Northwood.1, Lowestoft Town.3: Gary McGee hit his 200th career goal for Lowestoft Town to help the Blues complete a league double over Northwood and move back to the top of the Ryman League Division One North table.

Northwood.1, Lowestoft Town.3

Gary McGee hit his 200th career goal for Lowestoft Town to help the Blues complete a league double over Northwood and move back to the top of the Ryman League Division One North table.

Northwood opened at a very fast pace and almost took a first-minute lead as Jamie Godbold miscontrolled the ball on a very heavy surface to allow Eugene Ofori a free shot at goal. But Andy Reynolds dived to his left to push the ball around the post.

Lowestoft soon settled and, with wide players Godbold and Scott Mitchell being given acres of space, pressed the home side back.

A superb crossfield pass from Scott Mitchell found Godbold, who cut inside Danny Power but was thwarted by an excellent tackle from Brad Hewitt as he was about to shoot.

Lowestoft opened the scoring in the 10th minute after Power conceded the first of many fouls on Godbold. From Adam Smith's free-kick the ball squirmed out of keeper Aaron Bufton's hands to give Matt Halliday the simple task of heading home from close range.

Lowestoft had Northwood reeling with a series of incisive attacks.

Another foul on Godbold saw a Smith free-kick cause Bufton problems but this time he was able to push the ball away from danger.

McGee, Godbold and Matt Nolan were all close to increasing the Lowestoft lead with little being seen of the Northwood attack.

Sam Sharples tried his luck from long range but the shot was taken comfortably by Reynolds. A Greg Crane free-kick was flicked on by Nolan for McGee whose volley flashed wide of the target.

A rare opening for Northwood saw Ofori slice his shot wide before Lowestoft increased their lead right on the stroke of half-time.

Smith's cross was headed out of the area but only as far as Andrew Fisk, who played the ball to McGee' feet and he shot past Bufton to reach the magical double century of goals for the Blues.

Lowestoft continued to dominate as the second period started and from a Godbold corner Greg Crane's downward header produced an excellent save from Bufton.

Northwood were looking livelier in the second half and Gary Burrell went past Neil Plaskett but his shot from an acute angle hit the side netting. Fisk exchanged passes with Nolan but his 25-yard drive was pushed away by Bufton.

Lowestoft added their third goal in the 58th minute. Keeper Reynolds picked out McGee's run with a superb 70-yard punt and the Blues' striker got behind the Northwood defence to shoot home off the keeper's body.

Lowestoft were reduced to 10 men in the 67th minute with Fisk being sent off for a petulant slap at Anton Lewis.

With a man advantage Northwood started to press and a header from Michael Peacock produced an excellent diving save from Reynolds. From the resultant corner Northwood controversially reduced the arrears.

As the flag-kick was floated in Reynolds appeared to be impeded and have the ball knocked out of his hands and Ofori appeared to hit the ball into the net with his hands.

Lowestoft sacrificed strikers Nolan and McGee to bolster the midfield and safely see out the remaining 15 minutes.

t Northwood: Bufton, Seeby, Power, Christian, Peacock, Hewitt, Orphanou (Figueiredo, 54), Sharples, Ofori, Lewis (Jones, 72), Burrell. Subs (not used): Sonuga, Purdue, Cato.

Lowestoft Town: Reynolds, Plaskett, Smith, Holt, Crane, Halliday, Godbold (Hunn, 87), Fisk, Nolan (Bussens, 82), McGee (King, 71), Mitchell. Subs (not used): Potter, Cutajar.