Northwood 0 Southall 0 (3-4p)
Tuesday 4th November 2025
| NORTHWOOD | |||
 |
|||
| 1 | Hafed Al-Droubi | ||
| 2 | Henry Atkinson (70m) | ||
| 3 | Harry McKenna | ||
| 4 | Manny Folarin © | ||
| 5 | Bryan Mankumbani | ||
| 6 | Carl Stewart (52m) | ||
| 7 | Reece Price-Placid | ||
| 8 | Omar Rowe | ||
| 9 | Devonte Totesaut (84m) | ||
| 10 | Freddie Ford | ||
| 11 | Osa Otote (66m) | ||
| Substitutes | |||
| 12 | Ademide Baruwa (52m) | ||
| 14 | Rowan Daly (84m) | ||
| 15 | Aidan Tarrant | ||
| 16 | Jon-Jo Bates (70m) | ||
| 17 | Hicham Bouchareb (66m) | ||
The Woods suffered defeat on penalties to Isthmian League side Southall under the lights at the Skyline Roofing Stadium after the two sides played out a goalless draw in the ninety minutes.
Both sides made several changes to their starting line-ups from their weekend games. The Woods were missing cup-tied Gabe Cuthbert and the injured Dan Williams, while Southall gave starting debuts to Aldershot 
Town goalkeeper Alex Walder and Vladyslav Karuchuk.
There was certainly a slow start to the game with neither side threatening much in the final third in the opening twenty minutes. An early cross from Reece Price-Placid had the goalkeeper worried briefly but it flew over the bar while Osa Otote twice picked up a ball from Freddie Ford just inside the box but couldn’t get a shot off on either occasion.
On 21 minutes, the Woods were awarded a free-kick about 25 yards out centrally and Harry McKenna managed to get his shot on target but it was at Walder who held on comfortably. Otherwise, both defences were well on top.
On the half-hour, Price-Placid was played in down the right but his early shot flew across goal and well wide of the target while Southall were similarly wasteful with any chances they created as the half progressed. Hafed Al-Droubi hadn’t really been threatened, though Makael Scott did manage to get a shot in from the left on 39 minutes but it was too weak to trouble the Woods keeper.
Half-time was approaching when Omar Rowe surged forward from midfield, exchanging passes before firing a shot which was just wide and Otote also tried his luck from distance but it was no real surprise that the break arrived without a goal.
There was little change at the start of the second-half though and ten minutes in, the visitors rang the changes, bringing on four of their more experienced players in an effort to turn things their way. Northwood responded with a couple of their own as Ademide Baruwa replaced Carl Stewart while Otote made way for Hicham Bouchareb.
After 65 minutes, the ‘All went close when one-time Woods midfielder James McCluskey let fly with an excellent strike from outside the area and Al-Droubi pulled off a great save to deny him and a minute later they probably should have scored when substitute Daniel Roberts volleyed wide from close-range. Henry Atkinson limped off soon after, replaced by Jon-Jo Bates with Baruwa dropping to right-back as the Woods tried to get their shape back.
Al-Droubi had to be alert to tip a looping header from another substitute Brendan Matthew over the bar when Roberts got in a good chip across from the right and another of the visitor’s newcomers, Bright Siaw caused a few issues with some tricky runs too.
The Woods final move was to bring on Under 18s forward Rowan Daly for a first team debut on 79 minutes, replacing the ineffective Devonte Totesaut and he almost made an instant impact when getting in an angled shot from the right which flashed across the face of goal and wide of the far post, though a square ball to the onrushing Bouchareb would have been the better option.
Bates got in the final effort on goal just before the final whistle but his low shot lacked the power to beat Walder who saved easily.
So, it went to penalties with the Woods first to go and it was Al-Droubi who stepped up to fire in the opening spot-kick. Roberts levelled for Southall and then Price-Placid and Mitch Gough both netted to make it 2-2. Walder then made a name for himself by flying to his right and saving really well from Bates before Al-Droubi kept out Matthew’s effort in similar fashion. The all-important kick came next as McKenna saw his strike again saved by the Southall debutant; it proved decisive. McCluskey scored to keep the pressure on and although Bouchareb tucked his kick away, it meant that Ryan Hope could win the game with his penalty and he coolly sent Al-Droubi the wrong way.
Southall move into the semi-finals of a competition they last won seventy years ago in 1955 and last reached the final back in 1986 so have a great opportunity to create some new history.
The Woods now return to all-important Southern League action with an away game at Welwyn Garden City on Saturday looking to improve on their recent run of four successive drawn matches.
REPORT by Alan Evans
