Saturday 15th January 1972
WOODS TRIO SHARE 60 GOALS
NORTHWOOD 5 HAM 0
In spite of the heavy conditions the Northwood front three of Barry Wanless, Paddy Coburn and Steve Senior were in outstanding form to keep their side right at the head of the premier division of the Middlesex League on Saturday.
Displaying all their usual strength and courage, this sharpshooting threesome have now taken their goal tally between them this season to 60 – no mean achievement.
Northwood produced one of their best performances this season to punish a Ham side that had not lost a league match since October.
Goals seemed inevitable, and when Ian Harvey and Willie Burt worked a smart one-two outside the box it left Harvey free to. slip the ball wide of the advancing keeper.
Although Ham tried to get back into the game they were unable to match the mid-field skills of Harvey and Burt. Northwood had nearly 80 per cent of the ball and Wanless, Coburn and Senior reacted accordingly.
They ran unselfishly for each other and were not afraid to shoot.
Shortly before half-time Northwood went further ahead when Barry Gould's header found Wanless. A first time pass found Senior, who moved on to hit a low shot wide of the keeper.
Soon after the break Coburn rose above the defence to head magnificently towards the roof of the net only to have the ball equally well headed clear by the full-back.
Coburn performed a great solo act for goal number three. Picking the ball up on the halfway line he ploughed past three men before hammering it into the top of the goal from 18 yards.
Senior made the fourth following some good work on the right wing. He crossed to the near post, where Wanless met it with a neat header and flicked the ball in by the far post.
Coburn notched his second after Burt hammered a shot which the 'keeper failed to hold. In a flash Coburn was on to the helpless keeper to push the ball home.
However, soon after the keeper had better luck when he saved a thunderbolt free-kick from Wanless.
After two previous performances of class without the goals, Saturday's match must have gone a long way to restoring much of the old confidence.
Northwood: Byrne, Harding, Myers, Gould, Taylor, Pearce, Burt, Harvey, Coburn, Wanless, Senior, Sub. Dibbens.
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