Northwood 0 Chipstead 0

Saturday 29th October 2022

NORTHWOOD




1	Andrew McCorkell
2	Brandon Kalu
3	Andy Lomas
4	Ergys Pepaj
5	Luke Tingey ©
6	Harry Gallagher
7	Jake Tabor (78m)
8	Micah Jackson (61m)
9	Josh Helmore (61m)
10	Sydney Ibie
11	Carl Stewart
Substitutes
12	Ronan Hutchins (61m)
14	Juwon Akintunde (61m)
15	Dan Daggett
16	Rahim Jude-Boyd (78m)
17	Joe Reade
	Chipstead: Matt Kerbey, Jonathan GJoshe, Charlie Kennett, Teddy Perkins, Ollie Hamstead, Daniel Pappoe, Peter Wedgeworth (Gabriel Odunaike 55m), Thomas Smith (Jensen Grant 40m ), Andy Kabuikusomo, Kofi Anokye-Boadi, Michael Dixon

Northwood played out their first league draw of the season as a well-drilled Chipstead took a deserved share of the spoils on an Indian summer afternoon at The Skyline Roofing Stadium.

Woods were forced to make a couple of changes to their starting line-up as central defender Harry Gallagher came in for the suspended James Gurteen while the versatile Brandon Kalu started at right-back after Junior Pavia was recalled by parent club Chesham United.

The contest got off to a rather tepid start with almost 15 minutes on the clock before either side threatened, Woods’ Carl Stewart sending a rising shot wide of the far upright after linking well with Jake Tabor.

Chipstead proceeded to put the hosts under a spell of pressure as Andy Kabuikusomo twisted and turned his way into the box before Luke Tingey blocked his effort with the same player getting on the end of the ensuing corner and heading over at the far post.

And Kabuikusomo was prominent again as he worked himself into a useful position before dragging his shot across the face of goal.
Woods began to enjoy a greater share of the possession as the half progressed without seriously testing visiting keeper Matt Kirby, the latter comfortably gathering Tingey’s header from a Micah Jackson free kick shortly before the half-time break.

Woods upped the tempo after the break, but they continued to lack the necessary guile to break down the organised Chips who tried their luck with a speculative shot from Kabuikusomo which was dealt with by home keeper Andrew McCorkell.

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PHOTOS by James Brown

Northwood made a double substitution just after the hour as Josh Helmore and Jackson made way for Juwon Akintunde and Ronan Hutchins. And Woods went close to breaking the deadlock as Srewart’s in-swinging corner was met by Tabor whose header rebounded off the underside of the crossbar.

Having survived a scare after they conceded a free kick by the corner flag, Northwood began to make increasing forays into Chipstead territory – Ergys Pepaj shooting wide from distance after Stewart combined with Ibie.

Northwood made their final substitution on 79 minutes as Rahim Jude-Boyd replaced Tabor and the hosts kept up their attacking momentum as a short corner from Stewart saw Hutchins return the ball to the former whose shot from the edge of the box cleared the Chipstead crossbar.

Woods continued to push for the breakthrough but the resolute Chips were keeping the hosts at arm’s length with a Tingey header from a Gallagher free kick to the far post which cleared the crossbar, the closest the hosts came om the closing stages.

And having managed to see off the Northwood threat, Chipstead went close to securing a dramatic win deep into stoppage-time as Kofi Anokye-Boadi found himself free in the box but his close-range shot was blocked by Kalu to ensure that honours remained even – Woods lead at the top of the table being reduced to five points with Marlow leading the chasing pack.

REPORT by Robin Piper