Northwood Under 18 3 Woking Under 18 0

Thursday 2nd September 2010

Northwood U18		Ryman Youth League Chestnut Avenue, Northwood
Chezney Cassell	1	Kick Off
John Uche	2	7.45 p.m.
Gbenga Adelana	3	H/T
Jonas Charles	4	0-1
Sean Hollowed	5	Scorers
Dwaine Cole-Parkes	6	Northwood
Julian Smith	7	Walker 2, Cole
Nathan McLeod	8	Woking
Romaine Walker	9	n/a
Jack Hutchinson	10
Zain Khan	11
Jake Wilson	12
Julian Cole (11, 78m)	14
Liam McGrath (6, 46m)	15
Callum Wright (8, 52m)	17
Jordan Douglas	18

It was a step into the unknown for Northwood's Under-18s on Thursday night as they played hosts to Conference South side Woking in their inaugural Ryman Youth league fixture. The visitors, who won the division last season, fielded their Academy side and were expected to provide a stern test for the Woods youngsters.

But it was Martin Day's new side that got off to a flying start with just nine minutes on the clock as Nathan McLeon slotted a ball through to the pacy Romaine Walker and the striker got ahead of his marker to finish coolly with a shot just inside the post.

Though the visitors knocked the ball around comfortably they lacked a cutting edge in the final third of the field and Northwood, driven on by Jonas Charles in midfield, created more chances with Walker hitting a free-kick not far wide of the target and then heading over the bar.

Dwaine Cole-Parkes missed a great opportunity to increase the lead with a free header from a Julian Smith cross but saw his effort sail wide of the post and soon after Sean Hollowed went close with an overhead kick.

Woking got their first effort on target after 26 minutes as a long punt forward from Adam Hitch forced Chezney Cassell to back pedal and tip the dipping ball safely over the top but that was as close as they got to the Northwood goal in the first-half.

At half-time Cole-Parkes was replaced by Liam McGrath who impressed in the back-line as the Woods remained solid in defence and repelled any immediate threat from the visitors.

Northwood continued to threaten on the break and a free-kick from Zain Kahn was cleared out to Gbenga Adelana who struck a fierce goalbound effort but saw it blocked by a Woking defender. The visitors were unable to fully clear it though and when it was returned back in, Walker took full advantage to score his second with a fine shot across goalkeeper Jordan Kennedy.  

There was still plenty of time to go and Walker tormented the Woking defence as he looked for his hat-trick. Twice he waltzed past several players before shooting inches wide with just the 'keeper to beat.

Woking substitute Dylan Lita had the best chance to reduce the arrears on 76 minutes as the ball ran loose in the Northwood area but he missed his shot completely and it was the home side who finished strongest.

Jack Hutchinson had two good efforts on goal before turning provider for a third Northwood goal on 89 minutes as he played a great ball through to substitute Julian Cole whose pace took him away from the defence before finishing with a bobbling effort which deceived Kennedy in goal.

It was an ideal preparation for the Under-18s who now go into their FA Youth Cup clash away at North Greenford United next Wednesday night full of confidence.

Report: ALAN EVANS