Winless Northwood beaten at Leighton Town in Southern League

In a match-up of two sides currently being run by interim management, Steve Ringrose and Ryan Young went for an almost unchanged line-up, although young skipper Archie James was brought back into the starting line-up at the expense of Prince Mbengui who reverted to the bench alongside a couple of new faces in defender Callum Morris and attacker Matheus Santana.

The home side looked full of confidence at the start and had two early chances, Lynton Goss saw a shot saved at the near post by Ryan Hopping and then the same player headed a Sam King cross over the bar.

But the Woods responded well as James played a neat ball through for Ade Gbolahan to chase and, while under pressure, he sent a chip shot past oncoming keeper Connor Hunt but also over the crossbar. Four minutes later Jack Smith tried his luck with a good, low strike that Hunt had to push wide to keep out.

Archie James battles for the ball (Image: James Brown)

Leighton were soon on the front foot again though. Former Woods skipper Luke Tingey, now a permanent fixture in the home club’s defence, sent over a trademark long-thrown which was only half-cleared and a shot from King was deflected on by Jack Sayell but wide of the far post.

After 17 minutes, Louie Barrett cut in from the right and had an effort well saved by Hopping as the Woods continued to come under pressure.

That pressure finally told ten minutes later as another Tingey throw was flicked on and tapped in by Barrett, who had timed his run into the box well.

Northwood’s response was a positive one as they enjoyed a short attacking spell, mainly from the efforts of Godlove Oppong. He beat his man but was wide with a shot from distance and then cut in to shoot again but this time it flew just over the bar.

For their own sense of wellbeing, the Woods needed to go into the break no more than one goal behind but in the final minute of the half, Leighton grabbed a second. King cut a ball back into the area from the left, Barrett was able to touch it on to an unmarked Charlie Pattison who stabbed a shot just inside the post. Jack Young looks to play a pass for Woods (Image: James Brown)

Changes were made at the break as Morris replaced Young for his debut and the Woods went to a back three with Gabi Ipanga-Mbambo, scorer of two goals the previous week, given the more attacking role he is suited to.

Just four minutes after the restart, more good work from Oppong saw the ball worked across the area and onto Ipanga-Mbambo but his shot was well saved by Hunt.

Oppong again threatened after 56 minutes with a battling run but his radar was still off in front of goal as his shot went wide of the target and two minutes later Mbengui was introduced in place of Ipanga-Mbambo.

With that, the Woods’ attacking prowess waned again and Leighton could have been further ahead on the hour as a cross from Goss was swept goalwards by Barrett but it hit the inside of the post and rebounded into Hopping’s grateful arms.

Further substitutes were introduced as Santana replaced a tiring Gbolahan for his debut but was unable to make any real impact while Kojo Gyimah came on for Yahaya Kamara.

While the home side went close a couple of times without hitting the target, the Woods did win a free-kick in a dangerous position on 80 minutes but James curled his effort over the bar.

After Denislav Konstantinov finally made his Woods debut as a late substitute after several spells on the bench, the match petered out and Northwood’s search for a first league win of the season goes on.