Saturday 20th February 1971
WOODS DROP A VITAL POINT
NORTHWOOD 1 HANWELL TOWN 1
Northwood dropped another vital Middlesex League point on Saturday when they could only draw with old rivals Hanwell Town. Their performance lacked a little polish in the first half, but after the interval they fought back well and turned on a display which was encouraging for the remainder of the season.
The teams were fairly even at the start, but Northwood seemed unable to make much impression in the penalty area. The mid-field trio of Harvey, Gould and Pearce was unable to cope with the extra work needed because of the strikers’ failure to look for the ball. The defence seemed to be lazy as well, hardly ever bothering to move up.
However, it was Northwood who nearly took the lead when Byrne shot past the post, but then Hanwell Town quickly attacked and took the lead.
In the second half Northwood took control of the mid-field, with Harvey and Gould showing their true form at last.
Woods mounted attack after attack without making the breakthrough, until Gould played the ball through and Byrne gave the Hanwell keeper no chance as he fired into the roof of the net.
On level terms again, Northwood really threatened the Hanwell goal. In the last few minutes they had three shots cleared off the line, Millward hit a post, Dodd had a goal disallowed, and Harvey was tripped inside the area but Northwood’s appeals went unheeded.
Northwood: R. Byrne, Harding, Madigan, Dibbens, Bailey, Gould, Harvey, Pearce, Vincent, Dodd, P. Byrne.
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