Aylesbury United 1  Northwood 0

Wednesday 19th February 2025

 

NORTHWOOD
1	Aymen Azaze
2	Jack Empson (66m)
3	Junior Paiva
4	Manny Folarin
5	Alpha Keita-Turay
6	Stefan Powell (81m)
7	Harry McKenna
8	Troy Perez-Duah
9	Samuel Folarin
10	Hassan Jalloh
11	Josh Williams
Substitutes
12	Devonte Totesaut (66m)
14	Brian McGovern
15	Joe Booth
16	Aaron Benn
17	Alex Cathline (81m)

For the second time in a week, the Woods were left to rue a series of missed chances in front of goal to return home pointless from this midweek visit to Aylesbury United who were fortunate to notch their fourth successive victory.

There was just one change to the starting line-up with Hassan Jalloh returning for the unavailable Jon-Jo Bates while there was a place on the bench for striker Devonte Totesaut who has returned to the Woods for a second spell over four years since his last appearance.

The Woods made a positive start to the game and were close to being ahead after just seven minutes. Samuel Folarin made a good attacking run down the left and his cross picked out Harry McKenna who teed up Jalloh for a shot which beat goalkeeper Luke Daley but was cleared off the line by Dicks skipper Jack Wood. Three minutes later, Josh Williams made a similar move from the left flank and his cross took a looping deflection which flashed only just wide of the far post. 

Williams and Jalloh continued to threaten from the Woods but the home side gradually worked their way into the game, though neither side threatened the goal with Aylesbury’s first effort on target being a low Sonny French shot on 22 minutes which Woods goalkeeper Aymen Azaze dealt with comfortably.

Northwood almost took the lead again five minutes later when Troy Perez-Duah burst into the box and hit a good strike that was only pushed out by Daley but the ball fell safe and was cleared.

However, the game was to be decided on 29 minutes when the Ducks scrambled the only goal of the game. Luqman Kassim found enough space down the left and tested Azaze with a near-post strike that bounced up and across goal. French looked to be in the right place for the rebound but that deflected off Alpha Keita-Turay and onto the bar. Again, it dropped kindly for the home side as Kajetan Halatyn powered a shot at goal from six yards and although Azaze flew across goal to block it, the signal from the assistant referee was that the spinning ball had crossed the line before it bounced to safety.
 

PHOTOS by James Brown

Despite the blow of conceding, the Woods continued to threaten with McKenna next to go close with a shot that Daley once again could only parry but once more it was the Aylesbury defence who were quickest to clear the loose ball. There was one more half-chance presented to the visitors before half-time as Wood’s attempted back-header to his keeper almost allowed Williams in but he just failed to get the needed touch.

The spirit was still willing as the second half commenced with Williams making another good run and cross picking out Jalloh in front of goal but he swung his foot and fired over the top. Northwood continued to dominate and press forward and after 58 minutes, some patient approach work led to Stefan Powell playing Samuel Folarin into the box but his shot was the wrong side of the post.

Four minutes later, McKenna turned provider to put Powell in down the right and he did well to cut the ball back but there was no-one there to take advantage. The Woods made their first change and it was an attacking one as striker Totesaut replaced Jack Empson but a minute later it was almost a second for the Ducks as Tom Cove broke quickly down the right and sent over a dangerous cross which just eluded the oncoming French in front of goal.

It was only a brief respite for the home side as Northwood continued with some concerted pressure. A series of corners brought no joy though before good work from Totesaut found Samuel Folarin who shot well on the turn to bring another stop from the home keeper and the rebound was once more quickly cleared to safety.

There was great work from Samuel Folarin again a minute later as he drove for goal and hit a fierce shot that was blocked by Daley. This time the rebound came back to the young striker though, he cut the ball back to Jalloh on the edge of the box but he hit his strike over the bar.

Time was beginning to run out for the Woods and Aylesbury fans thought they had scored a second when French knocked in a corner after 89 minutes but the referee had a clear view of him knocking it in with his hand and only a yellow card was the result.

Just into the six minutes of stoppage-time saw Jalloh knock in an excellent cross and Junior Paiva steered a header goalwards but it flew inches over the bar and it was in the final minute that Totesaut again spotted a good run into the box by Samuel Folarin who went down under a challenge from the keeper on the edge of the six-yard box but any claims for a last gasp penalty were waved away and the final whistle followed almost immediately.

REPORT by Alan Evans