Lye played in dark blue, Walsall Wood played in sky blue

The referee brings the play to an end. A fine match. Well done both teams

Lye playing with determination

Close – quarter soccer

Some interesting contests were evident throughout the match

A hard- played contest begins in earnest

Wood’s second goal defeats three defenders

Molly heading the Wood team before the teams shake hands

Second half and the supporters enjoying meaningful soccer

Both teams eager to take the lead

First goal to the Wood brings some consternation among Lye players

Wood attacker and Lye defender in action. Super to spectate

Black Country backdrop to fine football and a goal to Lye

So close as Lye goalkeeper intercepts a confident move by the Wood.

Breakaway run by Wood with Lye in hot pursuit.

Both teams eager to take the lead

Skilful soccer in action. Delightful sport.

Wood’s third goal rockets past the defending ‘keeper

Images and captions kindly supplied by David Evans

Saturday afternoon (10th October 2015), Walsall Wood FC were away to face Lye Town at Stourbridge Road – and the Woodmen took home a very respectable win.

Bill Shaw, as ever, was there to catch the action…

Hiya Bob,

Another entertaining 90+ minutes, with us recording our first double of the season, we only took one point from them last time around, just proving it’s a funny old game. As the injury list lessens the side is looking a little more settled, it’s now two wins and a draw out of the last three so let’s hope we can start to put a run together that will see us rapidly climb the table, back up where we belong.

Two home games now, League Cup action on Tuesday with Continental Star (extra time and penalties if needed) followed on Saturday by Quorn [I Trust that’s the team and not the meat substitute – Bob].

Don’t be late.

Lye Town 2 v 3 Walsall Wood

Wood recorded their first double of the season with this hard fought win, most of the action took place in the first half with Wood tow – one ahead at half time. The second half exploded into life in the last 10 minutes but it was too little too late as Wood went home with all three points.

Wood had the first chance when on three minutes Corey Currithers raced clear wide left, his low cross hit first time by Max Black to bring a brave block from keeper Jake Bedford. The reply was almost immediate, a long high ball forward saw Wood keeper Lee Evans race from his area to head clear from Simon Williams. A minute later skipper James Spray picked up the ball on halfway and raced at the Wood defence through the inside left channel, going through three tackles, his rising drive well held by Evans. Next it was Williams on a jinking run wide left, cutting inside and hitting a near post rising drive that was pushed over the top by an alert Evans. On nine minutes a long ball forward seemed to bounce on the edge of the box but just stood up instead of going through to Evans, the keeper slapping the ball off the head of Spray, but was adjudged to have been out of his area, picking up a booking for his sins. The 20 yard central free kick was fired high over. Next it was Tom Overfield going on a right wing run, cutting inside, only to fire into the side netting at the near post. It was the home side keeping up the pressure on the Wood defence and on 16 minutes Sam Beasley won the ball in the centre before putting Williams racing clear into the box only for him to roll a cross shot wide of the advancing Evans and the post.

Having weathered the storm Wood made inroads into the Lye half, Joey Butlin fastening onto a ball into the centre of the box to fire a rising drive into the roof of the net on 18 minutes, to put Wood ahead, totally against the run of play. Three minutes later it was nearly two, Drew Aiton cleverly releasing Dan Griffiths into the left of the box to hit a first time effort just too high.

On 26 minutes a clever right wing move from a throw in saw Kevin Nickle race into the edge of the six yard box, his fierce near post drive well held by Evans. There was no denying Nickle four minutes later however, Williams again made space wide right, his low cross to the near post volleyed home giving Evans no chance. Two minutes later it was Kalum Evitts charging down the left, another near post cross fired this time into the side netting by Nickle.

Within a minute Wood were back in front, Craig Deakin hit a long right wing ball down the line, Butlin too strong for two defenders in the corner before coming away with the ball, crossing to the far post to pick out Currithers, his first time drive was pushed away by Bedford, Aiton the first to react firing the ball into the roof of the net. The last goal mouth action of an eventful first half saw Kieron Northwood win the ball on halfway and release Spray into the box, he lobbed the advancing Evans, the effort landing on the roof of the net.

Wood were content to keep things tight at the start of the second half, breaking out of defence through the centre on 57 minutes, Black running at the home back line before laying the ball off right to Griffiths to fire in a low drive that was pushed away by Bedford at full stretch.

Straight to the Wood end, Joel Cains powering into the right of the box, Evans out quickly and bravely to block his low drive, the ball rebounding to substitute Ben Wilkins to fire a first time effort over. Midfield stalemate ensued until on 82 minutes a long clearance from Evans was headed on by Butlin, Bedford racing to the edge of his area to deny Wood substitute Emmanuel Gueyes. Wood sewed up the three points on 88 minutes, Butlin again involved wide right, holding the ball up cleverly before his low ball inside to Lewis Taylor Boyce to calmly lay the ball back into the path of Griffiths whose low drive gave keeper Bedford no chance.

To their credit Lye wouldn’t lie down (sorry) and right on time substitute Ben Love went on a right to left diagonal run across the face of the box, his low drive to the far post bringing a great full length save from Evans. Well into time added on a move left of centre ended with Spray racing into the centre of the box and firing into the top left hand corner. It was too late however to affect the outcome as the final whistle went as the game was restarted.

The win leapfrogs Wood into ninth place, in the top half of the table for the first time this season, 12 points off leaders Hereford with a game in hand, stranger things have happened. But another great advert for Level Five football with both sides contributing to another thoroughly entertaining 90+ minutes.

Wood are at home to Continental Star on Tuesday night before entertaining Quorn on Saturday 17^th, Wood’s game against Sporting Khalsa on Saturday 31^st has been postponed because of Rowey’s boys Vase exploits.

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.

For the good of the Wood!