New-look Northwood’s FA Cup hopes ended at the earliest possible hurdle as they went down 2-0 at home to Ashford Town (Middx) in the extra preliminary round on Saturday.

The hosts went into the with a feeling that it was a couple of weeks too soon after a pre-season campaign which had seen new manager Scott Donnelly and his team run their eye over a host of triallists as they attempted to rebuild the squad following the exodus of experienced players in early June.

As it was, it proved a close contest for much of the 90 minutes against their old Isthmian rivals who will be pleased to have squeezed through with goals in the final third to earn another Middlesex “derby” game against Uxbridge in the next round.

Northwood’s starting line-up included five players that were making their debuts – Sam Odusoga, David Agyemang, Jack Empson, Mano Oke-William and Ibrahim Lukulay. Harry McKenna had made a welcome return to the club at the last minute, having been with Hanwell Town in pre-season, and last season’s young player of the year slotted straight into the side.

Only two others remained from the end of last season, Harry Gallagher now club captain, plus youngster Archie James. Two others were back after previous spells in goalkeeper Dan Hosier and midfielder Price Mbengui.

There was a fairly even start to the match as an early effort from Callum McAllister was off target and a header from Ben Holder also went wide. At the other end there was a half-chance for the Woods but two players rather got in each other’s way and the shot was blocked.

After 13 minutes, Aaron McLeish recorded the first effort on target but it lacked power and was comfortable taken by Hosier in goal.

The visitors had another effort, this time a hooked shot by Prince Kandolo from wide in the penalty area but this also flew well wide.

The Woods went closer when Jeremy Stewart latched onto a loose ball just outside the box but saw his good strike palmed away by goalkeeper Toby Fisher.

Northwood began to get more possession in the centre with McKenna knocking in several inviting crosses to the back post but there was no-one to attack them and 32 minutes had elapsed before they went close again. Mbengui slipped a ball out to Lukulay on the left, he took advantage of a slip by a defender to burst into the box but then mishit his shot wide of the near-post with just Fisher to beat.

The Tangerines continued to look lively up front and McLeish was offside when he ran through to slot home, but then the home side were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous area just outside the box. Gallagher whipped it across the wall and had the keeper beaten but it flashed wide of the far post as the first half ended goalless.

The first opening of the second period saw Lukulay pick out McKenna who went close as he hit a shot which deflected, looped up and went inches wide of the near post with Fisher unable to get across. From the resulting corner, knocked in by James, Gallagher found space well but headed over the top.

McKenna hit another effort well over on 51 minutes and then Mbengui picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge before Ashford had their first chance of the second half on the hour. A long throw was headed on and as McLeish pounced to stab it goalwards, Hosier did really well to get down low and push it wide.

The Woods were about to make a double-substitution to freshen up the forward line when the visitors grabbed the vital first goal. A raid down the right left the defence exposed, McLeish got to the by-line and cut the ball back to Brad Sweeney whose shot deflected off an attempted block from Gallagher and took it out of reach of Hosier.

McKenna and Stewart were duly replaced by Jordan Kinoshi and Jordan Brown, both making their Woods debuts. Soon after, James knocked in a good free-kick that was met by Gallagher with a header but the ball flew over, before Kinoshi raced through to score but an offside flag denied the wide man.

Another debutant, Jameel Murshid came on to replace Oke-William with time running out but it was Ashford who could have put the result beyond doubt as McLeish saw an effort hit the bar and smash a free-kick high and wide.

Five minutes of additional time failed to bring the Woods any joy and it was in the seventh minute of stoppage-time that the Tangerines wrapped up the tie with a quick break that saw substitute Faris Khallouqi square to an unmarked Sweeney who tapped home his second of the game.

It was the first-ever time that the Woods had exited the FA Cup at such an early stage and now all attention turns towards the start of their new Southern League season, at home to relegated Beaconsfield Town, on Saturday.