Milton Keynes Irish 1 Northwood 1
Tuesday 28th October 2025
| NORTHWOOD | |||
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| 1 | Hafed Al-Droubi | ||
| 2 | Nasir Sharifi (81m) | ||
| 3 | Mack Miskin  |
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| 4 | Manny Folarin © | ||
| 5 | Gabe Cuthbert |
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| 6 | Carl Stewart | ||
| 7 | Omar Rowe |
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| 8 | Ademide Baruwa | ||
| 9 | Devonte Totesaut (61m) | ||
| 10 | Freddie Ford (68m) | ||
| 11 | Dan Williams | ||
| Substitutes | |||
| 12 | Bryan Mankumbani | ||
| 14 | Jon-Jo Bates (81m) | ||
| 15 | Razir Smith-Jones (68m) | ||
| 16 | Osa Otote (61m) | ||
| 17 | Harry McKenna | ||
The Woods made it five league games unbeaten away from home but once again had to settle for a point apiece from this first-ever fixture against the Spartan South Midlands League Champions Milton Keynes Irish.
Following on from Saturday’s hard-fought draw at play-off hopefuls Hitchin Town, the Woods made two changes to the starting line-up with Omar Rowe replacing the injured Reece Price-Placid, while Dan Williams returned, swapped with Rahzir Smith-Jones, who was on the bench.
The home side came into the game having won two games in succession having scored nine goals, including a brilliant 5-2 success at Hadley, so were full of confidence from the start of this contest.
It was a pretty even start to the game with both sides competitive in the midfield area and working hard but neither managed to penetrate in the final third with both defences looking on top until the Irish took the lead after 27 minutes. Freddie Ford conceded a free-kick for a rash challenge on Terry Shrieves, centrally just outside the box. Two players stood ready to have a go from the free-kick but it was skipper Mason Spence who took charge and deftly lifted the ball over the wall and inside the right-hand post.
Milton Keynes could have been two goals to the good just six minutes later and Spence was heavily involved again as he moved forward via three attempted forward passes, the latter of which was returned by Clinton Zawe onto his head but Woods goalkeeper Hafed Al-Droubi produced a great reflex save, pushing the ball over the bar.
In a half of very few attacking moves, It took until the 42nd minute for the Woods to finally create a chance themselves as Carl Stewart threaded a great ball through the Irish defence to put Williams in with a chance and though the Woods striker reached it first with his favoured left-foot, his powerful shot lacked accuracy and flew over the target.
Northwood, though defending well, clearly needed to do more in attack when the second half restarted and Freddie Ford tried his luck from distance early on but that was wide of the far post. A minute later, Williams did well on the left to send over a dangerous cross but neither Devonte Totesaut or Rowe could get on the end of it and the ball was cleared.
The home side still threatened occasionally with Shrieves latching onto a loose ball from a tackle but firing an effort over the bar before the Woods rang the changes with Osa Otote replacing Totesaut and then Smith-Jones coming on for Ford as the visitors tried to ring the changes.
Milton Keynes almost doubled their advantage though on 70 minutes as their own two substitutes combined with Kyle Boyce knocking in an excellent cross to the far post with Harry Coleman stretching to connect but the ball hit the outside of the post and went wide.
It was after 79 minutes that the Woods managed to get back on level terms as Ademide Baruwa battled well down the left to get a cross in from the left and Williams met it with a first-time strike that flew past goalkeeper Tom Ladyman at his near-post.
Al-Droubi had to save a header high above his head a few minutes later but the closing stages brought very little excitement for the spectators and the game tailed off, despite five minutes of added time, without either side looking likely to find a winner.
The Woods are back at home this Saturday against Ware and will be looking once again to find some winning form at the Skyline Roofing Stadium.
REPORT by Alan Evans
