Northwood 0 Potters Bar Town 2
Saturday 29th August 2020
| NORTHWOOD | |||
 |
|||
| 1 | Fred Chapman | ||
| 2 | Luke Jones | ||
| 3 | Jaden Sharman | ||
| 4 | A Trialist | ||
| 5 | A Trialist | ||
| 6 | A Trialist | ||
| 7 | A Trialist | ||
| 8 | A Trialist | ||
| 9 | Leon Smith | ||
| 10 | Gui Monti | ||
| 11 | George Isaac | ||
| Substitutes | |||
| 12 | A Trialist | ||
| 14 | Ryan Esprit | ||
| 15 | Radu Stefanoaica | ||
| 16 | Excel Muhemba | ||
| 17 | Aaron Morgan | ||
| 18 | A Trialist | ||
Northwood played host to Isthmian Premier outfit Potters Bar Town whose squad included former Woods favourites Andy Lomas and James Budden in the first game at the newly named Fenton Civil Engineering Stadium as preparations for the new season gather pace.
Woods starting line-up had an unfamiliar look as Rob Ursell had to contend with the unavailability of a number of established players, but this gave the Northwood manager the opportunity to run the rule over several trialists.
The Scholars made the early running as they created a succession of chances with Woods keeper Fred Chapman having to deal with efforts from Charlie Ruff and Nana Kyei while Ben Ward-Cochrane rolled a shot narrowly wide of the far post.
There was a brief respite for the hosts and they finally found some cohesion with George Isaac seeing his curling effort fly narrowly wide after a swift counter-attack. But the visitors were soon threatening again as they hit the woodwork before Chapman denied Ward-Cochrane.
Woods continued to live dangerously as Ward-Cochrane fired over with only Chapman to beat while Kiye hooked a shot wide from a Ryan Young cross.
Northwood briefly threatened through Issac once again as he shot into the side-netting, but it was Potters Bar who finished the half on the front foot with Charlie Ruff squandering a golden chance to give his side a deserved half-time lead.
Woods changed things around at the break and they looked a different proposition upon the resumption.
Excel Muhemba found himself in a good position after good work from Isaac but was foiled by keeper Fred Burbridge as he turned to shoot. And Northwood should have taken the lead as Isaac’s close range effort was blocked by Burbridge after a slick move involving Muhemba, Aaron Morgan and Radu Stefanoaica.
Woods had enjoyed their best period of the game, but the Scholars began to threaten again and the deadlock was finally broken on 79 minutes as Yiannis Constantinou, who appeared in the red shirt for Northwood last season, fired home from just inside the box.
Northwood went close to an equaliser as Isaac was denied by Burbridge once again before Ayman Garbi sealed a deserved win for Potters Bar with his team’s second goal three minutes from time.
REPORT by Robin Piper
PHOTOS by James Brown
