Match Report
by Robin Piper
Northwood came from a goal down to grab a dramatic stoppage-time win
over third-placed Ware at a rain-soaked Chestnut Avenue.
Both sides made
light of the heavy conditions to produce an entertaining encounter, as
Woods sought to prevent the well-drilled Ware outfit from becoming the
first team to inflict the ‘double’ over them this season.
Northwood were
unchanged as Colin Payne gave his men the opportunity to make amends
following the disappointing Bank Holiday performance at Edgware, and
they started brightly with John Christian quickly into the action as
he shot narrowly wide of the upright.
But the afternoon
took a controversial turn on 18 minutes when Ware ‘keeper James Hoad
was lucky to stay on the pitch after a deliberate handball outside the
box after he blocked Sean Sonner’s attempted lob, the referee deciding
a yellow card was sufficient.
Woods continued
to threaten with Michael Gordon making some useful runs, Christian
heading into the arms of Hoad, whilst Sonner failed to get a clean
connection when well placed.
The visitors
began to settle and they put Northwood under a spell of sustained
pressure. But they found Woods ‘keeper Mitch Swain in fine form as he
produced a series of fine saves to deny Paul Burton and John Frendo,
the hosts escaping one almighty goal-mouth scramble.
However,
Northwood went close to snatching the lead when Ryan Tackley poked the
ball wide from a Bradley Hewitt knockdown, whilst Hoad was alert to
Matt Baxter’s hooked shot after the latter was picked out by Danny
Murphy.
And an
entertaining opening period drew to a close as Swain saved well from
Steve Horsey before Abdul Yoki shot narrowly over at the other end.
After Sonner went
close for Northwood following the restart, the deadlock was finally
broken by Ware on 54 minutes as Frendo followed up to convert from
close-range after Swain had saved Jimmie Berry’s initial shot.
Ware almost
extended their lead but Swain produced a superb double save to deny
substitute Joe Stevens and Frendo.
Danny Brown
replaced the hard-working Lee Holland at right-back on 63 minutes as
Northwood looked to get back in the game and Ware were indebted to
goalkeeper Hoad when he saved bravely at the feet of Sonner.
Woods made
another change on 72 minutes, Baxter making way for Jerome Hall. And
Hall was instrumental in Northwood’s equaliser on 74 minutes as he
latched onto Gordon’s neat through-ball before squaring for Sonner,
who applied the finish to a slick move.
Northwood had
their tails up now and they set about looking for the winning goal,
Hoad producing a point-blank save to deny Hall before the Ware
custodian dived full length to divert Sonner’s fiercely stuck shot.
However, Woods
were not to be denied and the recovery was completed in the third
minute of added time when Gordon ran from deep before getting to the
by-line and sending over a delicious cross for Sonner who headed
beyond Hoad to send the Northwood faithful into raptures and the
visitors into deep despair.
PHOTO GALLERY (Click thumbnail to enlarge)
Photos: James Brown |
