Images and captions kindly supplied by David Evans, still annoyed by Coleshill’s astroturf, clearly.
Walsall Wood FC pleased fans and Bill Shaw alike last Tuesday (10th November 2015) when they finally beat Coleshill Town at Oak Park.
It wasn’t all plain sailing though, and Bill laments a match full of missed opportunities for both sides. He submitted the following match report:
Hiya Bob,
Well we finally recorded a victory over Coleshill Town at level 5, but before the game one of their hierarchy said, ‘We aren’t playing badly, we are really struggling to score goals this season.’1 He wasn’t kidding, they wasted a host of chances but then again so did we, it could easily have ended up 10 all as some of the attempts looked easier to score than miss, but then that’s what makes football the exciting spectator sport we are all involved with and get upset about.
Well it’s one hoodoo laid to rest – can we do the same against Brocton on Saturday? Why not come along and see, you never know you might get to like it, I know I did 16 years ago, and I’m still here…
Walsall Wood 3 v 2 Coleshill Town
Wood recorded their first victory in six attempts over Coleshill as they finally laid the three season hoodoo to rest. Whilst this was a night of high drama and entertainment for the spectators both managers were left tearing their hair out as both teams wasted o host of chances in a game that could have ended 10 all.
It was a game that kept everyone enthralled right to the very end.
A bright opening by Town as they put Wood under early pressure, on 10 minutes a left wing run and cross by Dean Rathbone found Craig Milligan 20 yards out to hit a first time drive well wide. Two minutes later a near post left wing corner was flicked across the face of the six yard box by skipper Rob Evans to the far post to find Demetrius Smikle, his first time effort blocked. A minute later Mykel Beckley read the bounce of a high ball forward the better, raced into the centre of the box only to fire wildly high over the bar. They deservedly went ahead on 18 minutes, Beckley capitalising on indecision in the Wood defence, he raced into the box but was forced wide by keeper Lee Evans, he kept his composure on the left of the box and took out three defenders as he played the ball back into the centre of the box to pick out Giovanni Dainty whose low drive just inside the left hand post opened the scoring. Two minutes later Rathbone raced onto a ball into the left of the box, Evans standing tall to push away his vicious rising effort. A long ball forward a minute later saw Smikle cushion a header into the path of Beckley in the centre of the box only for him to fire wildly over the bar as Evans raced from his line to meet him.
The missed chances proved costly for Town as in virtually their first attack Wood equalised, Corey Currithers wide left crossing to the near post for skipper Harry Harris to volley home the equaliser.
On 29 minutes the hard working Smikle won the ball on the right touchline, he raced into the box, crossed to the far post, Evans improvising as he kicked clear from Beckley.
A minute later an incisive run by Dan Griffiths took him into the right of the Town box, his attempted cross was blocked but he was first to the rebound playing the ball back to Lewis Taylor Boyce to fire first time over the bar.
On 32 minutes Rathbone again raced clear wide left cutting inside into the box, Craig Deakin racing back to make a superbly timed last ditch challenge.
Seven minutes later Wood were ahead, and what a goal, Taylor Boyce picked the ball up on the right, a superb jinking run into the right of the box saw him go past three defenders, with everyone expecting him to shoot he laid the ball back to Harris on the edge of the box, his unstoppable low drive rocketing past the helpless Hathaway.
A minute from half time Smikle raced onto a long ball over the top of the Wood defence, Evans saving Wood with a superbly timed sliding tackle.
Within three minutes of the restart Wood increased their lead, Griffiths appearing to be no threat as he was held in the left hand corner, he burst between two defenders played the ball hard and low across the face of the box, Joey Butlin allowed the ball to run to Drew Aiton who smashed a low drive into the net to make it 3–1.
Town nearly pulled one back when on 52 minutes a right wing corner was delivered to just beyond the far post, Rathbones goalbound header headed off the line by Craig Deakin. They halved the deficit when six minutes later Beckley collected a ball into the left of the box, pulled the ball back into the path of Reece Leek whose first time effort deflected off a defender, the ball appeared to be going wide of the left hand post, but it bounced, changed direction, hit the inside of the post and trickled over the line, for one of the most bizarre goals of this or any other season.
It was Wood however who threatened next, when on 66 minutes Harris played a ball into the left of the box, Butlin was first to the ball but keeper Hathaway was out quickly and bravely to save at his feet, getting injured in the process but able to continue after treatment. Six minutes later a clever left wing corner routine gave Aiton a shooting chance from 25 yards, his rising drive pushed away at full stretch by Hathaway.
On 83 minutes Town’s three substitutes combined, Chris Hughes playing Tom Wheale into the right of the box, his clever lay back found Luke Barlone to hit a first time effort just too high. A minute later a left wing run by Hughes saw him cross for Wheale to fire first time high over. Town kept the pressure on Wood but couldn’t find the all-important equaliser.
After three seasons and nine hours of football, Wood with three cracking goals finally beat Coleshill Town at Level Five. Only the visitors however will know how they ended up going home with nothing.
Bill Shaw
As ever, thanks to Bill for the report – always appreciated – for The Good of the Wood!
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Hi Bob
a belated thanks to Bill and to your goodself..and apology for th delay
cheers
David