Report by ALAN EVANS

There was better weather and a much better attendance for this first league meeting between the two near-neighbours for over thirty years as Harefield United arrived at the Skyline. Mustafa Tiryaki was back but switched to play up front rather than in defence with Reon Smith-Kouassi relegated to the bench. There were two other debuts in defence; Luke Horwood came in to replace the unavailable Kieron Lake-Bryan for his debut at right-back while new in central defence was Kenzo Konate, a recent recruit from Aylesbury Vale.

The Hares included former Woods Carl Stewart, Stephan Langley and Dylan Kearney in their starting line-up, while Jack Smith was on the bench.

It was Harefield who were quickest out of the blocks, though. A long-throw into the box from Che Bell caused issues in the defence but it was eventually cleared away at the fourth attempt. The game was still only five minutes old, though, when Harefield did take the lead as Ro
qeeb Olaniran found space to sweep the ball across the area and Connor Haire, who plays his Under 18s football for the Woods, steered his shot past Charlie Mawson-Smith in goal for an easy finish.

The Woods tried to get back on terms quickly with Liam Enver-Marum the main danger as he found the side-netting when trying to flick a cross from the right goalwards and then also ended a good run into the box with another near-post strike which was pushed wide by goalkeeper Eric Negraru.

Sadly, debutant Konate was forced off with injury on 17 minutes, with Freddie Greenstreet his replacement and Harefield almost doubled the lead two minutes later as a free-kick picked out Langley but he was unable to connect from six yards. The second goal followed almost immediately, as a defensive error presented Youssef Bouimane with a gift and he fired home to double the Hares lead on 22 minutes.

The Woods needed to get back into the game quickly to have a chance and that came about on 31 minutes with Enver-Marum again being the catalyst with some clever play in the box. His shot hit the near post, flew across the goal to hit the other post but also rebounded kindly for Amara Fofana to score from close-range, his first for the club.

Brandon Trujillo replaced Kayne Connor and almost immediately, frustration got the better of Enver-Marum on 38 minutes as he became the first-ever Woods player to be sin-binned after some dissent at a decision. Harefield were soon back on the front foot though with Bell’s long throws continuing to bring havoc and from one of those, Langley pounced only to see his effort hit the post. Another quick break from the Woods own corner, saw Stewart through on goal but his shot only found the side-netting while Mawson-Smith made a fine save to stop another effort.

The relentless pressure against the ten men was rewarded eventually though as Jake Sobolak pounced on some hesitation in defence to poke home a shot at the near-post and the Hares had a comfortable 3-1 advantage at half-time.

Changes were made at the break with Tiryaki dropping back to strengthen the defence with Smith-Kouassi on for Mehdi Yone. Enver-Marum was back on but failed to connect properly to a ball in from Tiryaki and Harefield pretty much made the game safe on 54 minutes. Kearney broke down the right and drilled a shot across the keeper and inside the far post.

Mawson-Smith did well to keep out another shot from Bouimane on the hour as Harefield continued to enjoy plenty of possession.

Smith-Kouassi started to threaten down the left with a couple of efforts, the first saved by Negraru, the second flashed well wide of the far post but that was the best it got for Northwood who could have conceded a fifth when Kearney was adjudged to have been brought down by Lewis Buamah. He took the kick himself but Mawson-Smith made a fine save, diving to his left to keep it out.

Stoppage-time followed almost immediately and Smith-Kouassi made the scoreline a little more respectable when he fired home from close-range in the 94th minute but the final whistle followed immediately before the game could restart.

PHOTOS

• Previous
• Pause or Play
• Next

• 1.jpeg
• 2.jpeg
• 3.jpeg
• 4.jpeg
• 5.jpeg
• 6.jpeg
• 7.jpeg
• 8.jpeg
• 9.jpeg
• 91.jpeg
• 92.jpeg
• 93.jpeg
• 94.jpeg