The Aspray Arena – home to Sporting Khalsal, Willenhall Town and a very busy ground indeed! Image from Andrew’s Football Travels.

It was a surprisingly intemperate ‘friendly’ at the Aspray Arena in Willenhall last Saturday  (26th July 2014) when home side Sporting Khalsa held our boys Walsall Wood to a 1-1 draw, in what sounds like a distinctly unsporting match.

Sorry for the delay in posting this report.

Bill Shaw was there to catch the action, and frankly, wasn’t impressed:

Hiya Bob,

Sporting Khalsa 1 v 1 Walsall Wood

Well, it finished all square at a goal apiece, but some of the Wood players can feel aggrieved that they didn’t get more protection from the referee.

In what certainly wasn’t a friendly encounter on the pitch Craig Deakin in particular seemed to be a marked man & came in for some distinctly unfriendly treatment, but quite a few players will be carrying knocks and bruises  from a sometimes brutal encounter.

Wood had gone ahead courtesy of Deakin capitalising on defensive indecision on the right of the box in the 37th minute, before crossing to the far post for Leon Taylor to rocket a header home.

The equaliser came from a contentious free kick wide right that was delivered to the far post for Marvin Nisbet to loop a header back across Dale Faultless and into the far corner of the net.

Ryan Wood had a rising drive superbly saved 3 minutes later by James Pemberton, The keeper was beaten with 7 minutes remaining Shaun Boothes header from a corner bouncing to safety off the angle with the keeper nowhere.

It was Boothe with a superbly timed last ditch tackle on Kieron Miller that made sure Wood came away with a draw. The scenes at the end had no place on a football field but you could sympathise with the Wood players who justly felt hard done to.

So it’s the last of the pre-season friendlies on tonight with Romulus at Oak Park – then it’s the opening League game on Saturday 2nd with Quorn the visitors.

Cheers
Bill Shaw.

Thanks, as ever Bill – For The Goof Of The Wood!

Walsall Wood Football Club are a top local side with a big-hearted faithful who know how to have a great time supporting their lads, and welcome all comers to come enjoy great local soccer. The boys from The Wood have been at the heart of the local community for a century or more, so please do go check out a match or two if you’re curious.