Northwood 1  Ware 3

Tuesday 18th March 2025

NORTHWOOD
1	Aymen Azaze
2	Jack Empson (79m)
3	Jayden Ashbourne
4	Manny Folarin
5	Jordan Ajanlekoko
6	Hamilton Antonio
7	Josh Williams (79m)
8	Onar Rowe
9	Samuel Folarin
10	Jon-Jo Bates (61m)
11	Rio Connell
Substitutes
12	Junior Paiva
14	Stefan Powell (79m)
15	Jack Smith
16	Nnaemeka Anyanwu (79m)
17	Devonte Totesaut (61m)

The Woods let three more points slide away in what is now a real relegation battle with their fifth successive home league defeat, this time against a side where an away win had been achieved in the first game of Gary Meakin’s match in charge.

There were two new faces in the Woods starting line-up for this one with attacking options added; midfielder Omar Rowe coming in on dual-registration from Chesham United, while winger Rio Connell arrived from Rayners Lane. Hamilton Antonio was also back for a second appearance in midfield.

And Northwood made a good start to the game with Sam Folarin getting down the right to knock in a cross which Jon-Jo Bates met at the near post with a flicked header which was only just wide. Folarin went close himself on 12 minutes, picking up a ball from Antonio, turning his marker and hitting a shot from 20 yards which was blocked by the keeper, who then collected the loose ball.

Four minutes later, Ware launched their first attack with a ball down the middle seeing Gucci Soulya-Osekanogo break clear despite offside calls and he calmly slotted past Aymen Azaze in goal to put the visitors in front.

It was only a brief lead though as the Woods continued to enjoy the better of the game and they were level after 21 minutes as Sam Folarin beat his man and drilled a low, left-foot shot past Fred Burbidge and inside the post. 

This time it was Ware who responded well to the setback. Theo Ofori did well on the right to cut in twice and get a shot off that Azaze had to get across to save well. After 28 minutes, Ware were back in front when a lucky rebound bounced across the penalty area and was seized on by defender Chukuma Okotcha who slotted across Azaze and into the far corner.

This time the home side were slow to respond and the rest of the half saw a battle in midfield with neither side creating much in the final third, though just before the break, striker Jon Clements went close with a couple of efforts, a shot and a header, which both failed to hit the target.

After the break, the Blues were quick to try to put the game to bed with Soulya-Osekanogo seeing one strike flash wide and then curling another effort just wide of the far post. Northwood hit back with a long-range shot from Rowe which was saved above his head by Burbidge and then Jack Empson got forward to latch onto a loose ball down the right to hit a powerful strike which, if the officials were to be believed, was touched wide by the keeper at the near post, with a corner given.

Ofori showed good skill again after 56 minutes, dancing into the box and shooting across goal but wide and then Clements had another chance but spooned his shot, allowing Azaze to push his effort wide of the post.

The Woods needed to find an equaliser and, on the hour, Connell made an impact, cutting inside and hitting a left-footed strike which had Burbidge diving to just push the ball wide. Great work from Sam Folarin earned a corner but from that, the visitors broke quickly, Clements was put through and Azaze did really well to push his shot wide.

Devonte Totesaut replaced Bates in an effort to add to the attacking prowess after 66 minutes and after Ofori had blasted over another chance for Ware, Sam Folarin again got forward to knock in a great ball across the six-yard box but Connell couldn’t connect in front of goal.

With ten minutes to play, a double sub saw Nnaemeka Anyanwu and Stefan Powell replace Empson and Josh Williams as they Woods still searched for a much-needed goal but it had no significant effect and it was the Blues who wrapped up the game with a third goal a minute from time. The Northwood defence was stretched as a ball reached Timothy Okwusogu and he finished clinically.

There was a stoppage-time opportunity as Anyanwu’s run and cross eventually fell to Connell but he poked his shot wide from six yards leaving the Woods looking nervously over their shoulders at the teams just below them.

REPORT by Alan Evans