FC were beaten convincingly in this tired display against opponents themselves coming to terms with a thrashing of their own against Marlow just a few days earlier. Again FC were down to the bare bones this time missing influential midfield men Bradley Wadkins suspended and Ollie Hogg nursing an injury from Saturday to add to the huge list of aches, sprains and bruises suffered by the club at present.

To say Northwood had the lion’s share of the possession in the 1st half was an understatement. The first chance fell to Woods’ Tommy Walsh however he hit the ball wide. The next opportunity occurred from exactly the same right hand area of the pitch. Niko Muir repeated the action of his team mate by striking the ball wide. Michael Murray was the next away man to try to break the deadlock when his freekick from just outside the box beat the wall and scuffed the outside of the post before going for a goalkick. Tommy Walsh had another go at the FC goal and after beating Ben Stevens, his effort whistled wide of James Weatherill’s post. George Nicholas was the 4th Northwood man to be denied on 25 minutes as the visitors overran FC however his low shot was easily gathered by Weatherill.

FC’s first half chance came on the half hour with a Ben Stevens free kick which came to nothing. A lightning counter attack saw Northwood presented with an excellent opportunity. After Weatherill blocked a one on one, the Northwood attacker was presented with an open goal but swift thinking from the FC defence meant the ball was blocked. On 36 minutes the busy Walsh made it into the FC box yet again before striking the ball towards the left hand corner. James Weatherill just got his fingertips to it, touching the ball round the post. Woods’ best chance of the half occurred right on half time. Muir saw Weatherill off his line and executed a delicate chip which beat the keeper but fortunately, for FC, also beat the crossbar. It was a miracle that Northwood had not scored in the first half, the host of missed chances a combination of Weatherill’s athleticism and the away team’s lack of prowess in front of goal.

The second half was three minutes when FC had just their 2nd real chance of the game when a Ken Feyi shot, from a Lamar Simpson pass, was blocked. Normal service was resumed soon afterwards when ex-Mole Jerome Federico took a snapshot which Weatherill again saved well. Northwood took a deserved lead on the hour mark. Karl Oliyide collected the ball and hit a powerful shot from the right across Weatherill and into the bottom corner.

The game settled a little after this goal allowing a brief respite for the overworked FC defender unit of Rob Tomlin, Connor Baker, Kevin Mealor and Ben Stevens. Lamar Simpson who ran all evening, had a half decent chance sweeping the ball across goal with a cross/shot which just cleared the post however the visitors increased their lead soon afterwards. After an infringement in the penalty area, Niko Muir stroked the penalty home giving the keeper no chance.

The remainder of the evening was played out with a clichéd end of season feeling, the away team content that their lead was safe and the home team acknowledging that the game was beyond them. It did allow home supporters a view of Fraser McLachlan making his home debut and each touch from the popular coach was roundly cheered in a light hearted end to this football match.

Line Up:
1. James Weatherill
2. Robert Tomlin
3. Kevin Mealor
4. Sam Bateman
5. Conner Baker
6. Ben Stevens
7. Gareth Price
8. Ben Bateman Sub Off '74
9. Brian Haule Sub Off '74
10. Ken Feyi
11. Lamar Simpson Man of the Match '90

Used Subs:
12. Greg Copcutt Sub On '72
14. Fraser McLachlan Sub On '74

Unused Subs
17. Jacob Lowe
15. Ollie Hogg
16. Sean Sonner