CB Hounslow 0 Northwood 4
Tuesday 22nd February 2022
| NORTHWOOD | |||
 |
|||
| 1 | Daniel Hosier | ||
| 2 | Lewis Batten (13m) | ||
| 3 | Alex More | ||
| 4 | Luke Tingey | ||
| 5 | Tommy Boxer | ||
| 6 | James Gurteen © | ||
| 7 | Kyal Williams | ||
| 8 | Matt Surmon | ||
| 9 | Josh Helmore (67m) | ||
| 10 | Kristian Belousas | ||
| 11 | Sam Jenkins (46m) | ||
| Substitutes | |||
| 12 | Sam Cahill (13m) | ||
| 14 | Will Robinson (67m) | ||
| 15 | Keagan Cole (46m) | ||
| 16 | Dan Daggett | ||
| 17 | Carl Stewart | ||
|
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The Woods notched their ninth successive away win in all competitions with this eventually comfortable victory over Combined Counties League side CB Hounslow, but they had to be patient after a goalless first half which saw the home goalkeeper make a string of fine saves.
Changes were needed to the Woods line-up with Ryan Young, Teddy Stacey, Micah Jackson, Yiannis Constantinou, Sydney Ibie and Andy Lomas all missing but it was still a strong enough side which included a debut for attacker Kristian Belousas. Both Carl Stewart and Keagan Cole were given a rest so were on the bench. James Gurteen took 
over as captain.
Kyal Williams was to cause the home side problems for much of the game with his pace and a run and cross after just 7 minutes appeared to set up Josh Helmore but the striker’s attempted flick at the near post failed to find the target.
Hounslow’s first effort on goal came four minutes later from Victor Montes as he went for goal from distance and Dan Hosier had to be alert to palm it over the crossbar to safety. From that corner, a defensive header failed to clear and Hosier again had to punch clear under pressure.
Young Lewis Batten was forced off early with a knee injury and was replaced by Sam Cahill in the right wing-back position and the Woods continued to dominate play. CB goalkeeper Harry Churchill made the first of his saves on 21 minutes as he got down low to keep out a Williams effort and four minutes later, he got across to make a fine save from Sam Jenkins diving-header as he met an Alex More free-kick.
More was next to test Churchill with another low shot which was well saved and then the home custodian made the best save of the lot on the half-hour when Helmore found Jenkins in the box and his strike was acrobatically tipped over the bar.
Photos by JAMES BROWN
The keeper wasn’t so sure with a Williams drive across goal on 35 minutes as he spilled his cross-shot and Belousas was onto it but his first-time shot came back off the near-post and rebounded clear. Williams went close soon after and the half ended with Cahill driving in a cross which just eluded both Helmore and Williams in the middle.Jenkins’ 50th appearance for the Woods came to an end at half-time as he hobbled off to be replaced by Cole and almost immediately from kick-off, Hounslow had their best chance as a loose ball fell to William Braved but he chipped the ball well over the bar.
The first goal finally came after 55 minutes as Cole curled a free-kick goalwards that rebounded off the crossbar and after Williams’ shot was pushed out by the ‘keeper, Gurteen hit his shot into the ground and it bounced up and over Churchill and in for his first goal for the club.
A second goal followed four minutes later as Williams was put through on goal and his square ball was swept in by Cahill for a debut goal. It was then 3-0 after 66 minutes as a corner was headed back across goal by Luke Tingey and Tommy Boxer pounced to score from very close range.
Will Robinson replaced Helmore up front on 67 minutes with the Woods now comfortable and Belousas had hit the crossbar with a long-range effort before Robinson went close with a header which Churchill claimed high under the crossbar.
Having struck the woodwork twice, Belousas finally got his debut goal after 84 minutes when he got on the end of More’s chip to the far post and the Woods could go home happy with what was eventually a solid victory on a difficult surface. Another semi-final awaits.
Report by ALAN EVANS
