Oak Park – scene of both magic and loss. Better luck next year, lads!

Walsall Wood FC kept Bill Shaw and all the home crowd on tenterhooks at Oak Park yesterday afternoon, as they beat Nottingham’s Dunkirk FC in a nailbiting match with surprisingly few goals.

This extend’s the Wood boys run to a remarkable 17 unbeaten matches.

Now the weather has improved, do get out and support the Woodmen – with footy this great on your doorstep for such a small ticket price, you’d be mad not to go see them and experience the fantastic atmosphere at this historic club.

Walsall Wood are a good team and an excellent, community-spirited institution. They need our support.

Bill Shaw submitted the following match report:

Hiya Bob,

Another win but it was a nailbiting effort before the result was sealed.

Walsall Wood 1 V 0 Dunkirk.

Wood were in almost complete control from the off, it was no surprise when on 18 minutes a lovely move between Joey Butlin and Lewis Taylor Boyce ended with Joey scoring with a superb chip over the advancing keeper. We sat back to wait for the avalanche, but it never came. On 26 minutes Taylor Boyce waltzed round the visiting keeper and passed the ball to a defender who had raced back to the goal line. Wood continued the pressure but couldn’t score the all important second goal.

The second half followed the same pattern with Wood unable to convert a host of half chances. They were nearly made to pay for their benevolence when on 56 minutes Phill Granville fired in a free kick just outside the box and keeper Raj Gill made a superb fingertip save at full stretch to touch the ball onto the bar.

Keeper Gill had to be alert on a couple of occasions, racing from his line to kick clear from the ever dangerous Granville. Two minutes from time he had to race to save a ball bravely at the feet of Kevin Lusamba. Wood had chances once more to increase their lead, but in the end had to settle for the one goal win.

It’s Boldmere St. Michaels away on Tuesday night, kick off 7.30pm (note 15 minutes earlier than usual), and then on Saturday Coleshill Town are the Oak Park visitors.

Bill Shaw.

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