Northwood’s play-off ambitions were severely dented as they lost to fellow hopefuls Enfield Town. There was one change to the Northwood team which drew with Maldon the previous Saturday, Harry Smart coming in for a rare start as a replacement for Higo Figueiredo on the right side of midfield.

There was a low key start to proceedings with neither side making much of an impression. Woods eventually produced a meaningful move which ended with Leon Osei shooting from the outside the box, but his low shot flew wide of the target.

Enfield began to find some cohesion and Smart was on hand to clear an effort off the Northwood line, before Michael Bardle’s follow-up shot was deflected for a corner. The hosts were looking the better side and continued to threaten, former Northwood man Jonny Moore almost putting the icing on a sweeping Enfield move, but his volley from Stuart Blackburne’s cross crashed against the Woods’ crossbar.

Northwood were struggling to pose any sort of threat to the home defence but Enfield ‘keeper Rob Blackburne had to be alert two minutes before the half-time break when he tipped Michael Peacock’s firm header over the bar after the hosts failed to clear an Aaron Cato corner.

The visitors looked more confident after the break and they were immediately on the offensive, Osei almost capitalising on hesitation in the Enfield defence as he nudged the ball beyond a stranded Rob Blackburne, but the ball rolled agonisingly wide of the empty net. Osei was involved again moments later as he latched onto Cato’s corner but he was unable to keep his header down.

However, it was Enfield who opened the scoring as Northwood allowed Moore to storm into the box before applying a neat finish to give the hosts a 59th minute lead.

Ryan Tackley replaced Smart for his first league appearance of the season following his long-term injury, slotting in at left-back with Danny Power moving onto the right flank. Meanwhile, Cato made way for Figueiredo as Northwood looked to get back in the contest.

The changes had little impact and it was Enfield who extended their lead in somewhat fortunate circumstances, substitute Adam Wallace’s shot deflecting off Peacock and leaving ‘keeper Bobby Smith helpless in the 74th minute.

Northwood utilised all their substitutions when Anthony Page was replaced by Sam Sharples for the final ten minutes. Woods did ask a few questions of the Enfield defence in the closing minutes. Power capped a strong run with a shot into the arms of Blackburne, before Eugene Ofori and Osei combined well with the latter shooting narrowly wide.

Power drew another save from Blackburne and Chris Seeby saw his header rebound off the Enfield crossbar while at the other end, Smith produced a smart save to deny Wallace.

But there was to be no miraculous escape for Northwood on a disappointing afternoon as they contemplated only their second defeat in the last nine league games, but with the loss of more crucial points, the play-offs are looking an increasingly distant prospect.

Report by ROBIN PIPER

Photos by James Brown