In-form striker Josh Helmore's header two minutes from time ensured Northwood maintained their unbeaten start to 2022 by beating relegation-threatened Chalfont St Peter 2-1 last night.

Keagan Cole's first-half opener had been cancelled out by Isiah Noel-Williams' penalty after the break, but Helmore's fifth goal in six games ensured Woods also stretched their undefeated run in the Isthmian League South Central division to a sixth match.

The hosts started brightly enough against a Saints side who had Ben Gill in interim charge after manager Aaron Steadman left the club following Saturday’s 4-0 home defeat against Thatcham Town.

Sydney Ibie was put clean through in the first minute but goalkeeper Andrew McCorkell managed to block both his shot and the ricochet that followed. A couple of minutes later Kyal Williams was presented with another great opportunity but he swept the ball over the bar.

But relegation-threatened Chalfont were making some inroads too and a neat through ball to Josh Boorn forced Dan Hosier to race out and block his shot at his feet.

Northwood were still shading and got their noses in front after 21 minutes following Luke Tingey’s long throw into the box. James Gurteen helped it on and the ball fell nicely for Cole to rifle his shot past the keeper.

The Saints rallied and had a couple of efforts on goal, one of which, a free header, perhaps should have hit the target following another good cross from Boorn.

Ibie was continuing to cause problems, firing a shot wide of the near post, while Cole had another effort blocked as the Woods continued to look for a second goal before the break.

The hosts intensified the pressure after the restart, with Ibie and Helmore having several attempts but another goal remained elusive.

The Saints finally got forward with another Boorn effort comfortably taken by Hosier, but after 68 minutes Noel-Williams found space down the left to get into the box and drew a foul from Cole which led to the referee pointing to the penalty spot. Noel-Williams duly converted to make it 1-1.

The Woods lost a bit of their composure for a period as they tried to get back on the front foot, and it was only in the last ten minutes that they started to threaten again.

Their efforts were rewarded after 88 minutes when Teddy Stacey recycled a half-cleared cross with a neat chip towards the six-yard box and Helmore deftly flicked a header across the keeper and inside the far post.

Alex More went close with a shot that few past the post, but in the final minute there was a real let off as a shot from substitute Harry Bailey hit the post and Brandon Kalu sliced the rebound wide of the target.