Saturday 18th January 1975
CLARKE MAKES UP FOR LOST TIME
MILL END 1 NORTHWOOD 3
Northwood midfield player had not scored a goal for three years before Saturday, but he managed to put that record straight – twice – in one of the few games to beat the deluge. Despite the wet and windy conditions, both sides produced some good football that was a credit to the Middlesex League.
Woods, still without several first team regulars, stunned the home side with their early enthusiasm. Mill End put in some excellent approach work but floundered whenever they got near the box. Heslop chose this match to regain his best form, and with Gould doing a great job sweeping at the back, the home side just couldn’t find a way through.
Northwood almost took the lead when Harland crossed for Stone, but his firts0time volley was well held by the keeper, and then Roberts should have scored from a shot inside the box. They eventually took the lead in the 25th minute when Mill End’s goalkeeper failed to hold a cross from Roche, and Clarke was on hand to score the opening goal.
Following the goal Northwood went all out on the attack, and they went within inches of increasing their lead on several occasions. Roberts was doing plenty of work in the midfield, and Pearce once again established himself in the centre of things.
The Woods’ second goal eventually came when Roberts seized onto a half chance, and the keeper just couldn’t hold the shot as it blazed into the roof of the net.
Minutes after the interval Clarke popped up for his second, and that should have been the end of the match, but Mill End had different ideas, and they poured forward on the attack, leaving their defence exposed.
The Woods should have taken advantage of this. Dibbens missed an easy chance, Heslop hit the post after a great run, and Byrne had a tremendous long shot saved by the keeper.
With twenty minutes left Mill End were awarded a penalty, which put them right back in the match, but Northwood managed to hold onto their two-goal lead.
Northwood: Kessell, Harland, Harman, Gould, Heslop, Stone, Clarke, Roberts, Dibbens, Pearce, A. Roche, sub. J. Byrne.
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