Saturday 11th December 1976
THE WOODS MISS OUT AT CAV
CAV ATHLETIC 2 NORTHWOOD 2
Northwood paid the penalty for missed chances on Saturday when they were held by CAV in the first round of the Middlesex League Cup. The Woods started the game at a gallop and could have been in front within 15 seconds of the start. However, the tricky conditions underfoot prevented Cooper from making the most of the chance from only six yards.
But they were not denied for long, and within a minute of the first escape Northwood had taken the. lead. The CAV defence were guilty of a slack piece of play and the ever-alert Ellis was on the spot to drive the ball home.
Northwood. were playing neat football and were overrunning. the hosts, but when it came to the penalty area their normal skills were being cramped by the frozen pitch. All three strikers – Cooper, Ellis and Livingstone – were guilty of missing good chances after they had been set up by fine constructive play.
At the other end Northwood were being troubled on the break only, but on one of these, Les Currell was called upon to make a magnificent save.
After the break CAV came more into the game, and it was Northwood's inability to put away their chances that encouraged the hosts. The exchanges were even but Northwood, having failed to take their chances, were almost bound to pay the price, and with just 15 minutes to go CAV were level.
The ball was lost midfield and a break down the right resulted in the home team's winger leaving Currell with no chance.
Extra time came as both sides looked for the killer goal, but the longer the game wore on so the conditions looked the most likely winner.
With five minutes of extra time gone, Northwood were back in front, and goal should have proved the winner. Livingstone was the player on target as he slotted home a fine ball through from Cooper.
Both sides now had to contend with the fast fading light and despite the fine efforts of Tidd in midfield and Heslop and Gould at the back, CAV came storming back for the equaliser. There were no clear-cut chances as the match entered the final stages but with just five minutes to go, CAV won a corner on the right.
The ball was swung into the middle, a melee ensued, and the home centre-half gratefully slotted the ball home as the bounce fell obligingly into his path.
With the scores level and only three minutes left to play, the referee, Mr. Ron Corby, called the match off and both sides lived to fight another day. In the conditions both sides had played well but Northwood will possibly live to regret the chances that fell away in the opening half of proper time.
Northwood: Currell, Heslop, J. Harman, Gould, Merison, Tidd, Coburn, Cooper, Livingstone, Ellis, Jones.
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