Northwood beaten at Welwyn Garden City in Southern League

The result made it their worst start to a season since 2005/06, their first-ever Southern League campaign, when they were defeated in the first five Premier Division games.

There were a couple of changes to the starting line-up for the Division One Central contest with Gabriel Ipanga-Mbambo making his first start in place of the unavailable Yahaya Kamara while Samuel Odusoga came in for Jack Empson at right-back.

The sun was shining for Northwood’s first-ever visit to Herns Way and there was a slow start to the game with a run and cross from David Agyemang that clipped the crossbar the only action early on. But after eight minutes, the in-form Bailey Stevenson had the first shot on goal as his effort from wide on the right was comfortably saved by Dan Hosier at the near post.

Just a minute later Jordan Brown picked up a yellow card for a late challenge on Jed Ejjayha which was to prove costly later in the contest but there was very little between the two sides as the half developed into a midfield battle. It was the Citizens that were just about edging that though, and Henry Jones hit the side-netting with a shot after 23 minutes.

A well-delivered free-kick from Layne Eadie was met by a good header down Bradley Wadkins but the ball bounced up, onto the crossbar and the danger was cleared. But the Woods were not really threatening up front, rarely able to get the ball into the danger area and they went behind after 37 minutes.

There had been a delay following an injury, Aiden Read damaging his shoulder when falling to the ground after another challenge from Brown, but from the free-kick, it was only half-cleared by James Taylor and when Layne Eadie knocked it wide to Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo, his cross was touched in by an unmarked Stevenson from a few yards.

Just before the break, Stevenson blotted his copybook when picking up a yellow card for blocking a drop-kick from Hosier but it was the Woods goalkeeper that came off worse as he picked up an impact knee injury which left him hobbling for the rest of the game, badly affecting his movement.

Archie James plays a pass for Northwood during the defeat (Image: James Brown)

The Woods made a change at half-time with experienced defender Jemale McKenzie coming on for his debut in place of youngster Agyemang and the defence shifting around but the job became a lot harder just seven minutes in when Brown mistimed another challenge and picked up his second yellow. He became the first Woods player to be sent off during a game since March 2023.

Strangely enough, within two minutes Northwood created their first chance as Bradley Clayton found some space on the left to knock in an inviting cross which saw Ibrahim Lukulay get ahead of his marker but he was unable to get the touch required to convert.

But the Woods did continue to improve with ten men and after 63 minutes Ipanga-Mbambo swung a ball across the park from right to left and Clayton took full advantage of a lack of communication at the back to volley left-footed into the empty net as goalkeeper Harold Adu-Poku and Otseh-Taiwo both failed to get a block in.

It had given the Northwood fans something to cheer but Welwyn picked up the pace and started to threaten before going back in front after 76 minutes as Stevenson got free down the right inside the box and he scored his second with a fierce shot that crashed in off the bar.

Empson replaced Odusoga for the closing stages and worked hard to add some ariel threat but it was game over on 87 minutes as substitute Lucas Jordan broke free one-on-one down the left and although Hosier made an excellent save to deny him, Stevenson retrieved the loose ball and with no-one tracking back to assist, calmly picked out a still unmarked Jordan who shot home.

So, lots to work on again in training for the Woods before they take on unbeaten Hadley for the first-time, at the Skyline Roofing Stadium, on Saturday.