Northwood 3 Thame United 2

Tuesday 8th April 2025

NORTHWOOD




1	Dan Hosier
2	Jack Empson
3	Jayden Ashbourne
4	Manny Folarin
5	Reece Yorke
6	Omar Rowe
7	Rio Connell
8	Troy Perez-Duah
9	Sam Folarin
10	Hassan Jalloh
11	Josh Williams
Substitutes
12	Stefan Powell
14	Alex Cathline
15	Ronnie Mfinda
16	Denis Nortey
17	Jon-Jo Bates

Northwood held off a late rally from play-off seeking Thame United to secure back-to-back league wins for the first time this season and three more valuable points in their bid for step four survival after a superb performance in midweek.

There were changes made to the side that had thrashed Biggleswade at the weekend with Reece Yorke, Omar Rowe, Hassan Jalloh and Josh Williams all back in the starting line-up as Jordan Ajanlekoko, Stefan Powell, Jon-Jo Bates and Bradley Clayton were either unavailable or switched to a place on the bench.

Thame arrived at the Skyline Roofing Stadium on the back of a ten-game unbeaten run and looking for three points which would strengthen their own position in the top five and a place in the end of season knockout play-offs.

Evergreen 46-year-old striker Jefferson Louis was given a place in the starting line-up as their only change from the weekend’s win at Leighton Town.

Thame enjoyed a bit of early pressure on the Woods back-line with former Woods winger Curtis Brown firing in a dangerous cross-shot that Dan Hosier did well to push away from goal but then the Woods found themselves in front after just eight minutes. Sam Folarin did the hard work with a at the Thame defence and he slipped a pass through for Troy Perez-Duah who was close by when Lewis Thorne messed up and sent a left-footed touch past his own keeper.

The Red Kites continued to find some success down the right-flank with Brown knocking in a couple more dangerous crosses but they were generally overhit and the Woods were also looking threatening when they got forward too.

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PHOTOS by James Brown

After 23 minutes, Thame picked up the first yellow card for a foul on the edge of the box. Rowe tried to curl one from the free-kick but it was just over. Four minutes later, the visitors’ keeper Matt Crowther made the first of several saves, thwarting both Jalloh and Sam Folarin in quick succession but he could do nothing about the goal that put the Woods 2-0 in front on thirty minutes as Sam Folarin found himself unmarked in the area to send a thumping header home and convert a well-flighted Perez-Duah corner. It was the 18-year-old’s ninth of the season.

It was a great start to the match for the Woods and they continued to take the game to the visitors who were getting no joy up against the resolute home defence at the other end. After 39 minutes, a great sweeping move down the left involving Jayden Ashbourne, Jalloh and Sam Folarin set up Rio Connell who cut in to hit a fierce left-footed drive that was only just over the top.

Two goals down at the break, Thame rang the changes at half-time with a double substitution and one of those substitutes, Ty Deacon, did force Hosier into a shot low down after 49 minutes but otherwise the Woods continued to dominate the early stages. Sam Folarin battled through the Thame rearguard to hit a shot that was blocked and Jalloh pounced on the rebound to hit a dipping strike that was only just over. Then Jalloh combined well with Sam Folarin again to have a shot that was well blocked but Jalloh slipped the loose ball through to Connell who saw his goalbound shot kept out by the outstretched leg of Crowther in goal.

The Red Kites started to threaten more from around the hour mark. A corner to the back post saw a header well claimed by Hosier and another sub, Greg Hackett forced Hosier into a good save at his near-post soon after. In between, Sam Folarin escaped his marker once again and cut the ball back to Jalloh who hit his strike cleanly but it was wide of the far post.

Thame made another double substitution after 67 minutes, still looking for a way back into the game but three minutes later some good work on the left from Williams saw him pick out Rowe just outside the box. He took a touch to aim but his shot flew just wide. The Woods continued to look for a third goal with Sam Folarin again proving to be a problem for the Red Kites as he forced Crowther into a diving save after battling through the centre of the defence and then, on 77 minutes it was the turn of Connell to make a great run in from the right before squaring the ball to Josh Williams who converted from close-range for a third goal.

It should have been all over four minutes later when a free-kick on the edge of the box saw Crowther parry a Perez-Duah strike and in the chaos that followed in the area, Oscar Lucey inexplicable handled the ball and a penalty was awarded. However, Crowther stopped a possible fourth goal, diving the right way to save from Perez-Duah’s spot-kick and Thame had a lifeline.

It was after 88 minutes that a long ball bounced nicely for substitute Brayden Daniel to finish neatly and give the Red Kites a glimpse of a chance. There were four minutes of stoppage-time added and in the very first of them, they were awarded a penalty after a push in the box and Jack Tutton converted successfully to make it 3-2.

It was a nervous few minutes that followed and Hosier had to keep out a big header from a corner but the Woods finished with Sam Folarin denied by Crowther again after cutting through the defence from the left flank. The points belonged to the Woods. The win took Northwood out of the bottom three but with four games to go there’s still work to be done and next up is a home game against Leighton Town on Saturday.

REPORT by Alan Evans



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