Hadley 4 Northwood 0

Saturday 15th February 2025

NORTHWOOD




1	Aymen Azaze
2	Jack Empson (76m)
3	Junior Paiva (46m)
4	Manny Folarin
5	Alpha Keita-Turay
6	Stefan Powell (80m)
7	Harry McKenna
8	Troy Perez-Duah
9	Samuel Folarin
10	Jon-Jo Bates (80m)
11	Josh Williams (80m)
Substitutes
12	Jamie Dwyer (80m)
14	Jack Smith (80m)
15	Aaron Benn (46m)
16	Nnaemeka Anyanwu (76m)
17	Alex Cathline (80m)

The Woods finally returned to action after four full weeks of enforced inactivity with this tough away game at play-off challengers Hadley who ultimately proved emphatic winners in a flurry of late goals but were pushed most of the way by a Northwood side who lacked the finishing touch in front of goal.

The month of dormancy had been unfortunately accompanied by the departure of goalkeeper Hafed Al-Droubi to title challengers Berkhamsted and an injury to impressive young defender Balu Makumbi against Berko that will rule him out for some time. So, there were debuts for new recruit Aymen Azaze between the sticks and QPR loanee Alpha Keita-Turay slotted into the back-line after three weeks of waiting in the wings. Jon-Jo Bates made his first start of his return to the Woods and there was a first place on the bench for Under 18s skipper Jamie Dwyer.

The home side were pretty much at full-strength and were quick out of the blocks on a pitch made softer by the light rain that had been falling for several hours pre-match and continued for much of the contest. Finley Aldridge, cutting in from his role on the left flank, caused a couple of early issues with a shot deflected wide and then another strike flashing just wide of the post.

At the other end, Bates was orchestrating some attacking moves, combining well with Josh Williams on the left and the two linked up really well to create a half-chance but Bates saw his flicked effort blocked. Soon after, Williams jinked his way into the box and got a shot on target but home goalkeeper Luke Ward pushed it wide.

There was a bit of a worry when Keita-Turay went down awkwardly with what was reportedly a dislocated shoulder, though physio Gus Payne did a great job in putting it back and the youngster was keen to carry on.
It was end-to-end stuff at this stage. The Woods former Barnet stopper made a good save at his near-post to deny Hadley skipper Luke Alfano after he had battled into the box past a couple of soft challenges but it was the Woods who were almost in front after 24 minutes.

Williams created the opportunity once more with a speedy run and cross which caused havoc in the box, it was scrambled only as far as Bates whose powerful strike was goal-bound until blocked inside the six-yard box by Billy Hayes; handball claims receiving no heed from the referee.

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PHOTOS by James Brown

The match official was more involved soon after, awarding Hadley a harsh free-kick decision in a central position just outside the area but thankfully George Alfieri struck his kick straight at the wall which did its job.

The Woods continued to threaten through Williams, racing onto another excellent ball from Bates and cutting the ball back into the danger-zone. An initial shot was blocked and the follow-up saw a looping effort from Empson plucked out of the sky by Ward as it dipped towards goal.

But it was the home side that broke the deadlock on 31 minutes when a quick break sent top scorer Isaac Stones through on goal. It left Azaze exposed and the striker took the ball past him before unselfishly pulling the ball back to gift Caoilan McGettigan an easy tap-in.

There was almost an immediate response from Northwood though when Junior Paiva knocked in a deep cross from the left that picked out Samuel Folarin in front of goal with just the keeper to beat but he volleyed wide of the target. The youngster almost made amends two minutes later when he beat his marker on the right and knocked in a dangerous cross which Ward could only push out and Bates was almost able to knock in the rebound before the ball was cleared to safety.

And the visitors continued to threaten to level as the half drew to a close with Bates getting a shot on the turn in from another Williams cross but seeing that blocked once more and then those two combined again with Williams cross almost reaching Folarin as Ward tipped it away.

There was a forced reshuffle at the break from Northwood as Paiva succumbed to illness and was replaced by Aaron Benn while the Bricks also made a change with Hayes substituted for Max Jessop. It was a quiet fifteen minutes that only ended when Samuel Folarin made a great run into the box from the left but with a shot a possibility as well as two players supporting from the right, he overran the ball slightly and Ward pounced gratefully.

After 63 minutes, Hadley almost scored as Azaze didn’t get to a ball he chased out wide and Manny Folarin did well to clear off the line under real pressure. The home defence then continued with their determination to repel everything thrown at them when both Williams and Troy Perez-Duah were denied by some resolute blocks.

Williams continued to be a real threat for the Woods. One cross was again cut out by Ward but on 73 minutes another pacy run and cross again picked out Samuel Folarin on the edge of the six-yard box but once more the finish was lacking and the ball flashed wide.

Northwood were about to pay for their lack of punch in front of goal. On 75 minutes, the Bricks doubled their lead with a gift as a corner saw Azaze, under pressure, only able to glance his attempted punched clearance into his own net.

If that didn’t knock the stuffing out of the visitors, then when they lost the ball in midfield and Alfano pounced with a clinical finish two minutes later, it was certainly game over. Hadley added a very flattering fourth goal on 84 minutes, the result of another corner that dropped for Stones to prod goalwards and Harry McKenna was unable to clear off the line.

With both Leverstock Green and Stotfold picking up points away from home, it leaves the Woods still looking a little nervously at the sides around them in and around the danger zone. They travel again this Wednesday night, this time to Aylesbury United who have won their last three games.

REPORT by Alan Evans



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