Highams club beaten 29-17 at home to Romford & Gidea Park last weekend

Ilford Recorder: Action from Woodford's loss to Romford & Gidea Park in London Two North East (pic: George Phillipou/TGS Photo)Action from Woodford's loss to Romford & Gidea Park in London Two North East (pic: George Phillipou/TGS Photo) (Image: ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468)

London Two North East leaders Woodford are without a competitive game this weekend, which gives them a little longer to mull over a first loss of the season.

With many county cup competitions taking place this Saturday, no league fixtures are planned.

That leaves the Highams club without a match until their trip to Saffron Walden on December 1.

Woodford head into their mini-break having lost 29-17 at home to title rivals Romford & Gidea Park last weekend.

The defeat was a first of the season for the Highams club, who had won all eight of their previous league games this term and had taken a bonus point in each success.

It is a defeat that is sure to have hurt Woodford, who could have moved as many as 12 points clear at the top of the standings had they won.

Instead, their lead over Romford in second place is now down to just two points as the season approaches its halfway mark.

And Park head coach Jordan Wigham believes Woodford can have few complaints with the result last Saturday.

“We knew the challenge that was ahead of us going into the Woodford game, but we focussed on our strengths,” said Wigham following the match.

“We had some information about what to expect having spoken to other coaches in the division and also having sent someone to watch some of their games, so we knew what we were up against.

“Woodford are a good team, as shown by the fact they won with bonus points in each of their first eight games, but everyone really stepped their game up on Saturday.”

The key for Woodford now is to deliver a response when they return to league action at Saffron Walden next month.

With no game this Saturday, the Highams club will have plenty of time to focus on that fixture as they bid for an immediate return to winning ways.

Woodford will surely be working hard in training over the coming days to put right what went wrong in the defeat to Romford last Saturday.

And with the Highams club finally losing their unbeaten tag this term, head coach Tom Redfern knows his team have to get their campaign back on track as quickly as possible.