Northwood U18 0  Camberley Town U18 2

Thursday 17th December 2015

NORTHWOOD UNDER 18		Ryman Youth League
Team line-up
1	Charley McInerney
2	Jordan Gargani (50m)
3	Pearse White
4	Dylan Louis
5	Albie Shehan-Cozens
6	Dylan Noble ©
7	Jack McDonnell
8	Ben Spires
9	Elliot Wells (67m)
10	Michael Brown (70m)
11	Youel Emmanuel
Substitutes
12	Rowland Smith (50m)
14	Jamie Roche (67m)
15	Phil Daniels
16	Louis Moriarty (70m)
17	Ross Keough

With six first-choice players unavailable through injury we gave debuts to new boy’s Albie Shehan-Cozens and 16 year old striker Elliot Wells, and both had superb games on the night. Jack McDonnell, who had been ill for a few days had called in sick for the game, but when he found out how many players were missing he declared himself fit to play at 5.00pm.

Once again, some of the U18’s need to understand the importance of time-keeping, Camberley can be forgiven for arriving late, but not Northwood players arriving over 45 minutes late for meet time, it disrupts the team and the preparation. This is seriously jeopardising their future path within the club. Several players pulled out on the day of the game, but those called up as replacements all gave tremendous performances. There was a further late starting change for Northwood as Rowland Smith was ill and replaced by Jordan Gargani.

In early encounters , both teams shared equal possession, and it was 10 minutes before the first real attack on either goal; Camberley’s Bradley Tayson went down the by line managed to cut back to find the unmarked Toby Eastlosed, who struck the ball which hit the underside of the bar and crossed the line, before Charley Mc Inerney managed to clear away. It was a poor goal to concede with the goalscorer arriving late in the box unmarked. We made a few positional changes and that seemed to spark a bit of life into Northwood; the defence, drilled by the impressive Dylan Noble, tightened their grip on the game. Camberley held good possession but were limited to a few mazy runs from their number 7, Dan,  and a shot well saved by Charley McInerney from Scott Crow. Northwood lacked clinical finishing, Michael Brown had a chance on 30 minutes, after a cross from Jack McDonnell, but it was a first half of few clear cut chances, as defences were on top.

Rowland Smith came on for Jordan Gargani just after half time, Jack McDonnell went to number 10, Ben Spires came into the centre to partner Dylan Louis, and Youel Emmanuel went out wide right. Northwood finally took control of this Ryman League encounter. The cliché that you make your own luck, could not be further than the truth. Almost immediately, Elliot Wells was put through by Jack, one on one, he fired low and hard, the Camberley keeper George Boughton made a terrific save to keep the score at 0-1. This was soon followed by an even more impressive save from a Dylan Louis volley low down to his right to push the shot onto the post and out for a corner.

Within a few minutes Elliot Wells was again clean through and again the keeper managed to get his foot to the shot and out for a corner. From the corner Dylan Noble headed down for Dylan Louis, whose shot cannoned off a defender, rescued by Youel, who cut the ball back low across the six yard box, agonisingly missed by several players. On 55 minutes Ben Spires linked with Jack McDonnell and unleashed a magnificent shot which, unlike the Camberley effort, cannoned off the underside of the bar and came back into play. On 57 minutes another great chance created: Dylan Louis cut outside and delivered a great ball to the back post, met by the head of Albie Shean-Cozens - who hit the post but had the keeper well beaten. You could not fault the opening 15 minutes from Northwood, as it was a tremendous effort. Apart from the opening 10 minutes Northwood were very comfortable, Dylan Noble and Albie Shehan-Cozens were totally commanding, in their first ever game together in central defence. On the hour completely against the run of play, Camberley went 0-2 up, in what seemed like slow motion with absolutely no pressure on the Northwood goal, Northwood keeper Charley had the ball at his feet,  totally misread the approach from the Camberley forward, lost his footing, which led to a simple tap in for the visiting striker. More often than not Charley keeps us in a game, so when your keeper makes that type of error it is very costly.

Camberley were given very few opportunities to get inside the Northwood half in open play after that, it was all Northwood; on 66 minutes Jack fed Youel, who raced clear and slid the ball past the Camberley keeper, only to be ruled offside. The Woods continued to bombard the Camberley goal, sometimes too close to their keeper, who released a good forward line with great long kicks to relieve the pressure. The Northwood defence of Dylan, Rowland, Pearse or Albie won the header and Northwood were back in possession; Dylan Louis fired in a volley from just outside the box just clipping the post, Jack McDonnell went close several times. Elliot was replaced on 67 minutes by Jamie Roche, who released Youel Emmanuel who again was unlucky not to score, his shot whistling just past the Camberley post. In the second half Youel provided width and measured crossing which on another night would have resulted in at least one goal being scored.

Louis Moriarty replaced Michael Brown, making an immediate impact, releasing Youel wide right; he beat the Camberley defence for pace, found  Jack McDonnell inside the Camberley box, his shot was cleared off the line with Boughton beaten. In all, we counted 16 scoring opportunities created in the second half, hit the bar three times, the post three times and Boughton in the Camberley goal made at least 3 superb saves to keep his team in the game. Finally, with true amazement Camberley kept a clean sheet, Northwood’s frustration in front of goal making a huge difference over the 90 minutes. Camberley were limited to very few scoring opportunities - it is fair to say the scoreline did not reflect anything like the game. Camberley are a good side, but Northwood were the better team on the night - albeit did not score on the night.  

Half year reflection:- The squad has taken much longer to build this season, though I am reasonably sure we have not yet fielded the same team twice, mainly due to injury. However, many of those injured are now due back, together with the new players who are making a difference, andthis squad are so close to getting it right. And they are due a bit of luck!! We are confident that Northwood will be successful in the second part of the season, which starts with a game against Watford trust academy Under 18s, managed by Gifton Noel Williams and Stephen Quinn, on 4th January before we take on Wealdstone in the Ryman League on the 6th.

I believe this squad of players are now starting to believe in their ability, they just need to net a few goals and results will go their way.

Merry Christmas to all,

    Report by GARRY MORIARTY