Thame United 2 Northwood 1
Saturday 9th November 2024
| NORTHWOOD | |||
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| 1 | Hafad Al Droubi  |
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| 2 | Harry McKenna | ||
| 3 | Kelechi Etienne | ||
| 4 | Balu Makumbi | ||
| 5 | Jack Empson (66m) | ||
| 6 | Manny Folarin | ||
| 7 | Jack Smith | ||
| 8 | Stefan Powell (73m) | ||
| 9 | Alex Cathline (88m) | ||
| 10 | Samiuel Folarin | ||
| 11 | Troy Perez-Duah | ||
| Substitutes | |||
| 12 | Jeremy Stewart | ||
| 14 | Mark McLeod (73m) | ||
| 15 | Sam Odusoga | ||
| 16 | Cassius Joseph (66m) | ||
| 17 | Godlove Oppong (88m) | ||
Playing on grass for the first time in nearly a month, the Woods came unstuck as they looked to notch back-to-back away wins at play-off seeking Thame United on Saturday.
The squad is still a work in progress at the moment under new management but with Junior Paiva and skipper Archie James ruled out with injury and Ibrahim Lukulay not available there were also enforced changes for this tough away fixture. New arrivals in the starting line-up were experienced central defender Manny Folarin, recently released by Rayners Lane and midfielder Stefan Powell who previously played a handful of games for the Woods back in 2018 and has transferred in from Hadley. There was a first start for young striker Samuel Folarin and a place on the bench for another new recruit in winger Cassius Johnson. The home side were missing regulars Leo Gilpin and Tom McElroy but included former Woods winger Curtis Brown.
The Woods made the worst possible start. In just the second minute, the ball was lost in midfield, played quickly into the box by Brown and young striker Brayden Daniel saw his effort cannon off Powell’s attempted block and fly past Hafed Al Droubi in goal.
The Red Kites continued to dominate a Woods side that looked uncomfortable in defence. Dan West tried an audacious quickly-taken free-kick from inside his own half which his chip dropping only just wide. Then, Thame should have been two ahead as a calamity of errors presented the evergreen Jefferson Louis with an open goal but his effort hit the post and went wide. Harry Alexander went close soon after, with Al Droubi making the save.
Northwood had to wait until the 18th minute to record their first effort on goal as Jack Smith tried a half-volley from outside the box but that was wide of the target and four minutes later the Woods woes continued at the back as the defence were all looking at each other when Brown stole in to convert from close-range for a second goal.
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PHOTOS by James Brown
It could have been game over after 26 minutes when another mistake saw Louis slot a shot past Al Droubi but also just wide of the far post and it was at this stage that Northwood changed formation. It made an almost immediate impact as Harry McKenna got forward down the right and saw his shot pushed away by goalkeeper Matthew Crowther. The loose ball looked good for Sam Folarin to shoot but he chose to pass and the ball was cleared.
A minute later, a free-kick gave Smith the chance to hit the target but it curled wide and Thame showed they were still dangerous when Alexander did well in the box but his shot clipped the outside of the post.
Just before the break, Alex Cathline did well to get a shot in on goal but it went wide of the target and the half-time whistle blew with much still to do for the visitors.
It was just three minutes into the second half that Northwood got back into the contest as a corner was played in, McKenna and S Folarin managed to help the ball on and Cathline pounced, taking the ball past West’s challenge with his right foot and striking with his left.
It raised hopes for the travelling support but Thame responded well with Daniel chipping over the bar from close-range and then Louis rising for a free header which flew well wide.
Midway through the half, the Woods went on the attack with the introduction of Johnson for Jack Empson but it didn’t have any immediate effect as Al Droubi was forced into a good save at his near-post from Daniel and then M Folarin mistimed a challenge in the box and the Red Kites had a penalty. Alexander stepped up to send Al Droubi the wrong way but his kick climbed too high, clipped the crossbar and flew over.
It brought the Woods back into the game for the closing-stages. Mark McLeod replaced Powell in the centre of midfield and the Woods continued to have plenty of possession but the well-drilled Thame defence stayed pretty solid. Smith had an effort from just outside the box which went well wide but otherwise efforts on target were few and far between.
In the fifth and final minute of stoppage-time, Al Droubi flighted a free-kick from the halfway-line onto the head of Manny Folarin but his effort was comfortable for Crowther who dropped on it gratefully and secure the three points.
The Woods will be hoping their recent improved form in away matches will be improved on further when they finally return to the Skyline Roofing Stadium next Saturday for the visit of fellow strugglers Stotfold for an important clash.
REPORT by Alan Evans
