Leverstock Green 1 Northwood 0

Tuesday 1st April 2025

NORTHWOOD




1	Dan Hosier
2	Manny Folarin
3	Jayden Ashbourne (81m)
4	Jordan Ajanlekoko
5	Reece Yorke
6	Ronnie Mfinda (70m)
7	Bradley Clayton
8	Troy Perez-Duah
9	Sam Folarin
10	Omar Rowe
11	Rio Connell
Substitutes
12	Jack Empson
14	Stefan Powell (70m)
15	Jon-Jo Bates
16	Denis Nortey
17	Alex Cathline (81m)

Following the weekend’s excellent win away at relegation rivals Kidlington, this midweek trip to another of the sides near the foot of the table, Leverstock Green, saw the Woods unable to produce back-to-back victories as the home side climbed above the Woods and out of the drop-zone.

There was a couple of enforced changes to the Woods line-up with Hassan Jalloh and Josh Williams both unavailable so in came Omar Rowe and Rio Connell to the starting line-up while former Woods defender Reece Yorke, who has enjoyed a superb season at Egham Town to win the Combined Counties League title, strengthened the back-line on dual-registration.

Levy, under the management of former Woods defender Fergus Moore, were able to welcome back their striker Jeffrey Sekyere, on loan from Wealdstone, who had missed their Saturday defeat at Flackwell Heath.

It was the home side that settled more quickly with a hopeful chip from ex-Woods midfielder Dan Pett easily collected by Dan Hosier in goal. While there was a half-chance for Sam Folarin at the other end straight after, his attempted chip of goalkeeper Ryan North would have caught him off his line had in been on target but it bounced wide, it continued to be the Trees who threatened.

In quick succession, Luke Beckwith and Rio Beech both had efforts which were not far wide of the target and there was still only seven minutes on the clock when Beckwith got a shot on target, forcing Hosier to dive and push it wide. Three minutes later there was a great chance for Levy when Sekyere got in a shot in front of goal but there was a defensive block and his effort looped up and over the bar.

The home side were playing down the slope and with the win behind them so it was perhaps no surprise that the Woods were finding it difficult to get forward in numbers but the remainder of the half developed into a midfield battle with very little created in the final third at either end.

PHOTOS by James Brown

The one exception to this came on 34 minutes when Sekyere showed some food footwork to cut in from the right and hit a low shot but it lacked power and Hosier dealt with it comfortably.

So, it remained goalless at half-time and hopes were high for the Woods to make use of the wind in the second half. It took until 52 minutes when a free-kick was only half-cleared and Bradley Clayton tried a shot on the turn which it was well over the bar. A minute later, Sam Folarin dribbled his way past his marker to get in the Woods first effort on target but North got down well to save.

But the crucial goal came on 54 minutes after Northwood conceded a free-kick in a dangerous area. Kyle Connolly knocked in a perfect delivery that picked out Callum Neal whose powerful header gave Hosier no chance.

The response from the Woods was far from immediate and there was 62 minutes gone when Rowe pounced on a loose ball and chipped it goalwards but North was just able to reach it above his head. Then it was Leverstock Green who threatened again. A long-distance effort from Pett forced Hosier into a diving save and then Rawn Seale met a corner with a thumping header which hit the bar.

Ronnie Mfinda was replaced by Stefan Powell on 70 minutes as the Woods looked to freshen things up but Levy continued to dominate and a cross from Seale saw Sekyere stoop for a near-post header which went wide.

The final throw of the dice from the Woods management was replacing left back Jayden Ashbourne with striker Alex Cathline for the final ten minutes but the home side were managing the game well by this stage and there were only half-chances created by the Woods.

After 85 minutes, Jordan Ajanlekoko got his head on a corner but it was always going over the top and it was deep into stoppage-time that the Woods had their best chance of levelling. Cathline headed on a ball pumped forward and it put Rowe in with a chance but his shot gave North a chance and he dived low to pull off a fine save and keep his side in front.

It was a deserved win for Levy but only their fifth of the season but with already relegated North Leigh visiting at the weekend they will be looking to build even more confidence going into the final weeks of the season.

REPORT by Alan Evans



BOARD SPONSORS