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 consolidated their domination of Causeway United with another stonking victory over them at Halesowen yesterday (22nd November 2014) beating the home side 5-1 at The Grove.

Bill Shaw submitted the following match report:

Hiya Bob,

A much changed side, a much changed attitude and it was job done against an injury affected and suspension riddled Causeway United. Wood strolled comfortably into Round 3 with this 5 goal demolition,  Shawn Boothe scoring his second goal of the season (in consecutive games), this one however a contender for goal of the season (ironically just 20 yards from the position of Harry Harris’s contender in the league game of 2 weeks ago).

Causeway United 1 v 5 Walsall Wood
FA Vase Round 2  

With less than one minute on the clock Corey Currithers cut in from wide left, went through 2 tackles as he raced across the face of the home box, before being hacked down from behind in the centre of the D, he received lengthy treatment before Harry Harris fired in a free kick that took 2 slight deflections before flying past keeper Tom Turner.

The ‘Cause’ were back on terms after just 10 minutes with Currithers the unwilling provider when he inexplicably headed a ball back into the centre of the Wood box for Nicholas Fellows to power a header home.

Walsall Wood were back in front within five minutes, a superb 50 yard left to right crossfield ball from Leon Taylor picked out Ben Evans on the right of the box, he took the ball in his stride and scored with a powerful low drive across the keeper. Three minutes later Currithers made amends for his earlier error, gleefully tucking away the rebound after Max Black’s low drive came back off the foot of the left hand post. The striker wrapped the game up as a contest when on 39 minutes keeper Turner made a full length save to deny Taylor, but could only push the ball away and the ever alert Currithers was first to react to calmly tuck the chance away.

The home side rallied briefly at the end of the half with Lee Stretton making a timely tackle to halt the run of Wisdom Machangani and then right on time Mario Kisiel comfortably saving Anthony Robinson’s header.

The goal of the game came on 53 minutes, Harry Harris delivered a right wing free kick into the box, Joey Butlin flicked a header to the left edge  and Shawn Boothe hit a howitzer volley into the top right hand corner. A strike that I don’t think three keepers would have kept out, never mind the shell shocked Turner.

There was a down side to the victory however, with both Currithers and Lewis Taylor Boyce limping off, Taylor Boyce leaving Wood down to 10 men with 21 minutes left after having used all 3 substitutes. With just seconds remaining Craig Deakin picked up his 5th booking of the season thus missing the 3rd Round game on Saturday December 6th.

Strangely enough this wasn’t Wood at their best, but to be frank they didn’t need to be much more than mediocre to see off the decimated struggling opposition.

It’s Heath Hayes away on Tuesday night in the League Cup  (weather permitting) before Wood face another really big challenge on Saturday when leaders Long Eaton United with ex Blues striker Clinton Morrisin come a calling to complete an enthralling November.

Incidentally the Stoke City Staffs Senior Cup tie, pencilled in for Monday December 8th is OFF, it would appear they forgot they have another game on that night. No comment.

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.