Northwood U18s 4-2 HRBFC U18s

[TW2-Beaver]

Northwood Under 18s 4-2 Hampton & Richmond Borough Under 18s
Chestnut Avenue, Wednesday 14th January 2026
Isthmian Youth League Cup, Quarter Final

Northwood 4
Boardman 11’
Tarrant 58’
Faleye 67’
King 90’

HRBFC 2
Griffin 27'
Salaghishvili 46'

Pre-Match/Build-up
Tommy Rance picked me up, for the third time in three days, along Short Way in Whitton and we made our way along the A316 to Sunbury Cross to meet Casey Jones, a very familiar routine as our trio prepared for the third Hampton fixture this week. Well, it was actually the fourth Hampton fixture for Tommy, who had travelled to Hemel Hempstead earlier in the day for the Under 19s (National League) fixture, which the Beavers had lost 2-0; and the fifth football game in five days for Casey! Talk about hardcore. Tonight though, the Under 18s side were in action in the Isthmian Youth League Cup, Quarter Final, at Northwood's Chestnut Avenue, taking on the league leaders. En-route we discussed the possibility of a late postponement, Burnham vs Wallingford & Crowmarsh in the Combined Counties, Premier Division North was touted as a possible alternative should Hampton's game be called off.

Cup News & Arrival
Some news had broken earlier in the day which added some importance to this fixture: Hanworth Villa, who the winners were scheduled to face in the Semi-Final, announced today that their Under 18s side is folding and will play no more games this season. The question of whether this meant a direct path to the final for tonight's winners, or a reprieve for another club, remained to be seen, but the prospect of a cup final was on the cards! Upon arrival we walked through a side entrance next to the closed turnstiles. I thought I'd got away with not paying the £5 admission fee, but I was mistaken... A lady was hiding inside the turnstile block, card machine in hand, ready to pounce and secure the funds for the home club (Under 18s went free). Among the Hampton contingent present tonight were James Glassup; Finn McGreevy's dad; Jack Griffin's mum; and Tim Salaghishvili's dad, with several others too. Steve Bates was busy setting up the VEO camera in front of the Byrne Stand, Northwood's main covered seating area which runs halfway along one side of the pitch (this side of the ground had definitely been improved/changed since my last visit for a first team fixture way back in the 2004/05 season).

Tommy, Casey and I conducted a walkaround of the ground, capturing some photographs. Tommy obtained the team sheets from the changing rooms. Several spectators were present in Northwood hats and scarves: incredibly the Woods had a first team league fixture postponed at this ground just 24 hours earlier, but this youth fixture was proceeding! Clearly the locals were keen to get their football fix in. The attendance figure of 46 is based on a headcount that I completed just as the second half started. Admittedly it wasn't the best time to conduct the count as I may have missed some stragglers returning from the bar, it felt like a bit more than this number were inside the ground.

First Half
Hampton wore their all-royal blue away kit and shot towards the turnstiles/train tracks in the first half (Metropolitan Line and other trains frequently trundle past the ground as they leave or approach the nearby Northwood Hills Station). Northwood's Royd Pullem kicked off proceedings in very light drizzle. There was panic in the second minute as Lucius Russel scuffed a clearance, it fell to Northwood's Tobi Faleye, but Russel composed himself and caught Faleye's attempt. Northwood were wearing their trademark all-red kits. Then some excitement at the other end as Finn McGreevy almost bundled the ball in for Hampton at the far post after a Kai Cooper cross, but the linesman's flag was up. After this explosive start had calmed down I was able to confirm the Hampton line-up, with Tommy's assistance. The usual 4-2-3-1 formation saw Lucius Russel in goal, behind a back four of Stan Smith (left), Zack Kubinskyy (left centre), Jack Griffin (right centre) and Seve Cushing (right); in front of them were placed Tom Maddigan (left) and Archie McKenna (right); behind an attacking midfield three of Kai Cooper (left), Joel Doherty (centre) and Finn McGreevy (right); Tyler Andrew-Flower led the line. In fact, the only change from Monday's starting line-up against Badshot Lea was the replacement of Ibrahim Nawaz with Zack Kubinskyy at centre-back. Nawaz is on the books at Molesey and was on duty for the Moles’ senior team tonight in their Combined Counties League Division One Cup fixture at Colliers Wood United.

