Match Report
by Robin Piper
It was a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ for Northwood as they followed up last week’s impressive win at Sudbury with a disappointing defeat at the hands of their lowly Essex rivals.
Aveley arrived at Chestnut Avenue with a new manager and a brand new team and their determination was too strong for a lacklustre Northwood.
Woods’ line-up showed one change from the previous week, Jazz Rose coming in for the unfit Ryan Tackley at left-back.
Both sides were restricted to long range attempts on goal in the early stages with neither goalkeeper being seriously tested. Danny Hart tried his luck for Northwood and Aveley’s Bradley Barnes might have done better when well placed.
Woods continued to see plenty of the ball but they were struggling to create any clear-cut chances. Abdul Yoki went close with a 30-yard free-kick before he sent another shot from distance wide of the upright.
But it was the visitors who broke the deadlock on 29 minutes as Barnes converted from close range after Mitch Swain had saved his initial shot.
Woods were struggling to threaten the Aveley goal, Elliott Buchanan and Yoki being off target with shots from the edge of the box, whilst striker Adrian Abramian made way for Jerome Hall before the break.
Northwood hoped for better things in the second half but after a bright start when Hall saw his close range shot blocked, the hosts continued to show a lack of cutting edge.
Theo Ohene replaced the injured Yoki whilst Dean Clark was brought on for defender Danny Brown as Woods looked to turn the tide.
But it was Aveley who went close to extending their lead, Ainsley Gasper shooting into the side-netting.
Northwood finally forced visiting ‘keeper Adam Raffis into action as he produced an instinctive save to divert Buchanan’s deflected shot to safety.
Raffis proceeded to deal comfortably with Clark’s free-kick whilst Buchanan’s corner was cleared off the line.
But that was the closest Woods came to scoring. And it was Aveley who showed the hosts how it should be done when Barnes completed his brace in stoppage time to make it a thoroughly forgettable afternoon for Northwood.
Photos: James Brown
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