Saturday 26 January 1974
WOODS CRUSH RUISLIP
RUISLIP TOWN 1 NORTHWOOD 3
Struggling Northwood pulled off the biggest shock of Saturday’s Middlesex League games when they convincingly beat championship contenders Ruislip Town – and on Ruislip’s ground too.
Both sides gave displays that totally belied their respective league positions.
Northwood began confidently and the new boys Peter Clarke and Dennis Atherden settled well. With their poor league position to think of, the Woods needed an early boost. and they were given just that after five minutes.
Jimmy Vincent latched on to a perfect through ball and was racing towards goal when he was upended in the box. Skipper Mick Blanch sent the ‘keeper the wrong way from the spot to put Northwood ahead.
Town were not in the hunt at this stage as Northwood had gained the necessary midfield advantage to control the game. Both Peter Clarke and Geoff Roberts sprayed passes bound with an accuracy and timing which overcame the atrocious playing surface.
Their second goal came after a superb move between Clarke and Vincent which ended with the latter pushing a good ball into the path of Dave Metcalfe, who calmly ran on a few yards before placing his shot wide of the goalie.
In the second half, Northwood were still on top but they found difficulty in controlling affairs against the wind.
Ruislip, as if suited to the ever-worsening conditions, sprang to life and when the massive Dillon scored with a miscued shot their hopes were raised.
However, Northwood were in no mood to let valuable points slip away and almost immediately, good work by Roberts put the effervescent Metcalfe through again to out-pace the defence and slot home from ten yards.
Northwood: R. Kessell, I. McDonald, M. Blanch, J. Byrne, D. Atherden, S. Pearce, G. Roberts, P. Clarke, H. Coulter, J. Vincent, D. Metcalfe, sub. K. Wilford.
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