A LATE goal returned Northwood to winning ways and consolidated their place in the Ryman Division One North play-offs as they edged out promotion rivals Waltham Abbey 1-0.
Having been on the receiving end of an injury time strike a week earlier, it was the Woods' turn in Essex on Tuesday when John Christian's 90th minute deflected shot ballooned into the box and fell nicely for Gary Burrell.
His shot was too strong for veteran home keeper Tony Tillbrook and the ball crossed the line for Burrell's maiden club goal which brought all three points back to Chestnut Avenue.
New signing Eugene Ofori, a 29-year-old Ghana-born player who made his name at Hendon and has ended a brief spell out of the game after leaving Ryman Premier side Boreham Wood in November to answer Dave Anderson's long search for an experienced striker, was given his debut at a wet and windy Caper-shotts.
Constructive football was almost impossible and there was little of note in the opening half hour although Till-brook was almost caught out by the swirling wind as Danny Power's cross narrowly cleared the crossbar, but the keeper also produced a finger-tip save from Burrell to ensure his side went into the break on level terms.
Woods had to play into the wind after the break but Burrell almost gave them an immediate lift, breaking into the box to reach Christian's through ball but the left-winger shot just past the far post. At the other end Mitch Swain was quickly out to smother a shot from Aaron Gayle and he had to field a couple of speculative efforts before Anderson made changes to try and win the game.
Abbey were not far away from grabbing a goal when Marc Sontag's long range shot dipped just over the North-wood bar but Burrell went one better to snatch three valuable points for an ecstatic Northwood team.
Substitute Dave Lawrence came off the bench to reward Uxbridge's dominance with the only goal of the game at Gosport Borough played in horrendous conditions on the south coast.
The Reds rained down shots on the home goal with Kevin Warner, Lee Tunnell, David Warner and Johnny Dyer all denied by keeper Nick Hutchings, who also did well to parry a Dave Thomas effort on the turn - Uxbridge's best chance of the opening half. Gary Ross fielded a drive from Graham Lindsey late in the period, just about the only attempt mustered by Gosport in the match.
After the break Hutchings saved again from David Warner but 10 minutes from time Lawrence cut in from the left and beat him with a low drive from just inside the penalty area. The win moved Uxbridge above Gosport on goal difference in Southern League Division One South and West.
Bottom side Hillingdon Borough led East Thurrock United until 10 minutes from time with a goal from Zac Gill, only to lose 3-1 as Kris Newby, Ben Boyce and Martin Tuohy all netted to take Thurrock to the top of the table.
