Northwood 2  St Panteleimon 2

(Northwood win 5-4 on penalties)

Tuesday 14th March 2023

NORTHWOOD
1	Andrew McCorkell
2	Harry Gallagher
3	Andy Lomas
4	Riccardo Alexander-Greenaway
5	Luke Tingey © (67m)
6	Romario Jonas
7	Tom Reid (67m)
8	Teddy Stacey
9	Josh Helmore (90m)
10	Dan Williams (56m)
11	Junior Paiva
Substitutes
12	Fabjan Toci (56m)
14	Osaretin Otote
15	Joe Reade (90m)
16	Carl Stewart (67m)
17	Parris Mason (67m)

Northwood had to come through a penalty shoot-out for the second round running as they booked their place in the semi-finals of the competition at the expense of Spartan South Midlands outfit St Panteleimon.

Woods chose to make a number of changes to the team which had gone up against Basingstoke Town at the weekend and involve a number of under 18s in their squad for what was a first ever meeting between the sides - Tom Reid being given his first senior start in an attacking midfielder role while Joe Reade and striker Fabjan Toci took their places on the bench.

The visitors showed their attacking intent from the off winning a corner from which Northwood were caught napping as a short routine ended with former Wood Gui Monti firing narrowly over on the angle. And the Saints maintained their bright start as Andrew McCorkell was forced into a save as he kept out Dean Morgan’s near post shot.

But it was Northwood who opened the scoring against the run of play on 19 minutes as Harry Gallagher’s in-swinging corner caused panic in the six-yard box with Riccardo Alexander Greenaway appearing to get the last touch after ‘keeper Lincoln Marques had spilled the ball.

The goal settled Woods who began to produce some more constructive football and Dan Williams had an opportunity to extend the lead as he ran onto Teddy Stacey’s through-ball but the striker was forced wide by Marques who deflected the ball behind for a corner.

The first half continued to be a frantic affair with neither side able to gain a foothold in midfield but it was the Saints who threatened before the break as Courtney Massay shot wide after a surging run while Monti was off target as he tried his luck from distance. And the visitors continued in a similar vein after the restart and they reaped their reward as Morgan finished off an incisive move to level the scores on 50 minutes.

Woods looked to restore their advantage and they drew a save from Marques as Williams found Junior Pavia who made space on the edge of the box to fire in a shot which was gathered by the Saints stopper. However, Northwood were stopped in their tracks as they fell behind as the visitors were awarded a questionable penalty after McCorkell challenged Massay with the latter’s shot already flying over the crossbar and into the cemetery beyond – Jack Smith making no mistake from 12-yards on 56 minutes.

Toci replaced Williams in attack for the youngster’s first senior appearance and the substitute was full of running as he looked to make an impact. And Woods had a wonderful opportunity to restore parity as Gallagher’s freekick into the box was met by the unmarked Luke Tingey but his volleyed attempt flew wide of the target.

The Saints continued to offer a threat and McCorkell was called upon to block a shot from Ahmed Zaghloul before the Woods ‘keeper gathered an effort from Monti.

Northwood made further changes as Parris Mason was added to the attack with Reid making way while Carl Stewart replaced Tingey as a precaution after the Woods skipper appeared to be feeling his hamstring. And the fresh legs of the substitutes helped Woods to up the tempo and they managed to draw level on 72 minutes as Alexander Greenaway bagged his second of the evening with a stooped header after Gallagher sent a deep Andy Lomas corner back towards goal.

Woods went looking for the winning strike and Toci went close for Woods as he latched onto a through-ball but was denied by the legs of Marques. And with the clock ticking over into added time, under 18s skipper Joe Reade replaced a limping Josh Helmore who was struggling with a lower leg problem.

But it was onto penalties to decide the tie and after both sides had executed four clinical strikes with Stewart, Toci, Gallagher and Greenaway registering for Northwood, McCorkell produced a superb save to deny Massay to present Lomas with the opportunity to win the tie for Woods and he duly obliged as he sent Marques the wrong way.

REPORT by Robin Piper