Hertford Town 4 Northwood 2

Tuesday 22nd October 2024

NORTHWOOD




1	Ryan Hopping
2	Junior Paiva
3	Kelechi Etienne (63m)
4	Jack Smith
5	Callum Morris
6	Jeremy Stewart
7	Archie James © (86m)
8	Danny Vincent (75m)
9	Ade Gbolahan
10	Godlove Oppong
11	Harry McKenna
Substitutes
12	Kojo Gyimah (63m)
14	Yahaya Kamara (75m)
15	Denislav Konstantinov
16	Mattheus Santana (86m)
17	Brian McGovern

Northwood were unable to notch back-to-back away league wins on Tuesday night as a midweek trip to Hertford Town produced an entertaining game but with several close-call decisions all going the way of the home side, they were ultimately beaten by a very good footballing side.

The Woods’ interim management opted for an unchanged starting line-up following Saturday’s first league win of the season while Hertford were able to bring in two new signings both youngsters returning to the club after short spells away; Ryan Bernal from Step 2 side Aveley and Brian Garzon, the Town’s top scorer last season, after spells with Wingate & Finchley and Bowers & Pitsea. The home side were still looking for their first home win of the season and neither side had managed a clean sheet at any stage so far!

There was a bright start to the game from the Woods and Godlove Oppong was first to go close as he tested goalkeeper James Callan with a good strike from a lay-off from Ade Gbolahan that was well saved low down after just eight minutes.

Hertford hit back just four minutes later though and it brought them an early lead. A corner came in from the left and veteran player-manager arrived late in the box to place a header towards the top corner. Ryan Hopping clawed it out from under the crossbar and by all angles seen since, successfully, but not according to the assistant referee who quickly flagged for a goal, leaving the Woods chasing the game.

But chase it they did and they got their reward on 20 minutes when Oppong beat Bernal down the left and centred. A Hertford defender got a touch but only back across to where Gbolahan was able to fire the ball first-time into the top corner to beat Callan.

PHOTOS by James Brown

A midfield battle ensued which was ended on the half-hour when Garzon powered into the box for Hertford, sidestepped Jeremy Stewart and hit a fierce strike that came back off the outside of the near-post. Three minutes later, Northwood should have taken the lead as Harry McKenna put in a cross from the right which was touched out by a defender straight to Archie James in space. The Skipper’s shot lacked the power to beat Callan in goal who parried it back to James whose second effort was blocked by a defensive block and then Gbolahan was denied by Callan again from the loose ball.

Four minutes later, there was a shout for handball as Jeddiah Brown-Johnson knocked the ball with an arm when trying to clear in his own penalty-area but the Referee didn’t have a good view and his Assistant ignored the claims.

Half-time was approaching when Hertford scored again without hitting the net. Callum Morris and Jack Smith both had chances to clear a free-kick into the danger-zone and when the ball was lofted back in, Herd jumped highest to head the ball goalwards and Tariq Bakkali chested down to fire at Hopping from a few yards. The Woods keeper blocked it, the ball rebounded off the post and back to his hands but once again the assistant referee was quick to flag the ball having crossed the line; a decision that was borderline but more likely correct on this occasion.

But the visitors would have certainly felt hard done by at the break and still looked up for the battle as the second-half commenced. It was Hertford who went close first with a powerful strike from Zen Cunningham being kept out by Hopping at the near-post.

Then, after just 47 minutes, the Woods were level again as Dan Vincent picked up a loose ball on the halfway line and sent a low ball down the channel for Gbolahan who ran on and slotted past Callan for his second of the game.

The home side were quickly back on the attack though as George Devine put a free header wide at the far post and then Hopping was back in action, tipping over an excellent strike from Billy Mardell-Smith. The Woods continued to find themselves under pressure as Bakalli got ahead of Morris but shot straight at Hopping and then young substitute Riley Carr got in a good cross from the right only for Garzon to sweep it over the bar.

Northwood were struggling to create a chance for a winner themselves and despite bringing on Yahaya Kamara for a tiring Vincent, they were still pegged back and when the impressive Carr broke into the box again after 79 minutes, he was taken down by a rash challenge from Junior Paiva and Hertford had a penalty. Herd stepped up to score his second of the game from the spot and the Woods were behind again.

Oppong was the main threat for the Woods in the final ten minutes. He was played into the box by Gbolahan but his cross deflected kindly up and into the hands of Callan while another strike from a tight angle could only find the side-netting.

Five minutes of stoppage-time followed with play continuing from end-to-end. Hopping pushed another good strike from Garzon wide while Northwood’s beat chance fell to Smith who seized on a loose ball just outside the box but fired his shot wide of the post.

Time had run out when a Woods free-kick was cleared long and Hertford made it count fully when Garzon broke quickly and fed Carr who finished well for a fourth goal for the home side.

REPORT by Alan Evans



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