Anyway, back to our game and Zack Kubinskyy lost out to Northwood's Josh Havard in the middle, Havard won a free kick for the Woods in front of the Byrne Stand. The ball was whipped into the danger zone and a big header went high into the tall trees behind the goal (the thick tree lining makes that part of the ground somewhat resemble Rayners Lane's Tithe Farm). Throughout the half Hampton's Kai Cooper was played through on the left several times but was finding himself outnumbered and muscled off the ball. Northwood are a robust side. Their defence is built around their Captain and centre-back, Aidan Tarrant, who stands at least 6'4 and has good strength to match. His partner at the heart of defence, Chase Matthew, isn't as big but is also a strong player. Throughout the evening the entire defence were in near-constant verbal communication with goalkeeper Matthew Burrows and were as determined as they were organised. Hampton were forced into an early change in the eighth minute when Captain Joel Doherty had to be replaced, presumably he took a knock. Tim Salaghishvili replaced him and assumed Doherty’s attacking midfield role. Archie McKenna became Captain in Doherty's absence (or so I assume, for McKenna wasn't actually passed the armband but the referee consulted with him for the rest of the game).

Northwood took the lead in the 11th minute. Jack Boardman scored to a loud roar from the home crowd (the most enthusiastic crowd I've come across while watching this level of football!). The goal had come about from nowhere really: Hampton had a corner, it was sent to the near post, claimed by keeper Burrows whose intelligent distribution led to a counter-attack, with Boardman shooting from some distance into the bottom right corner. The first half was a robust, fiesty and quite absorbing contest. Northwood were physical but the Beavers gave as good as they got as well. Hampton equalised in the 27th minute through centre back Jack Griffin, easily identifiable by his bleach-blonde hair. Kai Cooper had taken a clever short(ish) corner, passing to an unmarked Tim Salaghishvili at the corner of the 18-yard area, with time on the ball he was able to provide a delightful curling pass which Griffin's head connected with six yards out to power the ball home. 1-1 and now we had a cup game on! Wishful Northwood appeals for offside against Griffin were waved away.

Lucius Russel was called upon to make an excellent double save in the 30th minute, which kept the scores level. After his second block, a third shot battered his near post after taking a deflection. From the resulting corner Russel was again down to his right palming the ball away to safety. Challenges were flying in across the muddy pitch, in the 33rd minute Zack Kubinskyy was yellow carded after he clattered a Northwood player to the ground, the mistimed challenge nearly resulting in a big confrontation between players. Hampton’s Lucius Russel was the voice of reason, urging his team mates not to dispute the referee’s decision. The Beavers nearly got their noses in front in the 44th minute when Burrows in the Northwood goal parried a shot which fell to Kai Cooper at a very acute angle to goal, he managed to lift the ball over the keeper but agonisingly it scraped the crossbar.

Second Half
Hampton did take the lead early in the second half though. Tim Salaghishvili netted for the Beavers, I managed to completely miss the goal as I was conducting my headcount at the time! Hampton attacked again, while Tommy, Casey and I took up position at the southern (Northwood Cemetary) end of the ground, which is raised high above the field of play offering an excellent view of proceedings. The wide base on the perimeter fence also allowed Tommy to open his laptop and update the academy’s Twitter/X account with ease. Hampton’s attack culminated with Jack Griffin heading just wide of goal. A lively start to the second half, but as the half wore on Hampton started to look like a side who had played twice in three days. You got the impression that Hampton’s tactic was to grab a third goal as early as possible, put some breathing space between the sides, then close up shop and defend. Sadly, that third goal would elude the Beavers.

Hampton’s technical area was busy, with Martyn Hyde, Anthony Weir, Johnny Doherty, Adam Smith and Kieran Jackson all present (Mr Jackson is the only coach who hadn’t also been present on Monday evening). As the half wore on Northwood started to come into the game and they equalised in the 58th minute, their big captain Aidan Tarrant bundled the ball in from close range after a corner was whipped in from the left. Northwood made a change just after the goal, with Luke Atkinson replacing Royd Pullem. Hampton were running out of steam but never gave up, with the fixture even at 2-2 and a penalty shoot-out the outcome if nothing changed, the Beavers were still very much in the contest. In the 61st minute Seve Cushing broke through on the right and crossed towards Tim Salaghishvili, who headed just wide. “Recover Seve, recover Archie!” screamed Steve Bates from the sideline, while Northwood players shouted encouragement to each other. Both teams really wanted to win this one!

