The Woods extended their unbeaten home record to eight matches with this comfortable victory over near-neighbours North Greenford United, with the only disappointment being the meagre crowd that turned up to watch on the Bank Holiday. Clearly word hasn’t got out to the locals as to how much entertainment the Northwood brand of football is currently providing.

With Steve Brown suspended for one game, there was a senior debut for youth team defender Giles Townsend, while James Duncan was back from his international jaunt and there was a return to the club for winger Jerome Federico after leaving in the summer for pastures new. Goalkeeper Tomer Sherman also returned between the sticks after a three-match absence.

The pitch was soft in places after several days of wet weather and there was a slow start to the game which saw the visitors enjoying plenty of early possession. There was twelve minutes on the clock when Sherman’s punch away from a corner led to a long-range strike from Louis Stead but it was always going wide. A minute later Stead found space for another shot from distance but this time it was well over. Soon after this Daniel Vincent had a shot blocked and then Omar Vassell did well when cutting in from the right but then shot wide.

The Woods hadn’t really had a look-in at this stage but they scored with their first real attack on 16 minutes as Federico burst down the left and let fly from twenty yards into the top corner, giving goalkeeper Lee Pearce no chance.

Just three minutes later Karl Oliyide found space for a low goalbound shot but this time Pearce got down well to save well. It was a better spell from Northwood as they continued to push forward and they scored a killer second goal six minutes before half-time. Oliyide did the damage with another pacy run down the right and his cut-back provided an easy chance for top scorer Niko Muir to sweep the ball in. Just before the break Muir almost grabbed a second as some clever skills saw him chip the ball up and volley for goal but it was straight at Pearce who held well.

The second half started with a run and shot from Vassell which again failed to test Sherman in goal, and then Federico had a similar run and shot for Northwood which did bring Pearce into action, pushing his effort wide. After 55 minutes another punched clearance from Sherman saw Vincent shoot towards goal, Vassell try to flick the ball on but he only succeeded in dragging the ball wide.
Muir burst through on goal on the hour and should have done better but the Blues skipper did really well to get in an important touch to prevent a shot at goal. The visitors may have been two goals adrift, but they still played with plenty of endeavour and they could have pulled one back after 65 minutes as a free-kick picked out Bennell unmarked but he was unable to direct his header and the ball sailed miles wide.

On 71 minutes, Federico sped down the right and centred for the inrushing Muir who fired for goal but again Pearce dived to his left to make a flying save and push the ball wide. George Nicholas came on for his first action after several weeks injured, replacing Craig White who had picked up a knock and he enjoyed a good twenty-minute run-out.

The third goal came after 85 minutes and again started with a run from Federico. Though his cut-back was originally blocked, he retrieved it and centred for Nicholas but after his effort was blocked, Duncan slipped a good ball to Oliyide who fired home.