| SOUTH PARK: Sam Freeman, Louie Downey (Harry Docherty82m), Alejandro Piedrahita, Elliot Cross, Kay Conteh, Harry Pollard, Hayden Skerry, Callum McAllister, Tahjae Anderson, Alfie Rogers (Charlie Gee 85m), Nathaniel Williams (Leon Moore 67m) |
|
Any hopes that Northwood's win at Enfield Town might be the start of better things were quickly extinguished as they succumbed at the hands of mid-table South Park. Alex Witham, Tremayne Charles and Charlie Hayford were restored to the line-up as Woods looked to build on the positives gained from the Middlesex Senior Cup win.
And after Alfie Bonfield had saved bravely at the feet of Alfie Rogers in an early attack for the hosts, Woods proceeded to string a series of promising moves together on a sticky surface which hadn't had its weekly cut due to the wet weather. Tryone Pink tested South Park keeper Sam Freeman after being played in by Witham before Louis Bircham attempted an audacious 30-yard chip but Freeman was alert to the situation.
Northwood continued to press with Witham combining with Charles but the pull-back into the danger area failed to find a blue shirt, while Pink got the better of right-back Louie Downey once again to set up Bircham but his shot lacked the power to trouble Freeman.
And South Park were grateful to an assistant's flag as Witham latched onto Hayfield's ball over the top but was pulled up for offside as he put the ball into the net.
However, against the run off play, the Sparks took the lead on 31 minutes as a game of head tennis on the edge of the Northwood box ended with Hayden Skerry sending a low shot into the far bottom corner. And Woods hardly had a chance to draw breath as they fell further behind a minute later as Elliot Cross gave Bonfield no chance with a 30-yard strike into the top corner.
There were further opportunities at both ends before the break, Tahjae Anderson and Rogers squandering good chances for the hosts before Freeman parried a Hayford shot after Charles and Witham had combined.
South Park had a wonderful chance to put the game beyond Woods immediately after the restart but Rogers skied his close range follow-up over the bar after Bonfield had spilled Skerry's firm shot. Harry Lodovica made way for substitute Liam Wood just before the hour but Northwood had some more defending to do as Skerry rattled the woodwork with a free-kick and Callum McAllister headed over from the rebound.
But it was only a matter of time as the Sparks made it 3-0 on 61 minutes, Bendie Idikayi's attempted headed clearance falling to Rogers who made no mistake with a clinical finish.
Northwood had a good shout for a penalty after Wood was dragged back by Kay Conteh but neither the referee or his well-placed assistant was interested. And with that, Northwood's heads dropped alarmingly as the game descended into a scrappy stop-start affair.
Kingsley Eshun was introduced for Louis Bircham but Woods continued to struggle to offer any real danger to the Sparks. Northwood were growing increasingly frustrated, Lodovica receiving a caution from the bench for an unwise comment made to the passing referee's assistant while Witham also went into the book for a spot of petulance.
Woods’ only brief threat came from the set piece with Hayford seeing his free-kick tipped over the bar by Freeman while Liam McCrohan headed over from a Hayford corner. South Park went close to adding further goals as Anderson headed against the bar while Rogers dragged another shot wide of the target.
Northwood debutant Mohammed Abukar entered the fray for the closing minutes as he replaced Charles. But Woods were a spent force and South Park substitute Charlie Gee completed the scoring with a fourth goal in added time.
Another thoroughly unsatisfactory performance from Northwood but hope comes in the appointment of new manager Jamie Leacock who now has a couple of weeks to prepare his team for its first competitive outing and to begin the rebuild of Woods' season. |
