ALLIEDS MATCH REPORTS 2006-07
 

NORTH GREENFORD UNITED YOUTH 0  NORTHWOOD YOUTH 2

Another three points for Young Woods which made it nine out of nine in the last 6 days. Understandably this wasn’t a classic performance from the boys, but a win is a win.

Both teams had a large number of quality players not available and therefore the team selection for Woods was very different from two days earlier. There was a debut for Aryan Tajbak on the right hand side of midfield.

The first chance fell on five minutes to Stuart Onslow, who hit a good shot from outside the area that was well held by the Greenford keeper.  This followed a nice bit of interchange in the Northwood midfield. On nine minutes Northwood went in to the lead with a quality move. Full back Ryan Duffy released Ben Trout through the right channel, and he whipped the ball across to Mickele Thomas who quickly controlled, and smashed it home from 8 yards out.

Northwood played some attractive football for the next twenty minutes with Daniel Brown orchestrating proceedings from the centre of the park. On 16 minutes a lovely passing move involving Thomas, Trout and Brown found Feye Obileye free on the left hand side of the box. Obileye’s smart shot was tipped round the post by the Greenford keeper.

From a rare attack on thirty minutes the hosts almost got level when centre back Adam Groves met a clever free kick with an excellent header, which the confident Anthony Ladyman moved smartly to make a good save. Five minutes later, and another great move for Woods ended with Daniel Brown crashing a shot just wide from 20 yards out. This was closely followed by Stuart Onslow heading wide from an inch perfect left wing cross delivered by Luke Lynam.

On 41 minutes the increasingly influential Lynam released Ben Trout in the left channel. Trout turned his defender but couldn’t quite get his shot on target. As half time approached Northwood almost added to their lead when another Brown pile driver whizzed past the upright.

Half time arrived with Northwood 1-0 up but probably wondering why it wasn’t a couple more. The half time talk concentrated on reminding the lads of how slowly they had started the second half of the last two matches: they had to try and avoid falling in to this trap again.

To Greenford’s credit, they really got about their task in the second half and were far more of a threat.  However, Northwood didn’t help themselves with sloppy passing and players wanting to spend too much time on the ball. The Woods’ front two became increasingly frustrated as the excellent Greenford centre backs dominated them in the air and very effectively starved them of possession. 

During the first twenty five minutes of the second half Northwood were grateful to superb displays by Nicky Pearce, Luke Lynam, David Sexton and Ryan Duffy in defence. Woods probably gave away a few too many free kicks, but apart from this, the defence were absolutely faultless. Behind the defence Anthony Ladyman was a giant and his handling was particularly clean. On 75 minutes Ladyman somehow managed to keep the lead intact when he made a wonderful save low down at the base of his left hand post.  

Northwood introduced Elliott Buchanan – having played 90 minutes for the first team 24 hours earlier – for Feye Obileye on 65 minutes and Kyle Findlater for Trout on 77 minutes, in an attempt to wrestle back control. The changes did the trick and a clever through pass from Buchanan, intelligently left by Findlater, who knew he was in an offside position, found Mickele Thomas running beyond the defence, and he rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home.

This second goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Greenford, and Northwood dominated the remaining time left, creating a few half chances along the way but in general simply controlling the majority of the ball.

So, not a vintage performance but a pleasing result. A very encouraging debut from Tajbak, two good goals from Thomas, and another quality display from Daniel Brown. However, the main accolades have to go to the triumvirate of Nicky Pearce, Luke Lynam, and Anthony Ladyman, who were defensively magnificent.

A short rest of a few days and then off to Harefield on Monday for our next challenge.

NIGEL TROUT