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Kings Langley 3   Northwood 1

Saturday 21st September 2024

 

NORTHWOOD
     
     
   
1 Ryan Hopping
2 Sam Odusoga (15m)
3 Kelechi Etienne (67m)
4 Prince Mbengui
5 Jack Empson
6 Balu Makumbi
7 Archie James ©
8 Jeremy Stewart (46m)
9 Ade Gbolahan (81m)
10 Jack Smith (46m)
11 Harry McKenna
Substitutes
12 Kojo Gyimah (46m)
14 Jack Young (67m)
15 Michael Kelly (81m)
16 Yahara Kamara (46m)
17 Junior Paiva (15m)
   

The Woods remain rock bottom of their new division and still searching for their first point of the season after this cruel defeat at mid-table side Kings Langley who were still trailing with two minutes of normal time remaining.

There were just two changes from the side that had been narrowly beaten at Herne Bay in the FA Trophy two weeks earlier as Northwood looked to make the most of that enforced rest period. Kelechi Etienne returned at left-back for his second appearance after departing Rayners Lane while new signing Ade Gbolahan came straight in up front for the goal-shy Woods. Still ruled out with injury were goalkeeper Dan Hosier and winger Ibrahim Lukulay.

The home side’s manager Jordan Parkes surprisingly named himself in the starting line-up for the first time this season as the Kings looked to notch their first home league win of the season.

The Woods started well enough though the first effort on goal came for the home side after nine minutes when a deep cross was met by the head of Qasim Khan but the ball landed on the roof of the net. Six minutes later Northwood had an early injury blow as Sam Odusoga limped off with a hamstring problem and he was replaced by Junior Paiva.

Northwood continued to look industrious and after 19 minutes a good moved saw Jack Smith play a ball to Gbolahan with his back to goal and he did well to battle his way into the area under challenges from both sides but he couldn’t get his shot away.

The half continued to play out evenly without either side creating much in front of goal but after 34 minutes Paiva got forward and onto a cross from the left to hit a fine shot that saw goalkeeper Cian Moore have to leap high to his right to keep out of the top corner. It was part of a good spell for the Woods as Harry McKenna picked out Archie James with a cross but his shot cleared the bar and then another attack saw the ball worked to McKenna but his strike took a similar trajectory.

PHOTOS by James Brown

At half-time it was all-square and still all to play for but the Woods chose to make two further substitutions with Yahaya Kamara and Kojo Gyimah coming on to replace Jeremy Stewart and Jack Smith in an effort to add a bit more attacking flair.

Just six minutes into the second half it had the desired effect as Gbolahan turned and knocked a good ball through for James to run onto and the youngster stayed composed as he held off a defender and steered his shot into the bottom corner to give Moore no chance. The Woods were leading a game for the first time this season.

Almost immediately, the home side appeared to pick up the pace with Declan Phillips first to try his luck with a shot from just outside the box but that flew well over. Then, on 62 minutes, the same player flashed a shot across the goal and wide of the far post.

Changes were made with Jack Young, newly-recruited from Edgware & Kingsbury, replacing the injured Etienne while the Kings were able to bring on the experienced pair of Sam Murphy and Sonny French, having also introduced Rayan Clarke, newly recruited from National League South side Tonbridge Angels; manager Parkes being the one to make way.

The Woods were struggling to make much impact at this stage and after 78 minutes a corner dropped into the Northwood six-yard box and Charne Lemba looked certain to level things up but the ball was cleared off the line.
Having gone down struggling with a knock twice inside a few minutes, the hard-working Gbolahan was forced off on 81 minutes, replaced by youngster Michael Kelly as the Woods fifth and final substitute but the home side continued to threaten. 

With six minutes remaining, Isaac Pedro got his head to a free-kick into the danger zone which bounced up and into the hands of Ryan Hopping in goal and after 87 minutes, Hopping did well to push away a pumped in cross with McKenna completing the clearance at the expense of a corner.

The corner was played short, Clarke angled it towards the far post and it beat everyone apart from a slight touch from Lemba before nestling in at the far post. Kings Langley were finally level.

Time ticked into stoppage-time with the scores still level and with no indication as to how much longer would be played. With 92 minutes on the clock, Hopping did well to deny Judd Farrant from close-range and hopes remained that the Woods could hold on to a deserved point but it was not to be. After 95 minutes, the ball was played to substitute Clarke inside the area and he showed quick feet to swivel and rifle a right-footed shot into the top corner for a super finish to win the game for his side.

Three minutes later Clarke took full advantage of the Woods trying to press for an equaliser when breaking and notching his second goal to make the scoreline more flattering for the hosts.

Northwood now have a few days to recover before a trip to title-favourites Berkhamsted on Tuesday night, the Hertfordshire side currently boasting a 100% record.

REPORT by Alan Evans

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