Northwood 5 Yeading 2 (Dec 4)

Middlesex Senior Cup Round Two

What a difference eight days can make.

After a battling League Cup win at Purfleet, the Ding, without a game on Saturday, were back in cup action at Northwood on Tuesday, but never really got going, writes Tim Fuell.

Without the suspended Saroya and Lee, Yeading did have the best of the opening half, having taken the lead on seven minutes when Matt Miller drilled home after a Danny Hawksworth pass had split the Woods defence.

Both sides created chances but were unable to find the final touch. Woods equalised on 22 minutes from a corner and then followed a good 15-minute spell from the Ding with Miller twice going close and Lee White forcing a good tip-over from Woods keeper Andy Felton.

The last five minutes of the half however saw Woods on the attack, the Ding clearing off their lines twice.

The second-half saw their hosts much more fired up. After clearing from under their own post Yeading were then down to 10 men, when eight minutes into the half Craig Vargas was sent off for a flying lunge.

As the game wore on, the heavy pitch told and Yeading became stretched. Woods took the lead in the 61st minute through Scott Fitzgerald and five minutes later they were three-one up after breaking down the left. At the other end Errol Telemaque shot over the bar, but by now Yeading appeared to have given up hope.

The 77th minute saw the Ding fall 4-1 behind after Lawrence Yaku broke down the middle, and after clearing off their line again Yeading conceded a fifth with four minutes to play. Consolation came in the final minute when Michael Gorman's free kick over the Wood's wall caused confusion between keeper Felton and Paul Watkins and Watkins headed into his own net.

Yeading travel to Wealdstone in the League on Saturday before a home game on Tuesday night when they entertain Worthing in the League Cup Second Round. Dwane Lee serves suspension for the two games.