Report by ALAN EVANS

The Woods played their first competitive fixture at the panoramic Spratleys Meadow for over 35 years and it proved to be a successful one as they ended a run of five league games without a win thanks to three first-half goals.

There were five changes to the starting line-up that had gone so close to beating Reading City in the FA Vase a week earlier though the Woods were still missing skipper Johnny Wilson with suspension while a work injury ruled out Rafiq Bettamer. The Vase-tied group of Finn Rushton, Kevin Mustali (captain for the day), Ilyas Khader and Mark Osei were all restored to the squad while Sankou Jabbi and Guiseppe Delgaudio returned after injuries. It meant that both Woods U18s players, James king and Tomas Gunasekera kept their places in the starting line-up.

Amersham were just above the Woods in the table but still to record a home win this season so it was a game that Northwood were certainly targeting for a much-needed victory and there were plenty of visiting fans in attendance hoping for a turn in fortunes.

Both sides started with plenty of attacking intent but it only took eleven minutes for the Woods to take the lead. King combined with the overlapping Mustali whose perfect early cross picked out Delgaudio and the Woods recent recruit steered home his first goal for the club.

Just over a minute later, Mustali won the ball in his own half and fed King who got the better of his marker again, sending in another cross from the right and Delgaudio was there to knock it past former Woods goalkeeper Matt Messer for his second and Northwood were well in control.

The pressure on the Magpies defence continued and King continued to threaten. After 25 minutes he appeared to have another assist as his ball to the back post allowed Kjay Bailey to touch home but a close offside flag ruled this one out.

It was almost a third again on 37 minutes as Josh Havard hit a sweet strike from 25-yards that was only palmed away by the diving Messer. King was onto the loose ball and fired it back across the six-yard box but Delgaudio was inches away from applying the finishing touch that would have completed his first-half hat-trick.

On 40 minutes, Delgaudio turned supplier with a ball that found Kayne Connor on the left but the industrious midfielder saw his somewhat tame strike easily saved by Messer at his near-post. It had been pretty much all Northwood and they were finally rewarded with an important third goal just before the break and it came from the big threat of King. He received a simple ball from former Under-18s teammate Havard and drove forward unchallenged from the halfway line before firing past Messer at his near-post for his first league goal.

With a comfortable first-half lead, the Woods fans were hopeful for more of the same at the interval but the Magpies did respond well and could have pulled a goal back early on when Harry Last found himself in space from a forward ball but his header was directed straight at Rushton in goal.

On 53 minutes, Connor sent King away again down the right and he raced clear but for once took a bit too long to find the pass and his cut-back into the danger-zone was cleared to safety.

Two minutes later, Northwood conceded a free-kick just outside the box to give Amersham a chance of a shot on goal and Marco Raposo did well with his strike, forcing Rushton to tip the ball over the bar.

Northwood settled more after this and their defence, led by a dominant Simeon Olarerin, rarely looked troubled. On 63 minutes, Delgaudio set up Connor for another chance on goal but his shot was wide of the near-post and they made their first substitution soon after with Bailey, who had shown frustration when yellow-carded a few minutes earlier, was replaced by Osei.

Northwood were not as creative as the half wore on either and introduced fresh legs with Rowan Daly and Jonathan Moura coming on for Delgaudio and Connor but they should have grabbed a fourth on 87 minutes when a big kick from Rushton sent King through on goal again but the youngster shot wide with just the ‘keeper to beat.

At the final whistle, the Woods could celebrate their biggest league win of the season to date, indeed their best since April 2025 back in Southern League days, but more importantly, something to continue to build on with a string of three home matches coming up in November.