Coppice Colliery Ground – the home of Heath Hayes FC. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Walsall Wood FC last night extended their unbeaten record to 14 matches, when they drew with Heath Hayes FC away one all.

Wood supporter and correspondent Bill Shaw was at Heath Hayes to watch the match, and submitted the following report:

Hi Bob,

Heath Hayes 1 v 1 Walsall Wood

A win would have taken Wood up to 11th place, equalling their highest ever placement in the Football League pyramid. Wayward finishing and some good goalkeeping however by Heath Hayes goalkeeper Ryan Goodwin had kept the game goalless unti the deadlock was broken on 58 minutes by Max Black. He won the ball in the centre circle & made a powerful run for goal, he played a neat one-two with Joey Butlin before scoring with a crisp low drive just inside the left hand post.

Wood lost Butlin to a questionable red card a few minutes later and had to face the last 30 minutes with 10 men. They looked to have held out for the win until in injury time ex-Wood player Grant Winwood cleverly turned back inside his marker before delivering the ball into the danger area, Dave Waple first to the ball to power a header into the roof of the net for the equaliser, that had been threatened for the last 10 minutes, as 10 man Wood tired.

So it’s off to AFC Wulfrunians on Saturday, with the sides already drawing twice and a dubious extra time winner in injury time in the FA Cup, it promises to be another interesting 90 minutes of football…

Bill Shaw

As ever, thanks to Bill for the report – always appreciated – for The Good of the Wood!