Northwood secured their second successive away league win for the first time since March 2016 with a hard earned win  at improving Chipstead. Interim manager Scott Dash decided to continue with a positive 4-3-3 formation, with Kyran Worrell in for Kweku Lucan the only change from  previous week’s draw against Hertford Town.

Woods were quickly into their stride with Dan Pett surging forward and seeing his shot blocked before Worrell almost capped a swift counter-attack involving Sam Tring and Andrew Ofosu. And Worrell returned the favour to Ofosu minutes later as the latter rolled his shot narrowly beyond the far post.

The hosts had to do most of the defending in the early stages but they threatened through Izzy Bademosi with Kieran Asumadu-Sakyi making a timely interception before Sam Page was off target with free-header from a corner.

Woods maintained their positive start, and they were rewarded with the opening goal on 14 minutes as Worrell capitalised on misunderstanding between keeper Callum Hodgson and Sam Page to coolly convert from a narrow angle for his first senior league goal.

And things got better for Northwood four minutes later as another back-pass from Page went through Hodgson allowing Ofosu to roll the ball into the unguarded net for his second goal in two games.

Ofosu continued to cause problems for the home defence as he went close with a header from a Matt Cooper free-kick before another storming run ended with his shot being charged down. And Worrell was testing the hosts with his pace and trickery with full-back Joe Clemo crudely halting another foray to earn a caution while the Northwood winger saw his shot saved by Hodgson following a jinking run into the box.

Chipstead had offered very little in a one-sided opening half but Northwood gave the hosts some encouragement as they conceded a soft goal on the stroke of half-time, the unmarked Sam Bell flicking the ball home from a corner.

Woods were soon on the offensive following the restart as the  hard working Leigh Stevens fired a volley over the crossbar. And the midfielder was instrumental in Northwood restoring their two goal cushion on 49 minutes as he broke forward before squaring the ball to Worrell, who stroked the ball home for his second goal of the afternoon.

Northwood looked to put the match to bed as they went in search of further goals and the Chips had a lucky escape as Tring’s towering header from Cooper’s corner rattled the crossbar with Ben Pattie’s follow up being blocked on the line. The hosts made a double substitution as they looked for a way back and they began to make more of an impression with the lively Bademosi shooting into the side-netting.

Chris Gosling replaced Pett on 67 minutes to add some fresh legs to the Woods midfield with the former making his first appearance for several weeks following his recovery from an ankle injury. And Northwood went close to extending their lead but Hodgson managed to claw away Pattie’s deflected shot.

Lucan was introduced for a tiring Ofosu with fifteen minutes left on the clock but Northwood had some defending to do as keeper Luke Sheldrick gathered a Luke Elliott header. But the Chips weren’t to be denied as Northwood failed to deal with a cross from Clemo with Dan Moody converting on 82 minutes to ensure a nervous finish to the game for the visitors.

However, Woods had a great chance to ease their nerves as Gosling created an opening for Lucan but his shot was blocked. And Gosling was creator once again as he played in Worrell but the latter dragged his shot narrowly wide.

Worrell made way for Jonathan Munday as Woods looked to negotiate the four minutes of added time and the contest ended without any further drama to make it two wins and a draw in the league for interim manager Dash with his team moving up to eighth in the table.