DIVISION ONE NORTH Northwood 0 Redbridge 0
Northwood's play-off charge endured a slight hiccup as they failed to score at home for the first time in any competition for five-and-a-half months.
The best chances of an even contest at home to mid-table Redbridge fell to the hosts but they could not make any count, new signing Eugene Ofori coming closest when he found the post early in the second half.
Passing was far from easy on a tricky pitch but at least Northwood marked Michael Peacock's final game on loan from AFC Wimbledon with a clean sheet to secure another hard-earned point.
John Christian's desire led to a sighter for Ofori, who fired straight at visiting keeper Charlie Hasler, while Carl Bruce volleyed over Mitch Swain's goal as the teams gradually felt their way into the game.
A long throw caused problems in the Northwood area which dispersed only when Thomas Laxton drove into Swain's arms, while Anthony Page's first time volley was tipped over by Hasler, before the Woods produced the first real passing move of note, six minutes from the break.
Gary Burrell played a one-two with Ofori and delivered a cross that took a slight deflection and Kyle Matthews could not keep it on target as he arrived at the far post.
Brad Hewitt then made a nuisance of himself, first in the air and then on the deck to set up Burrell but he skewed well wide as he over-balanced.
Northwood just shaded the first half, with Ofori showing all his experience to hold the ball up well and bring his midfield into play, although he underlined his lack of match fitness too when asked to make a few longer runs.
Yet it was he who almost broke the
deadlock 10 minutes into the second period.
Swain's long kick out was allowed to bounce, Matthews brought the ball down and beat his marker not once but twice before whipping a fine cross into the near post, which Ofori then struck as he stretched to try and divert the ball home.
Ofori looped a header just over and although it was far from one-way traffic, Redbridge were guilty of wasting their best positions with some very poor crosses which left Swain needing to be watchful rather than agile.
In the final 15 minutes the game began to become somewhat frantic and Hasler almost gifted the hosts a goal when Burrell's free kick slipped through his fingers and dropped on to Hewitt's head, but he could not get enough on it and the ball was hacked off the line.
And Northwood nearly repaid the favour when Ofori and Danny Brown made a mess of defending a cross, which for once remained in play and Bruce's glancing header dropped only a yard wide.
Dave Anderson, not one to die wondering, switched to an adventurous 3-4-3 formation for the final few minutes yet almost immediately they might have gone behind until Swain redeemed himself with a smothering block to follow his weak punch.
Ofori ended the contest with a 25-yarder straight at Hasler to leave the striker still waiting to open his account, yet on this display that will happen sooner rather than later and he could just be in full flow by the time North-wood, if they continue their progress, really need him in the play-offs.
