Walsall Wood Girls Under 11s: a great team. Image form their Facebook page.

I’m glad to note that Bill Shaw hasn’t put his reporters notebook away yet, and I was very pleased indeed to receive this match report of the wonderful victory of Walsall Wood Girls Under 11 team over Stafford Tigresses yesterday (Saturday 9th May 2015), in which they won theGirls under 11’s Staffordshire League Cup.

I’m happy to carry these reports and welcome reader feedback – Walsall Wood have cracking youth & ladies teams as well as the main squad, and they don’t get nearly enough coverage in my view.

Please let me know what you think – comment here or mail me BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

Bill wrote:

Hiya Bob,

Walsall Wood finished the season with silverware, already named as the West Midlands team who’d had the best cup run we claimed the Girls under 11’s Staffordshire League Cup when they saw off Stafford Tigresses to eventually win 3-1 in extra time, with 2 goals from Hollie Wallbank securing the win in an entertaining encounter at Wyrley Rangers ground on Saturday morning.

Walsall Wood 3 v 1 Stafford Tigresses
(After extra time)

It was obvious from the start that both teams were going to attack, it was no surprise when midway through the first half Hollie Wallbank Scotia Smith raced into the box through the inside right channel, she was half stopped but managed to play the ball to her left to find Scotia Smith who fired into the roof of the net.

Wood keeper Amy Beddows had made a string of great saves to keep Wood ahead but with half time looming Stafford’s Destiny Reid ran at the Wood defence, made the left of the box, her low cross deflected up in the air off a defender, hesitation in the centre saw Lottie Delfunay race in to fire the Tigresses level.

Both sides created chances in the second half with keepers Jodie Currie and Amy Beddows making great saves to keep the scores level. So we went to extra time, the first half somehow stayed goal-less but in the second half Scotia Smith took the game by the scruff of the neck for the Wood, twice racing for goal only to be denied by keeper Currie with brave saves. She then again scythed through the defence, Currie again saving bravely at her feet but the ball this time ran loose, Wallbank forcing the ball home from close range. A minute later livewire Smith again carved open the defence, Currie making yet another great save. With Wood sitting back and soaking up the pressure Stafford were always open to a counter attack. The ball was played out of defence to wide right, Charlie Tipper ran clear, crossed into the box to find Wallbank who gave Currie no chance as she wrapped the game up for the deserving Wood.

The first team had failed to beat Stafford Rangers (twice) and Stafford Town in cup competitions this season, but the girls showed them how to do it in an exciting encounter to finish their season on a well deserved high.

Bill Shaw.

Cheers, as ever to Bill for an excellent report – for the good of The Wood!