Tuesday 17th August 1976
GOALSCORER TIDD
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD 1 NORTHWOOD 1
Robin Tidd, the industrious little midfield dynamo, turned into goalscorer to save Northwood’s unbeaten run in the pre-season build-up against Hemel Hempstead, who had a mixture of first and second XI players in their side on Tuesday.
Northwood started in tremendous form up the slope and in the opening minute Junior Jones displayed all his magic and power in one surging run, leaving three players on the ground before hitting a spectacular shot from 25 yards. The 'keeper only moved after the ball had clashed against the bar, down onto the line and was scrambled clear.
Martin Ellis was soon in action and he sent a screeching shot just over the top. It looked as though the Woods were going to repeat their fine run at this stage, but Hemel had different ideas and gradually got back into the match, and it was the Woods defence who had to show off their strength for the first time this year.
'Keeper Currell brought off two marvellous saves to keep the scoresheet blank, and Gould, Merison and Harman all did well in pacifying the home attack. However, Hemel took the lead as Northwood vainly stood appealing for offside just before the interval.
With the slope in their favour Northwood started to gain control in the second half, and the insertion of Franklin and Heslop into the game had a bearing on this.
Northwood were busily looking for the equaliser but despite the sharpness of Ellis and Jones and the promptings of Tidd it didn't come for some time. When it did, it was the explosive power of Jones who set it up. He left two defenders for dead in powerful runs, slipped the ball past the 'keeper and Robin Tidd, who started the move, was following up and saw the ball into the net.
Both sides came close to grabbing the winner after this, but in the end a draw was a fair result and Northwood now face 10 days before their opening game of the season when they visit Rayners Lane.
Northwood: Currell, Harman, Heslop, Gould, Merison, Tidd, Curran, Franklin, Jones, Ellis, Jones.
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