Northwood notched
their first success of the season with this narrow victory over
near-neighbours and table-toppers Uxbridge who could boast a 100%
record going into the game.
The game had
added spice with the return of former Woods manager Tony Choules with
his current side, which included six ex-Northwood players in their
starting line-up.
Colin Payne
brought new signing Abdul Yoki into his team, while Simieon Howell and
Elliott Buchanan returned from injury and illness respectively to form
a new-look midfield trio alongside skipper Dean Clark, himself a
former Uxbridge player.
The match was
just three minutes old when a Liam Watson goal-kick evaded the
midfield and bounced to Buchanan who took the ball down and shot for
goal in one movement, but it flashed just over the crossbar.
Uxbridge hit back
with Charlie Hill, a Northwood target in the summer, finding Danny
Yeoman on the right and his cross saw David Thomas steal in ahead of
Terry Hogan but just fail to connect with the ball.
But it was
Northwood who were enjoying the better of the early exchanges with
Jerome Hall finding his form. He latched onto a Clark ball and
shimmied past two defenders before firing a shot which was straight at
Rob Bullivant, who collected comfortably.
The crucial goal
came on 17 minutes. Jermaine Hamilton raced onto a through all down
the left and looked like going for goal only to knock in a cross which
Uxbridge failed to clear and Hall applied the merest of touches but it
was enough to send the ball spinning just inside the post, giving
Bullivant no chance.
Three minutes
later, Simieon Howell, who was carrying out an excellent man-marking
job on danger-man Mark Nicholls, broke forward and struck a shot from
25 yards which wasn’t far wide, and then another quick break saw Yoki
cut in and flash a ball across the face of the goal and only just past
the far post.
Uxbridge came
close to levelling the scores after 24 minutes when a header out by
Hall fell to Yeoman and his shot looked goal-bound before Clark
managed to divert it with a header over the crossbar. From the
resulting corner, a Nicholls corner found the head of Mark Weedon but
it was again diverted wide.
Nicholls picked
up his standard yellow card for a petulant flick at Watson after he
had gathered a cross after 31 minutes, and Hill had a shot not far
wide after a lay-off by Lee Tunnell as Uxbridge began to threaten.
Just before the
break, Mark Dennison was lucky to escape without a caution after a bad
tackle on goalscorer Hall, who was forced out of the action and
replaced by Lee Holland for the second-half; Yoki moving into a more
forward position.
The visitors
rallied early in the second-half, forcing a series of corners, from
one of which Weedon would have been disappointed to head wide when in
a good central position. Then a slip by the otherwise excellent Jazz
Rose, let Tunnell run through down the right but Watson was
well-positioned to block his shot at the near post.
Bradley Hewitt
then replaced the injured Adam Theo on the hour and was booked five
minutes later for a tackle on Yeoman. The midfielder’s reaction may
well have been punished on another day.
After 67 minutes
a corner was punched away by Watson but only out to Hill, who hit a
pile-driver which Hogan somehow managed to block with his head. That
typified the spirit with which the Woods were playing this cup-tie and
a downhearted Uxbridge rarely threatened after that.
With fifteen
minutes remaining Clark chipped a good ball across from the left which
picked out Buchanan who has stolen forward, and his first-time volley
saw Bullivant save well.
John Lawford
replaced the tiring Yoki and his experience helped the side relax more
in the closing stages. Hamilton went close with a surging run and shot
after 79 minutes and then Buchanan raced through two challenges and
shot only just wide of the post.
Time was ticking
away and the Woods still had a grip on the game, with Danny Murphy’s
surging runs down the left adding to his superb defensive performance.
After 87 minutes a good move saw Lawford link with Hamilton to play
Buchanan in on goal, and he just beat Bullivant to the ball but lifted
his shot wide of the target.
Uxbridge’s final
effort came just before the end of normal time when a long ball from
Jordan Oldham found substitute James Pritchard in space, but his chip
across the face of the goal found no-one and the chance was gone.
Six minutes of
stoppage-time was comfortably played out by the Woods, whose
confidence continued to grow throughout, and they will now be hoping
to take this form into their league campaign, which continues against
highly-rated Dartford next weekend.
In the First
Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, the Woods will now travel away to play
at Ryman Premier side Boreham Wood, a club once managed by current
Northwood boss Colin Payne.
PHOTO GALLERY (Click thumbnail to enlarge)
Elliott Buchanan is just beaten to the ball
Jerome Hall in an aerial battle
Not sure what Nicholls is up to here... Watch out Jerome!
Jermaine Hamilton is challenged strongly
John Lawford shows his experience in the closing stages
John Lawford in watching mode
The Uxbridge players don't seem to want to know Abdulai Yoki!
Elliott Buchanan sends a chance over the bar with Rob Bullivant grounded
Woods put pressure on the Uxbridge defence
Elliott Buchanan is just beaten to the ball
Photos: James Brown
