Oak Park – home of great local soccer!

Walsall Wood FC seem to have lost their winning mojo of late – last night (Tuesday, 1st April 2014) they fought and lost to Stourport Swifts by two goals to one.

Come on lads, we’re all behind you!

Bill Shaw submitted the following match report:

Hi Bob,

Yesterday evening it really was a case of  ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’ with a bitterly disappointing loss at the hands of visitors Stourport Swifts.

Walsall Wood 1 v 2 Stourport Swifts

An instantly forgettable first half, Wood had just one shot on target Anthony Juxon’s acrobatic overhead kick on 10 minutes well held by Swifts keeper Sam Hawker. The only other shot on target saw Lewis Pountney’s point blank effort brilliantly saved by Raj Gill on 41 minutes,  from the resulting corner Andre Gonzales cleared a goal bound header from Ashley Willetts off the line.

Swifts took the lead on 70 minutes and even that had a touch of good fortune about it, John Griffin cut in from the right, played a neat 1 – 2 with Calvin Dynsley and his first time effort was going wide, but took a deflection off a defender and nestled in the bottom left hand corner of the net.

At least the 2nd goal was better with Jordan Jones cutting inside from wide right before hitting a delightful chip over the advancing Gill to double the visitors lead.

Wood had struggled to make any impression in the Swifts half until on 85 minutes skill and persistence by Gonzales saw him lose the ball but win it back and go on  from the right edge of the box deliver the ball to the far post, it was missed by everyone and dropped into the far corner of the net.

Wood almost salvaged a point a minute from time, Craig Hancox scything through 4 tackles as he came inside from wide on the right he laid the ball into the path of Shawn Boothe 30 yards out. His rising drive arrowed into the top left hand corner, keeper Hawker just getting fingertips to the ball to touch it round the post. The resulting corner was easily cleared and the Swifts went home with all 3 points.

So it’s the wilds of Leicestershire on Saturday with a visit to Kirby Muxloe. Possibly important breaking news by then, so watch this space.

Bill Shaw

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