over 250 league and cup appearances for the Woods, came on in midfield, having left Bedfont Town where he has enjoyed plenty of success over the last couple of years.

Kevin Wynter also had his first run out after missing the last couple of weeks. However, despite dominating the second-half, a goal never really looked likely and the Woods fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat.

REPORT by ALAN EVANS