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Northwood 0  Ashford Town (Middx) 2

Saturday 3rd August 2024

 

NORTHWOOD
     
     
   
1 Dan Hosier
2 Sam Odusoga
3 David Agyemang
4 Prince Mbengui
5 Jack Empson
6 Harry Gallagher ©
7 Harry McKenna (71m)
8 Jeremy Stewart (72m)
9 Manu Oke-William
10 Archie James (86m)
11 Ibrahim Lukulay
Substitutes
12 Greg Wright
14 Denislav Konstantinov
15 Cameron Pooni
16 Jordan Kinoshi (71m)
17 Jordan Brown (72m)
18 Jameel Murshid (86m)
20 Ayushmaan Prasad
 


Ashford: Toby Fisher, Deven Reid-Solanki, Archie Larkham , James King, Prince Kandolo, Callum Hope, Brad Sweeney , Ben Holder (Faris Khallouqi 61m), Aaron Mcleish (Scott Day 95m), Callum McAllister, Chris Kelly (Jack Arnold 88m )
   

The Woods went into this early-season cup-tie with a feeling that it was a couple of weeks too soon after a pre-season campaign which had seen the new management team run their eye over a whole host of triallists as they attempted to rebuild the squad following the exodus of experienced players in early June.

As it was, it proved a close contest for much of the ninety minutes against old Isthmian rivals and fellow Middlesex side Ashford who will be pleased to have squeezed through with goals in the final third and earn another Middlesex “derby” game against Uxbridge at the next stage.

Northwood’s starting line-up included five players that were making their Woods debuts – Sam Odusoga, David Agyemang, Jack Empson. Mano Oke-William and Ibrahim Lukulay. Harry McKenna had made a welcome return to the club at the last minute, having been with Hanwell Town in pre-season, and last season’s young player of the year slotted straight into the side. Only two others remained from the end of last season, Harry Galagher now made club captain, plus youngster Archie James. Two others were back after previous spells in goalkeeper Dan Hosier and midfielder Prince Mbengui.

The Tangerines had strengthened in the summer with the arrival of former Raynes Park Vale midfield pair Callum McAllister and Brad Sweeney while veteran striker Aaron McLeish was also back to lead the line.

There was a fairly even start to the match as an early effort from McAllister was off target and a header from Ben Holder also went wide of the target. At the other end there was a half-chance for the Woods but two players rather got in each other’s way and the shot was blocked.

After 13 minutes, McLeish recorded the first effort on target but it lacked power and was comfortable taken by Hosier in goal and then the visitors had another effort, this time a hooked shot by Prince Kandolo from wide in the penalty area but this also flew well wide. The Woods were next to go close as Jeremy Stewart latched onto a loose ball just outside the box but saw his good strike palmed away by goalkeeper Toby Fisher.

PHOTOS by James Brown


Northwood began to get more possession in the centre with McKenna knocking in several inviting crosses to the back post but there was no-one to attack them and 32 minutes had elapsed before they went close again. Mbengui slipped a ball out to Lukulay on the left, he took advantage of a slip by a defender to burst into the box but then mishit his shot wide of the near-post with just Fisher to beat.

The Tangerines continued to look lively up front and McLeish was offside when he ran through to slot home and then The Woods were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous area just outside the box. Gallagher whipped it across the wall and had the keeper beaten but he flashed wide of the far post.

All square at the break, there was still all to play for in the second half and Lukulay picked out McKenna who went close early on as he hit a shot which deflected, looped up and went inches wide of the near post with Fisher unable to get across. From the resulting corner, knocked in by James, Gallagher found space well but headed over the top.

McKenna hit another effort well over on 51 minutes and then Mbengui picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge before Ashford had their first chance of the second half on the hour. A long throw was headed on and as McLeish pounced to stab it goalwards, Hosier did really well to get down low and push it wide.

The Woods were about to make a double-substitution to freshen up the forward line when the visitors grabbed the vital first goal. A raid down the right left the defence exposed, McLeish got to the bye-line and cut the ball back to Sweeney whose shot deflected off an attempted block from Gallagher and took it out of reach of Hosier for the opener.

It was six minutes later that McKenna and Stewart were replaced by Jordan Kinoshi and Jordan Brown, both making their Woods debuts. Three minutes later, James knocked in a good free-kick that was met by Gallagher with a header but the ball flew over and soon after substitute Kinoshi raced through to score but there was an offside flag denying the wide-man.

Another debutant, Jameel Murshid came on to replace Oke-William with time running out but it was Ashford who could have put the result beyond doubt as McLeish saw an effort hit the bar and smash a free-kick high and wide.

Five minutes of additional time failed to bring the Woods any joy and it was in the seventh minute of stoppage time that the Tangerines wrapped up the tie with a quick break that saw substitute Faris Khallouqi square to an unmarked Sweeney who tapped home his second of the game.

It was the first-ever time that the Woods had exited the FA Cup at such an early stage and now all attention turns towards the start of their new Southern League season, at home to relegated Beaconsfield Town, next Saturday with a couple more training sessions to come this week.

REPORT by Alan Evans

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