Northwood were held to a 1-1 draw away at bottom side Staines Town on Tuesday night, with the home side finishing the game with just eight players on the field.

Eric Lopes’ goal four minutes after the re-start was cancelled out by new Staines signing Tayo Oyebola later in the second half, at a point where the hosts were down to 10 through Matthew Males’ dismissal.

Andrew Blake and Jamie Splatt were also shown red cards in stoppage time, leaving Woods little time to make the most of their vast numerical advantage.

Lopes came into the side to replace Radu Stefanoaica from the side that beat Ashford Town on Saturday, while there was also a debut for new signing Guilherme Monti in place of Mihai-Andrei Chiriac.

Northwood started well on the difficult surface and came close early on through a Monti free-kick, but it ended wide of the target.

It was Staines, though, who should have gone ahead in the first half when Oyebola teed up Marcel Barrington in the area, but his shot cannoned back off the crossbar.

Staines were beginning to dominate and they wasted further opportunities to go in front when Finlay Titchmarsh missed the target and both Dquame Copeland and Oyebola headed wide from corners.

Northwood stood firm though, and by the time the second half came about, they were in a much stronger position which allowed them to take the lead as Luke Jones slid a cross into the box for Lopes and he calmly slotted home his seventh of the season.

Staines’ task was made a lot harder minutes later when Males was deemed the last man as he prevented Romario Hart from running through.

Despite being a man down, though, the Swans levelled it up when Tyla Dickenson fumbled a corner to the feet of Oyebola and he lashed home.

As the game moved into stoppage time, Staines were reduced to nine as Blake hauled back Excellence Muhemba, and they were handed their third dismissal minutes later when Splatt was shown a second yellow for re-entering the field after being substituted.

Monti’s free-kick from the edge of the box was Woods’ final opportunity, but they were unable to take it and had to settle for the draw.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Woods came from behind to beat Ashford Town (Middlesex) 2-1 and record a second successive home win.

Ashford went into the break 1-0 in front when Max Webb got free at a corner and headed past the helpless Dickenson.

Ahmed Elsahib was introduced just after the hour mark for Northwood and he made an instant impact, levelling the game up two minutes after his introduction as he scrambled home from Jaden Sharman’s blocked effort.

Sharman was not to be denied a goal though and he provided the winner less than 10 minutes later, slotting home after a neat exchange of passes with Elsahib.

Both results leave Woods 18th in the Southern League South Central Division, six points clear of bottom side Staines.

Elsewhere, Berkhamsted remained top of the Southern League Central Division after a 1-0 win away at strugglers St Neots Town.

Berko took the lead after 18 minutes when Josh Chamberlain was released by Lee Stobbs’ flick on, and his low effort found the bottom corner.

The same pair combined again shortly after, this time Stobbs shooting wide of the goal as the Comrades dominated the opening period.

St Neots had their fair share of possession in the second half, but they were unable to create much with it, and the only real save of note for Xavi Comas Leon came from John Freeman’s effort.

The win extends Berko’s unbeaten run to 11 games and keeps them a point ahead of Halesowen Town, who have a game in hand.