North Leigh 1  Northwood 4

Saturday 19th April 2025

 

NORTHWOOD
1	Dan Hosier
2	Jack Empson (73m)
3	Jayden Ashbourne
4	Manny Folarin
5	Jordan Ajanlekoko
6	Stefan Powell (81m)
7	Rio Connell
8	Troy Perez-Duah
9	Sam Folarin
10	Hassan Jalloh (73m)
11	Josh Williams (81m)
Substitutes
12	Denis Nortey (73m) (90m)
14	Alex Cathline (90m)
15	Jon-Jo Bates (81m)
16	Devonte Totesaut (73m)
17	Ronnie Mfinda (81m)

Northwood completed their great escape from their real relegation worries with this fourth win in succession, securing an expected away victory at bottom club North Leigh who, with just one victory all season, have been long resigned to a return to Step 5 football.

There were no changes to the Woods squad that had beaten Leighton Town a week earlier and a larger than usual crowd of travelling support got behind the side from the start with the Millers kicking down the slope on the expected hard and bouncy surface.

Northwood settled quickly into the game with Sam Folarin first to go close with a drive that flew just over on five minutes. Just two minutes later, Rio Connell made a good run and was fouled just outside the area. Troy Perez-Duah hit the free-kick right-footed up and over the defensive wall and goalkeeper Monty Marriott was unable to keep it out.

It was a great start but the lead didn’t last long as North Leigh striker Samuel Olawale showed good strength to battle his way past Jack Empson and Manny Folarin to slot a shot past the diving Dan Hosier and level things up for the Millers on nine minutes. It was only their second goal in ten matches.

It had little effect on the passage of play though as three minutes later Hassan Jalloh played a great ball which slipped Josh Williams into the box and his square ball found an unmarked Rio Connell who flicked the ball home to restore the lead.

The Woods continued to threaten and after 21 minutes, another ball from Jalloh saw Williams again cause problems on the left, cutting in and seeing his shot blocked. The ball ran loose and further strikes from Sam Folarin, Perez-Duah and Williams once more were all kept out. A minute later, Perez-Duah turned provider, setting up Jalloh for a good strike that Marriott pushed out well. Then Perez-Duah had a great chance but hit his shot straight at the keeper. 

There was 28 minutes when the pressure told again, this time with Sam Folarin breaking into the box and being bundled over and a penalty awarded. The Woods young striker, who turned 19 last week, was allowed to take the spot-kick himself and he powered an unstoppable shot into the top corner to give Marriott no chance.

PHOTOS by James Brown

Ten minutes later and there was a fourth for the Woods. Williams was again the instigator with a shuffle and cross from the left, picking out Connell again who converted from the edge of the six-yard box for his second of the game.

Having pretty much secured all three points by the break, it was perhaps inevitable that the second half would be less entertaining for the Woods but they started brightly enough with a flicked effort from Sam Folarin forcing Marriott into a good save and from the corner, Perez-Duah saw a cross-shot pushed away by the home keeper and cleared.

After 53 minutes Connell fed Sam Folarin who got in a shot to the near post which was comfortably saved and two minutes later Williams tried to get amongst the goals with a great strike that produced an even better save from Marriott who was preventing a much higher scoreline.

And the Millers could have pulled a goal back after 62 minutes when an attempted header back to the keeper went astray and Mekhi Thomas tried to head the loose ball goalwards but it went well wide of the target. Seven minutes later, North Leigh went much closer as a ball across the box found Helton Biague and his shot forced Hosier into an excellent diving save.

The Woods weren’t really threatening up front in the final twenty minutes, holding onto the ball too long in attack and not really finding the telling passes required. They also made several substitutions to give players minutes and the game petered out before the final whistle led to some jubilant celebrations for players, management and supporters.

Seven games after senior players Jack Smith and Jon-Jo Bates taking charge of the squad, following the resignation of Gary Meakin, had resulted in five wins, one draw and just one defeat with 22 goals scored; a superb run and a thoroughly deserved prize of Step Four safety with two games to play.

The Woods now take on relegation threatened Kings Langley on Easter Monday, looking to extend their winning run and a big Bank Holiday crowd is expected.

REPORT by Alan Evans