Northwood moved comfortably into the next round of the Middlesex Charity Cup with this 3-0 success without every really hitting top gear against Spartan South Midlands neighbours Hillingdon Borough.

Manager Gary Meakin was able to select a strong side with Liam Fowler having recovered from illness to take the place of Michael Peacock at the back. The Hendon defender was called back by his parent club to sit on the bench for their Premier Division fixture.

The Woods started strongly and created several chances in the first ten minutes. Goalkeeper Sam Beagle made a series of fine saves from Garry Senior, Oliver Hawkins and Jon Constant while Hawkins also missed the target from close-range. After 12 minutes Romaine Walker spun well but shot over at the near-post but the visitors gradually pressed forward themselves and Adam Willis seized on a defensive slip to attempt a lob of Mitch Swain but was well off target.

The opening goal came after 34 minutes. Constant played a good ball wide to Walker who cut in from the left and worked enough space to curl a shot across Beagle and inside the far post.  Northwood continued to push forward and their second goal just before the break virtually killed off the Borough challenge. Craig White floated a cross in towards the far post and with Beagle under pressure from Hawkins, the ball found its way into the goal without a touch.

The Woods looked to add to their tally after the restart with Ronayne Marsh-Brown picking out Senior with a great cross but the striker’s first touch bounced straight into the keeper’s grateful arms. Two minutes later James McCluskey chipped a ball into the box and Hawkins volleyed over the crossbar.

After 54 minutes a long-ball from Scott Raper released Senior and this time he hit the target but Beagle made a flying save to push the ball over the top. The pressure continued and Senior got his head to another Marsh-Brown cross but this time it was blocked by a defender for a corner. Constant centred and this time McCluskey’s header clipped the bar.

Hillingdon had no response at this stage, and when Hawkins was played through on goal after 63 minutes he should have scored but took the ball past Beagle and then also lost control with the goal at his mercy.

Both sides made a couple of quick substitutions and one of these, Ben Alexander showed the misfiring forwards how it should be done when he latched onto Swain’s long-kick to outmuscle his marker and blast a shot past Beagle for a third goal on 77 minutes.

McCluskey had another good strike well saved by the visiting keeper a minute later and both Constant and Walker went close in the final stages. Hillingdon finally recorded an effort on goal in stoppage-time but a spectacular overhead kick flashed just over the top and Swain managed to keep his first clean sheet since his return to the club.

The Woods will now clash with another Spartan South Midlands League opponent and neighbour in Harefield United at home in the quarter-finals during January 2012.

Report by ALAN EVANS