Northwood notched their first points of the season with this hard-earned narrow victory over Daventry Town who lost out in the play-off final last season and were many peoples’ favourites for another title challenge this time around. Former Watford defender Junior Osborne returned to the defence in place of Craig Carby as Gary Meakin tried to shore up the back-line that was found wanting a few nights earlier against Chalfont. There was also a Woods debut for James McCluskey in central midfield, while Romaine Walker and Garry Senior started for the first time this season.

Daventry are under new management this year, with former Republic of Ireland midfielder Mark Kinsella having taken over in the summer. His side has changed a little from the physical presence that they had last season to one that tries to play more football, and it might take a little time to get them playing with more fluidity.

The Woods would have gone into this game with a little trepidation having conceded five at home in midweek, but they started well and Oliver Hawkins raced through to test David Bevan with a stinging drive which the goalkeeper pushed wide of the far post. A minute later, Wayne O’Sullivan, who was only promoted back into the starting line-up when new signing Jonathan Constant pulled out in the warm-up, curled in a deep cross which Bevan had to scramble across to and push round for another corner.

Daventry hit back after nine minutes when Claudiu Hoban chested a cross down into the path of veteran striker Howard Forinton and his poked effort took a slight deflection and finished the wrong side of the post. But the Woods were still just edging the play overall in a close-fought contest.

After 16 minutes Hawkins broke free again and rolled a neat pass into the path of Senior but his effort was blocked by some smart defending. Ten minutes later Walker made a similar run and this time set up Hawkins but he was also unable to get a shot away and then Walker touched the ball wide from an O’Sullivan cross.

The visitors created very little at this stage, with their only effort on goal being Callum Burgess heading a Pete Saunders cross well over and Northwood finished on top with Walker beginning to look more threatening as he cut in from the left and beat two defenders before shooting wildly wide.

It was much the same after the break as O’Sullivan cut in from the right and hit the target but without the power or direction to really test Bevan. After 50 minutes, Walker again beat his man on the left and cut the ball back superbly for Senior but his finish lacked composure as he blasted well over the bar.

The Woods were having plenty of joy from the flanks with Walker again knocking in a dangerous cross which no-one could get on the end of, but after 56 minutes a ball in from the other side proved decisive as Senior’s clever flick put O’Sullivan into the box, and he took his time before neatly steering the ball past the goalkeeper to give Northwood the lead. O’Sullivan went close to adding a second with a clever chip which caught Bevan off his line but the ball drifted just over the bar but then the visitors started to respond to being behind.

After 61 minutes a shot from Tom Fountain was going wide but Forinton managed to deflect a header goalwards and goalkeeper Anthony Russell adjusted quickly to take a good catch. Then substitute Scott Cross bustled his way into the box but saw his shot blocked by Osborne.

Osborne thwarted several Daventry attacks in the next ten minutes or so as the opposition picked up the pace, though one block fell to Saunders who drove a shot wide. His fellow defenders were equally determined to repel any attacks, and with thirteen minutes to go the Woods made a double substitution with strike pair Hawkins and Senior replaced by another duo in Aaron Lansiquot and Ben Alexander.

Almost immediately the Town had their best opportunity to equalise as a quick break down the left side saw Hoban shoot for goal. Russell pushed the ball away and it fell to Cross but he lifted the rebound well over the bar.

The Woods lifted themselves again for the final stages and on 80 minutes Lansiquot played a neat ball that had Walker running into the danger zone at pace and he was tripped by Jason Lee for a clear penalty. O’Sullivan stepped up to make the game safe but he hit his spot-kick wide of the goal and the drama continued.

Northwood were hitting Daventry on the break, with Lansiquot seeing on effort saved and then setting up Alexander who had to stretch and his chip just cleared the bar.

There were a surprising seven minutes of stoppage-time added, which really tested the Northwood nerves, and Daventry’s best effort came when Forinton flicked a header on at the near post which Russell did well to tip over the bar. When Burgess headed over from the resulting corner, the visitors’ challenge was over and it was the Woods who went closest in the final stages as Lansiquot found space again but rolled his shot the wrong side of the far post.

In the end, the Woods had kept the important clean sheet and earned themselves their first victory of the season; something that they can try and build on now over the next couple of weeks as the games come thick and fast.

Report by ALAN EVANS

Photos by James Brown