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Northwood 0  Binfield 0

Tuesday 7th March 2023

 

NORTHWOOD
     
     
   
1 Andrew McCorkell    
2 Harry Gallagher    
3 Brandon Kalu    
4 Carl Stewart    
5 Luke Tingey ©    
6 Keagan Cole    
7 Shane Cojocarel (66m)    
8 Teddy Stacey    
9 Gareth Chendlik (75m)    
10 Dan Williams (86m)    
11 Micah Jackson    
Substitutes  
12 Junior Paiva (66m)    
14 Josh Helmore (86m)    
15 Romario Jonas    
16 Riccardo Alexander-Greenaway (75m)    
17 Parris Mason    
 


Binfield: Harvey Rackley-Hayes, Kai Hobbs, Luke Brophy, Jonathan Denton (James Beauchamp 79m), Liam Gavin, George Winser, Harvey Harry (Steve Ngunga 65m), Connor Holland, Conor Lynch , Harrison Bayley, Brad Pagliaroli (Massimo Giamattei 87m)

   

Ten-man Northwood produced a defensive masterclass following the early sending off of Brandon Kalu to resist play-off hopefuls Binfield on a cold night at the Skyline Roofing Stadium.

Woods were forced to make a couple of changes to their starting line-up with injury ruling out Sam Jenkins and James Gurteen, Brandon Kalu and Harry Gallagher their replacements, while the returning Micah Jackson was preferred to Junior Pavia at right wing-back.

Northwood made a positive start on the slick surface with Jackson trying his luck with a half-volley bicycle kick from the edge of the box which cleared the crossbar after Binfield struggled to clear a Luke Tingey throw into their box.

Woods continued to ask early questions of the Moles  defence as Dan Williams fed Shane Cojocarel whose low cross into the box was intercepted with Gareth Chendlik ready to pounce. And Cojocarel was involved again minutes later as he fired a snapshot narrowly wide after Tingey’s shot rebounded into his path.

And having resisted the Northwood pressure, Binfield had a glorious chance to take the lead through Brad Pagliaroli but he took an extra touch at the far post with the goal at his mercy allowing Jackson to get in a vital block.

But the whole nature of the contest was changed on 26 minutes as Kalu received his marching orders for a rash challenge on Kai Hobbs – the third red card in six games for the unfortunate Kalu.

The Moles sensed blood and immediately set about trying to make the most of their numerical advantage with McCorkell being called upon to tip over an effort from Pagliaroli while Conor Lynch might have done better as he directed a free header wide of the target.

PHOTOS by James Brown

However, Woods threatened on the counterattack as Cojocarel played in Chendlik but his shot hit the post as the offside flag was raised with Carl Stewart looking to despatch the rebound.

Northwood had some more defending to before the break with Tingey executing a well-timed block on a Connor Holland shot before McCorkell showed a safe pair of hands as he gathered Lynch’s cross-shot.

McCorkell was immediately called into action upon the resumption as he kept out a low shot from Lynch with the loose ball being put away by Pagliaroli who to Woods’ relief had strayed into an offside position.

Northwood continued to show great defensive resolve and organisation with Keagan Cole once again outstanding in the heart of the backline and this created a platform to remind the Moles of Woods’ attacking threat as Stewart was denied by a flying save from Harvey Rackley-Hayes as he kept out a sweet strike from the edge of the box.

Northwood made their first substitution on 65 minutes as Cojocarel made way for Pavia and for all their possession, Binfield were struggling to make any real impact on the hosts as each player stuck manfully to their task with Teddy Stacey and Stewart doing a sterling job in the middle of the park as they protected the backline.

Riccardo Alexander-Greenaway was added to the fray on 75 minutes as he replaced Chendlik and Woods continued to look comfortable as the Moles seemed to be running out of ideas as to how to break the home resistance with their substitutions making little impact – although James Beauchamp wasn’t far away with an audacious overhead kick attempt.

Binfield were rapidly running out of time with their last chance of the evening falling to Hobbs who headed wide from a corner. There was time for Josh Helmore to make an appearance against his old club in place of Williams and the substitute used all his experience as he got on the ball to help take the sting out of the contest in the final stages.

Woods successfully negotiated the remaining minutes to secure a crucial point, which felt like three given the circumstances, the draw consolidating Northwood’s position in third place and maintaining the ten point gap to their opponents who sit outside the play-off positions in seventh.

REPORT by Robin Piper



         
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