Match Report
by Alan Evans
A late equaliser
from in-form striker Eugene Ofori rescued a point for the Woods in
this entertaining fixture at in-form Chatham Town but the result
handed the advantage back to play-off rivals Concord Rangers.
The Chats had won
seven and drawn one of their previous eight games as the Kent side had
enjoyed a late season surge up the table, so a tough game was expected
by a Northwood team who had found winning form hard to come by in
recent weeks.
Anthony Page was
still ruled out with a leg injury and he was joined on the sidelines
by Hugo Figueiredo, who reported ill on the day. Mitch Swain returned
in goal after his one-match suspension and Gary Burrell returned for
the unavailable Danny Brown.
The first half
proved fast and furious from the start, and after just two minutes
Burrell’s cross was headed goalwards by Brad Hewitt but the ball was
blocked by a defender and cleared away. Two minutes later Danny Power
and Chris Seeby linked well for a cross, which led to Mark Burgess
volleying well wide.
The home side
played their part in the opening exchanges, and ace striker Lee
Barnett latched onto a throw from Ashley Proberts to send a shot on
the turn just over the bar.
Rob Ursell almost
conjured up a chance for himself after 14 minutes, dancing his way
past two defenders and then sending a shot low but wide of the target.
Barnett had the
best effort of the first-half after 20 minutes with a long-range
effort that caught Swain off his line but bounced off the crossbar and
over the top.
Back came the
Woods again, and they continued to enjoy the better of the half with
Ofori flicking an Ursell corner wide, then Burrell finding space for a
shot from just outside the box which also flashed the wrong side of
the post.
The lack of any
efforts on target was the problem for Northwood and it continued to
the break, with Burgess firing over the top after a neat exchange of
passes with Power, Ofori unable to get any real connection on a header
from a Power throw, and then a good cross from Gary Senior was cleared
away by Probets.
The second half
started in much the same fashion with Power’s cross being well taken
by goalkeeper James Platten who was also equal to Power’s header
across the face of the goal following a good cross from Burrell.
The Woods then
lost the impressive Power to injury, replaced by Lee Holland. Though
Barnett managed a shot on target soon after, comfortably saved by
Swain, Northwood were still dominating play. John Christian fired over
from 20 yards and then an Ursell free-kick curled in neatly towards
Hewitt only for Platten to just get a fist to the ball to divert it
for as corner on 66 minutes. It was from that corner, taken by
Burrell, that the Woods almost grabbed the lead as Hewitt rose and
steered his header past Platten only for Matthew Solly to clear off
the line.
Just four minutes
later, Chatham grabbed the lead against the run of play as Justin
Ascheri’s long-throw was helped on by Richard Avery, and substitute
Byron Walker stole in to fire the ball into the roof of the net.
It was a big blow
for the Woods, but being behind certainly saw them raise their game
for the final twenty minutes. Just two minutes later, a fine run from
Seeby saw him set up substitute Kyle Matthews, and his poked shot was
just wide of the post.
After 76 minutes
Ursell knocked a free-kick into the far post where Ofori did well to
stretch and get power on a header which Platten was forced to tip over
the bar, and the Woods continued to push forward.
They were
rewarded after 84 minutes when some clever play, and a good cross,
from Matthews found Ofori, who planted a downward header neatly
between defender and goalkeeper for the equaliser. It was the fifth
goal in four games for the striker who is gradually finding his
prowess after a few months out of the game before joining the club.
The Woods went
for the winner, with Holland winning a free-kick in a dangerous
position after good run down the right flank but that was wasted. A
last minute throw from Ryan Tackley almost picked out Hewitt but
Platten took it off his head and then Christian hit a final shot
straight at the ‘keeper.
PHOTO GALLERY
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Photos: James Brown
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