In the 67th minute the home side went 3-2 ahead, Tobi Faleye was the scorer with a decent strike from outside the penalty area, Hampton now had it all to do. Northwood turned the screw, they charged forward with some impressive interplay between goal-scorer Tobi Faleye and midfielder James King along the left, playing one-two with each other and moving quickly along the pitch. Northwood’s Rowan Daly was next into the book after he hauled Jack Griffin to the ground in the 74th minute. Chase Matthew had an opportunity to finish the game off for the hosts in the 75th minute, the defender found himself through on goal but Lucius Russel made himself big enough to encourage his lobbed shot into the side netting. Hampton made a tactical change after Rio Lamb replaced Tyler Andrew-Flower in the 76th minute: Lamb went to right-back, Seve Cushing pushed further up the pitch into right midfield; and Finn McGreevy replaced Andrew-Flower as the main striker. “Learn from the Badshot game… we must do better in our one-on-ones” instructed Steve Bates.

Heavier rainfall had forced us to migrate into the ‘press box’ area for the remainder of the game. We stood near a coach from Edgware & Kingsbury, who was scouting Northwood as his side are due to play them in the Semi-Final of the Middlesex Senior Youth Cup (Hampton are in the other Semi-Final, and may receive a bye into the final as we had been scheduled to play Hanworth Villa in that competition too… watch this space). The Edgware & Kingsbury chap was very keen to obtain Hampton’s VEO footage of the game! In the 83rd minute Tim Salaghishvili cramped up and indicated that his night was over, he was replaced by Danny Beck-Nardoni. As Hampton pressed in earnest towards the closing stages, Seve Cushing somehow won a free kick 25 yards out (when it appeared more like he had thrown himself into the Northwood defender!). Sadly, the delivery was too strong and a frustrated Finn McGreevy was unable to keep the ball in play at the far post. Steve Bates, jack of all trades, appeared on the pitch in a physio capacity as Jack Griffin required some treatment. In the 90th minute Hampton’s tired legs gave in and James King secured progression for Northwood with the killer goal. You get the impression that to win either the county cup or the league this season Hampton will need to get past Northwood and that will be no small task, we return to Chestnut Avenue for the league fixture on 4th February.

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Northwood: 1 Matthew Burrows, 2 Riley Loveday, 3 Jack Boardman, 4 Chase Matthew, 5 Aidan Tarrant (Cpt), 6 Josh Havard, 7 James King, 8 Freddie Ford, 9 Royd Pullem, 10 Tobi Faleye, 11 Rowan Daly
Subs: 12 Luke Atkinson (on for Pullem, 59'), 14 Calum Gardner (on for Boardman, 71’), 15 Caleb Wright (on for Daly, 80'), 17 Owen Miall-Smith

Hampton & Richmond Borough: 1 Lucius Russel, 2 Seve Cushing, 3 Stan Smith, 4 Zack Kubinskyy, 5 Jack Griffin, 6 Tom Maddigan, 7 Kai Cooper, 9 Tyler Andrew-Flower, 10 Joel Doherty (Cpt), 17 Finn McGreevy, 20 Archie McKenna
Subs: 12 Rio Lamb (on for Andrew-Flower, 76') 13 Jacob Atherton, 14 Danny Beck-Nardoni (on for Salaghishvili, 83'), 18 Isaac-Adrian Farquharson (on for Kubinskyy, 90’), 34 Tim Salaghishvili (on for Doherty, 8’)

Referee: David Lofgren
Assistant 1: Ben Wong
Assistant 2: Mark Sullivan
Attendance: 46
Yellow Cards: Chase Matthew 48’, Rowan Daly 74’ (Northwood); Zack Kubinskyy 33’ (HRBFC)
Red Cards: None