Flackwell Heath 2  Northwood 2

Tuesday 18th November 2025

NORTHWOOD
1	Hafed Al-Droubi
2	Ademide Baruwa
3	Harry McKenna
4	Gabe Cuthbert
5	Bryan Mankumbani
6	Dan Vincent
7	Reece Price-Placid (71m)
8	Carl Stewart ©
9	Dan Williams
10	Jon-Jo Bates (84m)
11	Osa Otote (84m)
Substitutes
12	Nasir Sharifi
14	Hicham Bouchareb (84m)
15	Aidan Tarrant
16	Devonte Totesaut (71m)
17	Freddie Ford (84m)
	Flackwell Heath: Henry Upstell, Ryan Avery (Ben Stallard 77m), Lewis Patrick (Rory Merrick 65m), Harry Mepham (Callum Mapley 94m), Lewis Pegg, Sean McGuinness, Jamie Ayres, Matty Ayres, Lucas Wynn (Harlem Hale 77m), Jack Shakespeare, Eli Grant (Charlie Bacon 61m)

Northwood climbed out of the bottom four by virtue of another point gained on their travels with this fourth-successive away draw in their league campaign. It takes their unbeaten away record to all eight matches played this season which is the best run since exactly ten years ago when the club went fifteen away games without defeat.

But the Woods will regret not taking advantage of a blistering start to this fixture and seeing out a much-needed win to follow up the weekend’s first home league win of the season.

There were two changes to the Northwood starting line-up with number one Hafed Al-Droubi returning in goal, having been unavailable at the weekend while Reece Price-Placid return to take over from youngster Henry Atkinson who limped off from the Under 18s cup-tie at Bedfont Sports the night before.

And in virtually the first action, a clearance on the halfway line from Bryan Mankumbani saw defender Sean McGuinness miss his attempt to clear which allowed Dan Williams to steal in and chip neatly past goalkeeper Henry Upstell for a goal after 72 seconds.

Things got even better for the Woods just two minutes later when another ball played long by Carl Stewart saw McGuinness knock the ball back to his keeper who controlled it with his arm before attempting to clear. For the second match in a week, an indirect free-kick was awarded on the six-yard line for this rare misdemeanour.

The Flackwell Heath defence lined up on the goal-line with the goalkeeper in front of the mass of players. Stewart tapped to Price-Placid whose effort was blocked by the on-rushing Upstell but the shooter made amends by tapping the rebound to Dan Vincent who cleverly chipped the ball over everyone and into the now empty net after everyone had rushed out.

Suddenly two goals down in just five minutes, the home side did settle into the game soon after and twice went close from headed opportunities. Firstly, McGuinness got his head to a free-kick at the back-post but Al-Droubi was behind it to save. Then a corner picked out Lewis Pegg in the centre of goal but he put his effort over the top.

Northwood could have added a third after 16 minutes though when Ademide Baruwa knocked in a great ball from the right which dropped nicely for Williams who did well to wrong-foot Pegg but with just the keeper to beat, he lifted his shot over the bar with a right-foot shot.

It was a huge let-off for the home side and they took full advantage. Former Woods midfielder Matty Ayres tried his luck from distance with a shot that was only just over and then, on 27 minutes, a quick break saw Jack Shakespeare race into space down the right and pick out Eli Grant who hit the ball first time into the far corner for a neat finish.

There was a bit of a lull for a while with the next chances falling just before half-time. On 43 minutes, the Heathens when a good ball saw Matty Ayres race down the middle. Mankumbani’s attempt at a challenge rebounded off both players yet only served to set up the Flackwell player with a great chance but he steered his shot wide of the post with just Al-Droubi to beat.

The board showing one additional minute had just been shown as the Woods won a corner and it was a great delivery from Stewart which was met by Mankumbani at the far post but the ball came back off the underside of the crossbar and when Price-Placid look to fire in the rebound, another ex-Woods player Ryan Avery dived in with a great blocking tackle. From the next corner, the ball was only half-cleared and dropped to Williams but he fired well over the top.

There was less of a dramatic start to the second half, though it was the Woods who got the first effort on target on 52 minutes when a good move saw Jon-Jo Bates and Price-Placid combine to find Williams. He turned his marker and went for goal with Upstell diving to his left to save.

But the Heathens were level on the hour with a slick move. Matty Ayres played a ball wide to his brother Jamie and he in turn found Lewis Patrick who had joined in the attack to provide an extra man and his square-ball saw Lewis Wynn slide in to convert from close-range.

There was plenty of time left for either side to find a winner. On 63 minutes, Osa Otote worked some good space to shoot but that was deflected wide and then Flackwell sub Charlie Bacon had a shot saved by Al-Droubi at the other end.

A scramble after a Woods corner saw Gabe Cuthbert’s header run loose and his attempt at an overhead-kick flashed wide of the post. Price-Placid was replaced by Devonte Totesaut for some fresh legs and he was quickly into the game, setting up Vincent for a shot which flew over.

On 76 minutes Harry McKenna hit a good low shot from 30-yards that was difficult for the ‘keeper but he was just equal to it, pushing the ball wide of the post and the Woods then made two further substitutions with Hicham Bouchareb and Freddie Ford introduced for the final stages.

Heath went close to a winner though on 86 minutes when two substitutes combined with Harlem Hale slipping Bacon through on goal but he sliced his effort across goal and well wide.

Back came Northwood in the final minute with a corner that reached the back-stick where Williams went for goal and Upstell denied him with a strong hand to push it back across goal with no-one able to react to the loose ball.

The final opportunity came two minutes into the five added at the end when a handball gave the Woods a free-kick centrally twenty-five yards out. Williams was given the responsibility but his kick only found the defensive wall and Vincent put the rebound wide of the target.

Northwood now have two more away games on the horizon, firstly visiting third-placed Barton Rovers on Saturday in what looks like another big test.

REPORT by Alan Evans