Northwood 0 Flackwell Heath 2

Saturday 22nd March 2025

NORTHWOOD




1	Dan Hosier
2	Junior Paiva (93m)
3	Jayden Ashbourne
4	Manny Folarin
5	Jordan Ajanlekoko
6	Jon-Jo Bates (67m)
7	Bradley Clayton (95m)
8	Troy Perez-Duah
9	Samuel Folarin
10	Hassan Jalloh
11	Rio Connell (93m)
Substitutes
12	Jack Empson ( 93m)
14	Stefan Powell (67m)
15	Nnaemeka Anyanwu (95m)
16	Josh Williams (93m)
17	Alex Cathline

The Woods slump continued as they dropped to second from bottom after being beaten by two late goals against play-off hopefuls Flackwell Heath while drop-zone rivals Kidlington and Leverstock Green both picked up three valuable points. The day then got even worse as Manager Gary Meakin let his side know of his decision to stand down from his role after this match for personal reasons.

There were a series of changes to the side for this tough fixture with Dan Hosier returning between the sticks for only his second Woods appearance since being injured at Welwyn Garden City on the August Bank Holiday Monday. Hassan Jalloh returned after injury, Bradley Clayton after being unavailable for a couple of games and, importantly, skipper Troy Perez-Duah was also back having missed the last two matches.

There was a slow start to the match but the Woods perhaps shaded it and it was Perez-Duah, on 14 minutes, who recorded the only effort on goal in the first twenty minutes with an angled shot from the right which took a deflection to take it over the bar andoff for a corner.

The Heathens direct approach was being well dealt with by Jordan Ajanlekoko and Manny Folarin, though Jack Shakespeare did have the visitors first effort on goal after 21 minutes which Hosier had to push wide. That pattern continued for much of the first half, with a bit of rain and thunder from a storm just a mile or so down the road rumbling away. Clayton had the best chance for the Woods but his shot was easy for goalkeeper Carl Dennison. Then, just two minutes from the break, the league’s top scorer Wiktor Makowski had a great chance to put his side in front but Hosier got a vital touch that sent his shot wide.

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PHOTOS by James Brown

The second half was very different with more attacking play and more chances. The first of these came on 51 minutes as Perez-Duah was put through on goal. He lifted his shot over the oncoming keeper but the ball landed on the roof of the net. Two minutes later, play switched to the other end and Jamie Ayres shot wide after a ball across the edge of the box.

On 54 minutes there was another great chance for the Woods as Sam Folarin raced through on the left of the area but Dennison was out and spread himself to block with his legs. Folarin was onto the loose ball too but then fired into the side-netting. Then at the other end Callum Mapley skied a volley from close range after a header back across the box.

Five minutes later there was a speedy run from Rio Connell who slipped the ball through to Sam Folarin again. Yet again he was denied by the Heathens' veteran keeper and although the rebound was turned in by Perez-Duah, an offside flag denied him the Woods opener.

Stefan Powell replaced Bates in the centre of midfield after 67 minutes and there was a great block from Manny Folarin to keep out a Shakespeare shot soon after. Perez-Duah tried his luck from distance on 81 minutes but the ball flew over the top as time started running out.

Hosier made a good effort to clear a goalbound loose ball off the line on 84 minutes and then Sam Folarin had another effort blocked by the resolute Heathens defence but the key moment of the match was still to come.

There was 89 minutes on the clock when Hosier’s throw out to Powell was intercepted and the ball was played to substitute Dylan Kearney out wide. The striker still had plenty to do but he hit his shot hard and low and it was enough to beat the diving Hosier and give his side the lead.

Two minutes later, the speedy Makowski raced through to score a second goal to complete the victory that enhanced the visitors position while condemning the Woods to a sixth successive home defeat.

With the departure of the management team, it leaves Northwood with much work to do to get the side up for yet another tough match with the visit of fourth placed Barton Rovers on Tuesday night. It will be a real test of character for sure before key away games at rivals Kidlington and Leverstock Green.

REPORT by Alan Evans



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