Northwood 2 London Lions 5

Tuesday 11th November 2025

NORTHWOOD




1	Hafed Al-Droubi
2	Ademide Baruwa (85m)
3	Bryan Mankumbani
4	Manny Folarin ©
5	Gabe Cuthbert
6	Omar Rowe
7	Harry McKenna (58m)
8	Carl Stewart
9	Dan Williams (46m)
10	Freddie Ford (70m)
11	Osa Otote (70m)
Substitutes
12	Nasir Sharifi (70m)
14	Henry Atkinson (85m)
15	Devonte Totesaut (46m)
16	Jon-Jo Bates (58m)
17	Hicham Bouchareb (70m)
	London Lions: Tiernan Parker, Joshua Shack, Zack Gluckstein , John Levy, Alexander Lee, Ben Bellman, Jack Mattey (Adam Burchell 80m), Ben Barnett, Louie Basso (Zak Jackson 84m), Austin Lipman, Daniel Creese (Max Davis 64m)

Northwood’s hopes of climbing out of the relegation places by winning their first home league game of the season were crushed when a disastrous last few minutes of the first half led to the visitors recording a comprehensive victory after the break; the Lions first-ever away win at Step 4.

There was just one change for the Woods from the side that had almost won at Welwyn Garden City at the weekend, with Harry McKenna replacing the unavailable Reece Price-Placid and having drawn their last five games, Northwood were hoping to finally secure three points at home for the first time since April.

The rain started just as the match kicked-off, never let off at any stage and the visitors were gifted the opportunity to lead inside five minutes when Gabe Cuthbert was adjudged to have fouled inside the area and the Lions’ record goalscorer Austin Lipman was able to convert the penalty.

The response from the Woods was fairly swift when Osa Otote did well to knock in a cross from the left and a poor defensive header saw the ball drop to an unmarked McKenna in the area who controlled it with his right foot and then volleyed wide with his left with just the keeper to beat.

But they didn’t have to wait long to get the equaliser when an attempt at clearing a Woods corner by the Lions saw Omar Rowe win a great tackle on the right. Ademide Baruwa picked up the loose ball and swept it across the six-yard box where Dan Williams flew in to stab it home at the far post.

In a very open game, the visitors continued to test the Woods defence with some excellent passing moves, a couple of good crosses into the box and one chance for Ben Barnett, who was denied by some good defending. On 28 minutes, Northwood were in front thanks to a jinking run from Rowe and a superb defence-splitting pass which put Williams through down the left channel. The striker raced into the box and coolly slid his shot across goalkeeper Tiernan Parker and inside the far post.

PHOTOS by James Brown

The Lions went close with a flicked header which went just over the bar while the Woods responded again with the impressive Rowe forcing his way past a couple of defenders on the byline. His cross was flicked on by Otote’s clever touch but there was no-one to take advantage in the centre. On 41 minutes, Bryan Mankumbani won a strong tackle down the left which saw Williams chase it down while Parker came flying across to clear. A late referee’s whistle for offside couldn’t prevent the heavy collision which left the Woods goalscorer limping badly.

While that was a worry, it got worse for Northwood on 44 minutes when the referee interpreted a sliced clearance as a back pass to Hafed Al-Droubi. It gave London Lions yet another opportunity from twelve yards and while this time it was an indirect free-kick and there was a defensive wall to beat, Lipman had no problems in slotting home his second goal to level things up again at the break.

It was no surprise that Williams was unable to return, replaced by Devonte Totesaut for the second half with the rain continuing to lash down. It was the Lions who went close first on 54 minutes when a cross from the right found Jack Mattey but his shot was pushed away by a diving Al-Droubi.

Jon-Jo Bates replaced McKenna and then, on the hour, Totesaut set up Otote for an effort on goal but he volleyed well wide but five minutes later the visitors were back in front. From a Northwood corner, the ball was flicked out to Mattey who produced a superb sixty-yard run, chased by Otote and Baruwa without success. Freddie Ford’s attempt to cut out his cross was unsuccessful and it allowed substitute Max Davis, only introduced seconds before, to produce a good finish to beat Al-Droubi.

Again, it needed a swift response from the Woods, who replaced Otote and Ford with Hicham Bouchareb and Nasir Sharifi and from another well-flighted Carl Stewart corner, Cuthbert rose to head goalwards but it was cleared. It was after 78 minutes that the Lions were able to put the game to bed when Mattey got forward down the right again and his shot deflected off the challenge of Mankumbani and looped up and inside the far post.

A long ball from Sharifi saw Totesaut exchange passes with Henry Atkinson, on as a late substitute, and fire a shot towards goal but it was wide of the near post. Into stoppage time, Al-Droubi made a great save to keep the score down but could do nothing to prevent substitute Zak Jackson from slotting home a fifth in the 95th minute to wrap up the victory.

The second half had been played with a background of a Woods supporter Michael Gant falling ill in the main stand. Attended to by club physios Gus Payne and Craig Wright alongside assistant manager Dennis Quigley, he was well looked after until the ambulance arrived towards the end of the half. We’re pleased to say that Michael has been treated swiftly in hospital and is now back home to continue his recovery.

REPORT by Alan Evans



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