Causeway United play at the wonderful Halesowen Town club – The Grove in Old Hawne Lane. Image from Halesowen Town FC’s website.

Walsall Wood FC continued their assertive return to winning form on Tuesday evening last (4th November 2014), beating Causeway United 4-1 at The Grove, extending their unbeaten streak.

Bill Shaw submitted the following match report:

Hiya Bob,

A convincing win for Wood after a slow start, they had equalised before the first red card on 41 minutes and had been on top, but the purist in me didn’t like some of the things that went on in the name of football tonight, and there is certainly no place in the game for the scenes at the end, no matter what the provocation.

With a League official and a match assessor in attendance no need for video evidence.

Causeway United 1 v 4 Walsall Wood

Wood were slow out of the blocks, nearly going behind after three minutes James Quarry racing into the right of the box but Steven Hayles made a superbly timed tackle. Four minutes later a clever move into the left of the box saw Danny Priest race onto a ball and slot the ball across keeper Mario Kisiel and into the far corner of the net to put the hosts ahead.

Wood started to get a foot-hold in the game with Corey Currithers and Joey Butlin prominent and it was no surprise when they equalised on 31 minutes. Max Black’s first time effort was charged down, the ball looped in the air to Harry Harris 25 yards out, his cracking volley flying into the top right hand corner to open his season’s account with another goal of the season contender.

In shades of the Lye Town game keeper Tom Turner twice denied Butlin as Wood took control, Harris slid in to hit the outside of the right hand post. The home side lost Ryan Wollacott on 41 minutes for an off the ball red card. With the home side in disarray Butlin laid the ball back to Black whose first time low drive was deflected just wide on 43 minutes.

The second half was initially a non-event until Currithers on 60 minutes whipped in a low cross from wide left, Black’s brave diving header inches wide of the near post.

Wood made the breakthrough on 80 minutes, Currithers popping up on the right before releasing Craig Deakin into the right of the box to calmly fire past the advancing Turner to put Wood ahead for the first time.

When Josh March unluckily collected a second yellow and left the field on 85 minutes it was all over for the home side and Wood capitalised on the two man advantage when on 89 minutes Butlin and Harris combined neatly to release substitute Tom Evans into the centre of the box, he went past a tackle before tucking the ball into the bottom right hand corner.

It became worse for United when four minutes into injury time a neat one touch move opened up the right of the defence, Black raced through the gap and fired a trademark rising drive into the roof of the net.

So it’s a first double of the season for Wood, but with the 2 sides meeting again in the 2nd round of the FA Vase on Saturday 22nd November, I wouldn’t like to be the man with the whistle because he’ll need to be strong with feelings running high.

So it’s high flying Basford United and the Hendrie brothers at Oak Park on Saturday – should be a cracker – don’t be late, kick off 3.00 PM.

Bill Shaw.

My thanks to Bill for a great report – and for all those he selflessly writes and send to me after every match. They really are popular, and a credit to Bill and the club. Walsall Wood have a reputation for being a great, community spirited group of people and these reports demonstrate that – it’s an honour and joy to feature them here.